Menu Planning

I like to try to plan my dinners.  I hate to go home from work and stand in front of the fridge or pantry trying to figure out what's for dinner while the kids are raiding the snack box looking for something to eat.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge planner and I haven't always done it, but I'm trying to do better.  I need make some things in my life a lot easier than they are now, if that is even possible.  Darn it, I should get an A for trying!

At the end of 2011, I came across a good deal on Groupon for E-Mealz. I can't remember who introduced me to E-Mealz so I can't give them credit for it, but I knew about the website and what it was about and knew it was run by a couple of ladies in the area where I live.  E-Mealz is a great website.  You pick the store, lots of dietary plans, small family meal plans, etc.  Each Wednesday, in my Gmail inbox, I get a plan for 7 meals and attached to it is a complete grocery list for the 7 meals. It's done for you. How easy is that?  I still have 6 months left and I will probably renew for another year!

So, I chose some of my favorites from E-Mealz and Pinterest and this is what I came up with for 2 weeks of dinners for my family:

Saturday, June 23 - BLT wraps  and oven baked fries - I tweeked the wraps a bit.  I added ham to ours and the kids only had ham, bacon and cheese.  Also, instead of using dried tomatoes, I used the tomatoes on the vine and I cut them up and chopped some onion and mixed that with the mayonnaise.

Sunday, June 24 - sandwiches for lunch and for dinner, Mike was working so I treated the kids to cheese dip and flour tortillas at a local Mexican restaurant.  That's our favorite meal!

Monday, June 25 - we went to dinner with Anna and Mark, Norm and JoAnne and Kristi and Jared for Anna's birthday.  We celebrated at PF Changs!  YUMMO!!!

Tuesday, June 26 - Chicken Roll Ups, green beans and mashed potatoes

Wednesday, June 27 - Kristi and Jared had us over for dinner and it was so yummy!  We had grilled chicken, fried okra, homemade mac and cheese, salad with homemade topping and a mango key lime pie!

Thursday, June 28 - Italian sandwiches and baked chips - I got this recipe from one of my Aldi meal plans from E-Mealz.

Friday, June 29 - loaded baked potatoes

Saturday, June 30 - Sour Cream Chicken, black eyes peas and a salad

Sunday, July 1 - Beef Mexi-Bowl and chips - I also got this recipe from one of my Aldi meal plans.

Monday, July 2 -Crock pot Zesty Italian Chicken, au gratin potatoes and green beans

Tuesday, July 3 - Breakfast for dinner

Wednesday, July 4 - Happy 4th of July !!!

Thursday, July 5 - Beef Tips and Rice, veggies

Friday, July 6 - Crock Pot ranch pork chops, corn and a salad

I was real excited when I did the shopping for 2 weeks, minus a handful of things Aldi did not have, I only spent $95!  Whoop Whoop!!!

I can't link back to my E-Mealz recipes because it's a paid for service, but if want the recipe to something that sounds good, let me know and I will be glad to share it.  They are sent to me in PDF and I save them for future use!

Until next time.....