MAY! Menu Planning Meals

[wife&mommy]

OK mamas, what are you planning in May? (can you believe it is May?!?!)
:

[wife&mommy]

Here are ours. I am trying to keep it simple and we are trying to use things that we already have (pantry challenge) so I'm not going shopping.

4 - 7 Layer Dip, Chips (we have stuff we need to use up!)
5 - Quesadillas, Guacamole
6 - Mom's Night Out (but I'm making Lasagna before I leave)
7 - Burgers (with some sort of veggie)
8 - Feta Pasta with Veggies
9 - Tilapia, Couscous, Broccoli
10 - Leftovers from the week

[Norasmomma]

Well I have our week set, though I may wiggle some things around:

Here is is:
Sun:Pork chops w/ mushroom soup gravy, stuffing, peas
Mon: Grilled salmon w/ mango salsa, curried apricot cous-cous, salad(never made the cous-cous)
Tues: Skillet turkey pot pie
Wed: Grilled greek chicken wraps w/ hummus and salad(I made this one up)
Thurs: Cobb salad and garlic bread
Fri: Tortellini sausage skillet w/ marinara sauce, salad and garlic bread
Sat: Cook's choice(as always on Sat)

These aren't set in stone, but most of the items are already on hand and are in the pantry, I will be going to the store tomorrow, and will be getting stuff for the week(and beyond). I hae to get some avocados and mango, but both are on sale, if I really wanted to I could make all these for under $30 for the week. We'll see, I have a few big ticket stock up items that I have to get tomorrow, but for most of the food stuff it's pretty cheap.

[Rigama]

This week, using only what's on hand (since we only have $7 in the bank) so I won't be shopping.

Sun: Tamale Pie
Tue: Roast chicken
wed: Sloppy Joes
Thurs: Shrimp and pasta
Fri: Left overs
Sat: Hamburgers

[pnutS4us]

we can't shop this week either, so it is freezer and pantry week! The only things I will be buying is oatmeal, milk and bread.

Sun:mac n cheese with hot dogs (shhh!!!) ok, dd is sick sick sick and that is what she wants for din, so that is what we are having.
Mon: Hamburger patties, steamed carrots and brown rice
Tues: pork chops and brown rice.
Wed: pork fried rice w/carrots and peas, maybe a bit of black bean and garlic paste.
Thurs: Lentil or split pea soup with smoked turkey
Fri: pay day! so maybe chicken (bought in the deli since our oven died )and salad.

[my2girlz]

I'm working on it.

5/4~spaghetti
5/5~tacos
5/6~leftovers
5/7~pancakes
5/8~grilled sesame chicken chicken, baked potatoes, carrots
5/9~??
5/10~grilled pork chops, rice, asparagas apples

[NewMama2007]

Sunday - pasta marinara w/ broccoli, a steamed squash (because DD saw it in the produce aisle, screamed until I handed it to her, then cuddled it and wouldn't let it go), and some roasted cauliflower I made for lunches tomorrow
Monday - braised lentils w/ parsnips, olive oil salt quickbread, salad
Tuesday - refried bean enchiladas, mexican zuchini salad
Wednesday - burritos and quesadillas w/ mexican corn
Thursday - homemade pizza and salad
Friday - homemade calzones w/ ricotta and spinach and salad
Saturday - DH is taking me out for sushi!

[~Megan~]

A few for this week.

All dinners served with salad and usually a veg side.

5/4- Spaghetti and meatballs
5/5-Meatballs and rice
5/6-Potato soup
5/7-Chicken Pot Pie
5/8- Beans and Rice

lunches:
gyro sandwiches and salad
picnic lunch at the park
tuna sandwiches, apples, carrot sticks
quesadillas and leftover beans and rice
mac n cheese with fruit side


Nothing excited but maybe someone shopping their pantry will find an idea.

[Alyantavid]

This week's:

Tuesday - baked potatoes
Wednesday - hashbrowns, sausage, eggs and toast
Thursday - sloppy joes, roasted potatoes and green beans
Friday - baked tilapia, cauliflower and pasta
Saturday - Enchiladas, rice and beans
Sunday - cowpies, green beans and mashed potatoes

[hlkm2e]

I did my plan for the whole month. On sundays we eat at my IL's, one night a week we eat leftovers, and one night a week we eat somthing from the freezer. This plan is for 3 adults and 2 children. My mom is staying with us right now to help with the babies.

5/5 eggplant parmesan (freezer)
5/6 spinach manicotti, salad
5/7 salmon baked with zucchini
5/8 chicken in lemon sauce, noodles, broccoli
5/9 tacos with fixings
5/10 leftovers
5/11 IL's
5/12 Lasagna (freezer), garlic bread, salad
5/13 panko crusted talapia sticks, french fries, salad
5/14 chicken parmesan, noodles, salad
5/15 beef stroganoff, village salad
5/16 leftovers
5/17 rosted chicken with potato, lemon, and asparagus
5/18 IL's
5/19 stuffed shells (freezer), garlic bread, salad
5/20 pork tenderloin enchiladas
5/21 flank steak with onions, peppers, and beans
5/22 chicken tetrazini, salad
5/23 leftovers
5/24 meatballs and noodles, greek salad
5/25 IL's
5/26 panko pork chops, napa coleslaw
5/27 london broil with crispy potatoes and peppers
5.28 leftovers
5/29 chicken breast with potatoes and mushrooms
5/30 balsamic skirt steak, corn on cob, asparagus
5/31 salmon with lemony spinach, risotto

[wife&mommy]

Allyson - what are cowpies?
Heidi - Congrats on the babies!

