Monday, April 21, 2008
8 Week Menu Plan (Revised Version)
A while back I posted my 8 week menu plan. It took quite a bit of time to think through, but in the end saved me tons of time in weekly menu planning . I even prepared weekly shopping lists which included every ingredient for every item on the week's plan. FANTASTIC!!! Shopping, deciding what to have each night, and even preparing it became so much easier! I knew just what to get, what to make each night and I had everything I needed, so no last minute rush to the store.
Well, over time and with our recent move to another country, some changes were in order. There were some recipes that, let's be honest, the family just didn't like (even though I did). There were some recipes that I just can't find ingredients for here in Doha. Grocery shopping is kind of like a grueling marathon, requiring trips to three or four different places to get everything on your list and even then you don't find it all.
And then, too, our lifestyle has changed. I've not only dropped some menus and included new ones, but I've rearranged them to better fit our lifestyle here in Doha. Which, as we get more settled in may change, but this is now. You'll notice that I certain days each week which have a certain "type" of meal - slow cooker on Wednesday, soup or salad on Saturday, etc. Fridays, which are now our day off together as a family, are generally something easy and fast. I've also left in days when I can try those yummy new recipes I find at YOUR blog!!
For those of you coming over from Laura's Menu Plan Monday, hi!!! I'm not actually going to post this week's menu because I didn't have this finalized when I did my shopping and I don't want to confuse the issue. Let's just hope you don't consider me a cheater (after all, you are getting 8 weeks worth of menu plans!) and you don't report me to the teacher!
Week 1
Monday - Baked Tilapia, rice and steamed veggies
Tuesday - Fondue (chicken, steak, shrimp, and veggies) in broth with lots of dipping sauces
Wednesday - Crockpot roast with potatoes and carrots
Thursday - Uncle David's Spaghetti and Meatballs, tossed salad and garlic bread
Friday - Shish Kebabs with rice and pita bread
Saturday - Curry Cajun Chicken with mashed potatoes
Sunday - Country Corn Chowder with rolls
Week 2
Monday - Rosemary & Lime Chicken, steamed veggies, and salad
Tuesday - Baked Shrimp Scampi over linguine
Wednesday - Crockpot Beef Burgundy, rice and tossed salad
Thursday - Arabic Meatloaf, chopped salad
Friday - Mezze (assortment of small dishes - tabbouleh, hummus, pickles, cheeses, bread, olives)
Saturday - New Recipe
Sunday - Potato Lover's Salad
Week 3
Monday - Tostadas
Tuesday - Lentils and rice with a chopped salad
Wednesday - Crockpot Mexi Chicken (chicken breasts with Ro-Tel in the crockpot)
Thursday - Creamy Pasta Primavera with salad and garlic bread
Friday - Sandwiches with cole slaw
Saturday - Roast Sticky Chicken, mashed potatoes, garlic green beans
Sunday - Cauliflower soup
Week 4
Monday - Spaghetti with meat sauce, salad and garlic bread
Tuesday - Chicken stir fry and rice
Wednesday - Crockpot Baja Beef and Beans with Tex Mex Rice
Thursday - Zesty Mac and Cheese with salad
Friday - Homemade pizza
Saturday - New Recipe
Sunday - Argentine Steak Salad
Week 5
Monday - Tacos
Tuesday - Salmon, steamed veggies and rice
Wednesday - Crockpot roast with carrots and potatoes
Thursday - Bezella over rice with a chopped salad
Friday - Burgers, potato salad and chips
Saturday - Chicken Parmesan, Caesar salad and garlic bread
Sunday - Vegetable Stew for Two and rolls
Week 6
Monday - Fish fry, cole slaw and french fries
Tuesday - Stuffed Cabbage Casserole
Wednesday - Crockpot Chicken Breasts (chicken with cream of mushroom soup and onions)
Thursday - Lasagna, salad and breadsticks
Friday - Chicken Dijon, salad and roasted broccoli
Saturday - New Recipe
Sunday - Easy Yummy Taco Salad
Week 7
Monday - Roasted chicken, roasted potatoes and salad
Tuesday - Shepherd's Pie and a salad
Wednesday - Chili and cornbread
Thursday - Mahlouba, yogurt and salad
Friday - Sandwiches, cole slaw and chips
Saturday - Jambalaya with rice
Sunday - Cobb Salad
Week 8
Monday - Toasted Ziti and Cheese, garlic bread and a salad
Tuesday - Pineapple Glazed Meatloaf, au gratin potatoes and steamed veggies
Wednesday - Crockpot Shredded Beef Sandwiches and potato salad
Thursday - Koosa Mahshi (zucchini stuffed with rice and meat in a tomato sauce)
Friday - Grilled chicken, corn on the cob, grilled tomatoes
Saturday - New Recipe
Sunday - Blackened Chicken Salad
So there it is! I'll try to post more of the accompanying recipes as time goes by, but if there is one that caught your eye and you'd like the recipe, feel free to ask and I'll be happy to share! Have a great week!!
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7 comments:
Grocery shopping is kind of like a grueling marathon, requiring trips to three or four different places to get everything on your list and even then you don't find it all.
I can sooo relate to this! One of the most frustrating things about moving to The Netherlands for me has been LACK OF CONVENIENCE! I have to haul myself all over the city to get all of my groceries and it just drives me crazy.
I love your idea of having a certain theme for certain days of the week. That would certainly help me keep a better variety of things and not get stuck in the rut of "Oh well I guess we'll have chicken today, even though we had it the past 3 days in a row."
Have a great week =)
I think having an 8-week menu plan is an awesome idea. I think my husband would appreciate it, too. There are so many things that we say, "We should have this more often" but because of my love of trying new things, that just doesn't happen. I think I'm going to give this a try ~ leaving a few spots open to trying new recipes, of course, but with at least 3 or 4 per week of the 'old' favourites.
Doing a week at a time is sometimes a lot for me... 8 weeks is impressive! :)
I kind of have theme days, too-- you can tell which days I work by which days are crockpot or very simple meals.
Lori,
The menus look great! I am definitely bookmarking this for reference later on.
As for the Swedish meatballs, I'm sorry to tell you that I can't help you with the recipe. These are the frozen Swedish meatballs that I get at IKEA. I heat them in the oven, make the gravy from the packets they sell, and serve it all with egg noodles and lingonberries.
YUM-O!
Leeann
Oh wow! What a great menu plan! Everything sounds so good too. I've bookmarked the steak w/spinach- sounds yummy! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, I love the looks of your menus. I will have to try some of your recipes. Sounds like your all adjusting well so far to the move. I've enjoyed reading about your move and the pictures of your house are gorgeous!
i am so tucking this away for when i ever decide to plan/shop/cook this way!!