Tuesday Menu Planning

I think menu planning is one of the best and worst tasks I have to do on a weekly basis, I raise my own chickens folks, that has to tell you something right there. On one hand I love to find, create or dig up recipes to make but firmly planted on the other hand are the likes, dislikes, repeats, failures and refusals that make cooking for other people the hardest damn job in the world. I have eventually come to the conclusion that I can't please all the people all the time and with that idea in mind I go forth in to the realm of possible meals.

These are a few of the dos and don'ts of menu planning:We eat mostly a vegetarian diet which just about kills my oldest son(but I keep lots of mom approved foods for him to munch on because lets face it he eats about every hour on the hour) so there's that. We grew our own meat this summer so I should use that. We raise our eggs so I need add them in when I can. I have a freezer full of salmon from dipnetting to eat up. And of course all the vegetables I put away need to vacate the freezer. That's not even the likes and dislikes of our crew, which just really don't count for much because our house rules are everybody has to eat 3 bites of everything that's for dinner. Funny thing about that rule is that after those 3 bites they usually forget their dislikes and just tuck in.

Without further adieu this weeks menu:
Baked Salmon-roasted potatoes-corn and peas
Veg. Bulgur Chili w/cheese and yogurt, fresh bread
Spaghetti, green salad and bread sticks
Almond/edamame/vegetable chowmein
Pancakes, eggs, bacon, fresh fruit
Baked potato bar w/broccoli, cheese, onions, yogurt
Fake n Bake Porkchops, roasted cabbage with cheese sauce

Baked Goods/sweet treats
4 loaves of bread
Bread Rolls
Blueberry Upsidedown Cake
Peanut Butter and Jelly thumbprints...working on a recipe

So there it is and we'll see how it pans out. Notice how I didn't post a day for each meal? I do that because if I slip up and don't get it together in time I don't feel guilty or worry, I just make what I can, and roll on. So why make a meal plan anyway? Well, I go to the store once a week and need to make sure I get what I need. If dinner parts are in the house it makes staying in and eating in so much easier.

Wish us luck as we head in to our 2nd week of 365 In: a year of eating in. This week was actually pretty easy in after thought, with a little planning we can avoid a whole lot eating out.