As we wrap up October and head into the busiest season of the year, the holidays, it’s even more important to have a Menu Plan. Whether you are planning just a week or a whole month, it simply makes your life easier. Here are a few tips we use when planning our menus…
- Keep it simple! Make ahead dishes are a great time saver. When making a casserole, make 2, it doesn’t take that much longer to double the recipe, put 1 in the freezer for later when you don’t feel like cooking or your day exploded on you and the meat didn’t get taken out of the freezer.
- Make themed nights, we typically have Quick & Easy, Mexican, Italian, Slow Cooker and Kid Friendly meals. So when you are planning, you just have to decide what type of meal for that night. Narrowing down the choices is much easier.
- Plan for the month, buy for the week {or 2 weeks}. After you have several monthly menus planned, just rotate them. Having 2 or 3 menus with warmer meals and 2 or 3 menus with cooler meals is perfect.
November Menu Plan
1 ~ Â Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad, Garlic Bread
2Â ~ Â Homemade Pizza Pockets
3 ~  Chicken Lo Mein and Rice
4 ~ Chili and Corn Bread
5 ~  Liz’s Birthday – eating out
6 ~ Breakfast Bowls and Fruit Smoothies
7 ~ Taco Bake and Spanish Rice
8 ~ Mom’s Beef Stew
10~ Nick’s Birthday Dinner – Shanghai Wings, Oriental Noodles
11 ~  Appetizers and Baked Potato Bar
12 ~ Pork Fried Rice and Egg Rolls
13 ~ Taco Ring, Chips and Queso Dip
14 ~ Doug’s Birthday – Grillied Steak, Baked Potatoes & Veggie
15 ~ Italian Meatball Subs, Homemade Mac & Cheese
16 ~Quick & Easy Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
17 ~Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Corn
18 ~ Lasagna, Salad and Red Lobster Biscuits
19 ~ Asian Pineapple Chicken and Rice
21 ~ Broccoli & Cheddar Soup in a Bread Bowl
22 ~ Thanksgiving Dinner – Turkey and all the trimmings
23 ~ Leftovers
24 ~ Turkey Casserole – make 2 and freeze 1 for later
25 ~ Cheesy Quesadillas, Chips and Salsa
26 ~ Turkey Bacon Ranch Sandwiches with Mashed Potatoes
27 ~ Breakfast – Cinnamon Waffles, Fried Eggs and fruit
28 ~ 15 Minute Taco Soup
29 ~Easy Chicken Parmesan, Salad and Garlic Bread
30 ~Buffalo Chicken Bites and Fries
Desserts for the Month:
- Pineapple Banana Quick Bread
- Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Mini Trifles
- Cranberry Apple Pie
What’s on your menu this month?
Linking to…Menu Plan Monday
In addition to being a skilled and passionate chef, Caroline is an awesome mother of two. In her spare time, Caroline pursues her passion for cooking by experimenting with new dishes and developing some of her very own. Her expertise and research are then condensed into comprehensive, easy-to-read guides and resources for readers who are looking for budget-friendly recipes for the whole family.
It is wonderful to have a month scheduled. 🙂
Those pizza pockets look like mini calzones. Yummy!!