My November Menu

I had a friend on facebook ask me to share my November Menu, so I thought I would. I'm weird, I really enjoy making lists and planning things...strange I know. I thoroughly enjoy every part of the cooking process from planning to cooking. I even enjoy grocery shopping (as long as the kids aren't with me)! The ONLY part I don't like is the cleanup part:) I tend to plan my next month during the last week of the month. I do a budget, allocate the budget by paychecks, make a menu, a month shopping list (I do one big shopping trip a month), a weekly shopping list (for produce & milk), and I do a monthly schedule which lists what I need to do each day (church activities, school activities, childrens activities, household chores, birthdays, commitments, etc).

My menu lists the dish by the day, but I sometimes switch it up. Since I do most of my shopping at the beginning of the month, I usually have most of the items on the menu on hand (with the exception of some produce that needs to be bought fresh), so I can pick and choose depending on my mood. We eat out at a restaurant once a month unless there is a special occasion, and that often times gets changed out for a different day as well. I tend to make a "big" supper on Saturday, one that makes super yummy leftovers, so that Sunday lunch is delicious (unless I make a roast on Sunday of course). Sunday night we hit a drive thru (unhealthy yes, but I have really been trying to limit take out to once a week, and Sunday nights it is usually essetential to eat something fast and get the kiddos in bed). I also try to make sure that my Wednesday suppers are either leftovers, crockpot suppers, or very easy (like chili pie or nachos).

I make one dessert a week, and I list those at the bottom of the menu. I also keep a running list of meal ideas for the next month...these are the favorite suppers that we enjoy that haven't been cooked in a while, as well as anything new that sounds good. I add onto this list all month, usually I end up with more dishes than there are days, so I run the leftover dishes onto the next month's list. This makes menu planning for each month super fast and easy:) Breakfasts are usually cereal, yougurt, and fruit for the kids and 2 eggs and fruit for me (I do make a couple of special breakfast items each month), and lunches are sandwiches and fruit or leftovers.

Menu for November

Mon 1 Homemade Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Tue 2 Eggplant Parmigiana, Noodles, Salad

Wed 3 Leftovers

Thur 4 Portobello Mushroom Burgers, Cooked Carrots, Salad

Fri 5 Homemade Pizza with mushrooms and black olives, Salad

Sat 6 Grilled Chicken Fajitas, Avocado & Tomato Salad

Sun7 Leftovers

Mon 8 Grilled Tilapia, Broccoli with Hollandasie, Salad

Tue 9 Lori’s Smothered Porkchops, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad

Wed 10 Leftovers

Thur 11 Baked Ziti, Zucchini, Salad (Revival Tonight)

Fri 12 Family Fun Night, Eat at School (Revival Tonight)

Sat 13 King Ranch Casserole, Corn, Salad

Sun 14 Leftovers (Baked Ziti)

Mon 15 Leftovers (King Ranch Casserole)

Tue 16 Green Chile Soup, Salad

Wed 17 Leftovers

Thur 18 Reuben Casserole, Peas, Salad

Fri 19 Leftovers

Sat 20 Eat Out (Wedding Today)

Sun 21 Sunday Roast, Carrots & Potatoes, Salad

Mon 22 Leftovers (Roast Sandwiches)

Tue 23 Butternut Squash Soup, Salad

Wed 24 Leftovers

Thur 25 Thanksgiving Dinner

Fri 26 Chicken Spaghetti, Cabbage, Salad

Sat 27 Chicken Mushroom Skillet Fajitas, Mexican Zucchini Fries, Salad

Sun 28 Leftovers (Chicken Spaghetti)

Mon 29 Leftovers (Chicken Mushroom Skillet Fajitas)

Tue 30 Tortilla Soup, Salad

Desserts
*Chocolate Pie
*Pudding
*Chocolate Chip Cookies
*Best Ever Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake

Breakfasts
*Zucchini Bread
*Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

Meal Ideas for December
*Crockpot Roast Tacos
*Beef Crescent Casserole
*Creamy Tacos
*Lasagna
*Goulash
*Cornbeef and Cabbage
*Italian Mac & Cheese
*Pronto Pasta Italaino
*Pizza Mac/Taco Bake from Kraft Cookbook
*Skillet Meals
*Kids Pizza Pasta
*Lemon Blueberry Muffins
*King Ranch Mac
*Taco Soup
*Cheesy Chicken Soup
*Mimi’s Stew
*Green Chile Stew
*Tamales
*Green Chile Enchilada Casserole
*Taquito Casserole
*Green Chile Chicken Burritos
*Tacos
*Chili Pie
*Texas Chili & Cornbread
*Becky’s Nachos
*Spaghetti