Voyeuristic Menu Planning Monday

We already talked about menu planning once before. If you totally don't have any creative juices flowing this week, how about seeing what other people are up to? Go ahead and peek into someone else's kitchen!

Visit the pages below. Not only can you see what bloggers are making this week for dinner, many have links to the actual recipes and sometimes visitors can add their own links too. So, if you are already stuck this week, be sure to stop by for a visit!

Menu Planning Monday

Too Many Recipes

If you don't want to use your brain this week, there are a few sites that do everything but the cooking for you! Get menu plans by email or on their sites, get tailored recipes and a shopping list to print off. Basic menu planning is free on most of these sites. They make their money by mostly tailoring menu plans for those of us who want more control or who are pickier by nature or perhaps they send no ad sponsored emails to those who pay. Either way, take advantage of someone doing the work for you this week!

Menus 4 Moms


Woven Fare (thanks Organizing Junkie for posting about this site)


Cooking.com's Weekly Menu Planner


Dinner Planner (this is a paid site but worth a quick visit)


Some other things to consider while you are thinking about what to cook:

• Actually sit down and think about it; who has sports practice and who has a late meeting? Am I going to be late one day and not be able to cook? You may want to plan for leftovers or soup and sandwiches that day. Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog for more ideas!
  

• Always have a few easy pantry meals onhand, meaning ingredients that are always there and that don't take a lot of effort to prepare. Many pasta dishes work well in this category.

• How about doubling your meals when you cook? Either serve leftovers the next day or freeze the other half for another day.

• Keep track of recipes and menus your family has liked. I actually carry the menus and their ingredients in my day planner.

• Make extra ground beef, chicken, pasta or potatoes or anything that can be used in another dish. I've made tacos, chicken salad, soup, potato salad or a different pasta dish with those leftovers. No need to serve the exact same thing twice. Mix it up.
  

Would you like to share your ideas or recipes? What makes your menu planning easier?