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by wife&mommy

Allyson - what are cowpies?

hamburger mixed with rice, onions and spices, browned and then covered with either gravy, cream of mushroom soup or a tomato sauce.

[Bad Horse]

5-5 Chana Masala and Briyani
5-6 Spicy stir-fried tofu with dried and fresh mushrooms over brown rice
5-7 Dinner out
5-8 Black Bean polenta Casserole or Tamale Pie
5-9 Pizza night at home (starting this on Fridays this week!)
5-10 Red Beans and Rice
5-11 ? Probably something with quinoa since I have a lot of it and just discovered how much I really like it.

That's as far as I've got on this week. I'm doing the pantry challenge, too, and with all of these things I don't actually need to buy anything else for the week.
I also have a huge box of salad greens, so a large salad will be part of our meal every evening, too.

[texaspeach]

I'm so off my game

M (tonight) - meat loaf, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes
T- spaghetti (home made meat balls from the same base as meat loaf mixture, home made sauce)
W - split pea soup and corn bread
TH - grilled jerk pork chops, collards and coconut rice (stole that from someone here)
F - roast chicken
Sa - curried chicken salad (left over chicken) w/ grapes
Su - probably more pork chops, maybe with pasta salad.

at some point I am baking an apple pie. I just need to find the motivation to make the crust and prep all those apples.

[deditus]

Mon, 5-5: Spaghetti with shrimp and zucchini
Tues, 5-6: Salmon w/fruit salsa, baked sweet potato, jicama & cucumbers
Wed, 5-7: Roast chicken, sides of whatever needs to be eaten
Thurs, 5-8: Tyler Florence's ultimate enchiladas (made w/leftover chicken), black beans, yellow rice
Fri, 5-9: Leftover enchiladas
Sat, 5-10: Something w/ground beef, probably burgers, rosemary roasted potatoes, asparagus
Sun, 5-11: Dh gets to plan

[nik_907]

Hi ladies! I would love to join this thread, I take it's just about meal planning ahead? I am not an organized person by any means so hopefully this will motivate me more. Any helpful newbie links or hints would be much appreciated!!

I do have a question and not sure if this is where to post, I keep wanting to stock my pantry full of 'staples' but it seems like I'd have to spend alot just to get it stocked - I usually buy beans, dry goods, etc. a little at a time and just joined a coop so hopefully that will help but did any of you 'vegans/non vegans on a budget' feel overwhelmed with getting staples or is it just me?

cthulhugrrl ~ Do u have a recipe for this dish? "Black Bean polenta Casserole or Tamale Pie" I have been trying to find casserole type dishes that my 14 month old will enjoy its been a challenge finding something he will hold down that doesn't consist of pasta or bread :

Thanks ladies!

[goodearthmama]

Originally Posted by cthulhugrrl

5-5 Chana Masala and Briyani
5-6 Spicy stir-fried tofu with dried and fresh mushrooms over brown rice
5-7 Dinner out
5-8 Black Bean polenta Casserole or Tamale Pie
5-9 Pizza night at home (starting this on Fridays this week!)
5-10 Red Beans and Rice
5-11 ? Probably something with quinoa since I have a lot of it and just discovered how much I really like it.

That's as far as I've got on this week. I'm doing the pantry challenge, too, and with all of these things I don't actually need to buy anything else for the week.
I also have a huge box of salad greens, so a large salad will be part of our meal every evening, too.

can i have the recipe for the bb polenta casserole??

[octobermoon]

subbing

[Norasmomma]

nik_907-Here's what I do, first I keep track of sales, I learned this on the Frugality and Finances board on here. I started keeping track of the patterns of sales, I have tried to keep a price book, but for me I find that I have a pretty darn good memory for the stuff. That said I *am* going to start keeping track of the 20 items we buy most, as posted on another thread, this will help me know when it's the best times to stock up on these things.

Recently I have bought 2 cases of organic tomatoes, my local store(the only one we have) was selling the 28 oz cans for 1.99 a can, totally cheap, so I bought 2 cases for the reg. price of one case. I also saw that refried bean are on sale, I will be buying a case of those also. I like to have some items of convenience available to us as we live in an area where the power can often go out, so I like to have some easily reheated items, plus we use them. I have become a pretty savvy shopper thanks a lot to this site. I really only buy things on sale, you don't have to buy everything at once, just start small. My pantry is growing, but I also am getting rid of things that I don't want, but I'm more into stocking up. We have a feast or famine household, DH is really busy working then can get laid off for week in the winter, I'm kind in the squirrel hoarder mentality right now, I try to buy extra for those times when there are no extras, KWIM? Start small, and also meal planning is saving us money because of less leftovers, and because I plan according to what we have, stock up what we need when on sale, and it saves my sanity. It really has been helping us.

[becoming]

I think, for the upcoming week, we're doing:

1. beef & bean nachos with homemade guacamole
2. 15-bean soup & cornbread
3. roast with potatoes, carrots, & green beans, rolls
4. scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits

two nights of leftovers, one night out