The August Menu Plan has some new favorites like Grilled Italian Chicken Sandwich {pictured above} and some old standbys too, like Taco Ring. I will be sharing the Weekly Menu Plan every Monday, just like I did here.

You can find all the menu plans under the Menu Planning tab at the bottom of the header and be sure to check out the New Recipe Index that Kohler’s Created! Watch for a new recipe index on Hoosier Homemade soon too!

We have a big week at our house, with school starting and the first football game. Oh, and Nick starts his dental work tomorrow to get ready for his Invisalign Braces, 4 teeth will need to be removed, I think I’ll be making lots of shakes and smoothies this week.

Don’t miss Cupcake Tuesday! I’ll be sharing some more fun Back to School Cupcakes! We also have some yummy desserts planned for you this week along with a bedroom make-over!

Until next time…

Happy July! I hope you are all having a great holiday weekend! We have enjoyed lots of baseball, and the beautiful weather!

We continue adding lots of grilling recipes to the Menu Plan this month. I also have 3 trips this month, so the guys are on their own a little bit. I’m excited to be attending the Evo Conference this year, thanks to Apartment Guide for their sponsorship! And the Savvyblogging Summit in Colorado as well. My third trip is to California, more on that later.

We are also working hard to get the new blog launched soon, so stay tuned for Pocket Change Gourmet…you will LOVE it!

July Menu Plan

4 ~ Happy 4th of July! Here are LOTS of yummy recipes to help you celebrate!

5 ~ Leftovers

6 ~ McGriddles, Smoothies

7 ~ Southwestern Salad

8 ~ Mini Meatloaves, Mashed Potato Casserole

9 ~ Mix & Match Burger Bar, Sweet Corn

10 ~ Chef Salad

11 ~ Chicken Phillies, Potato Salad

12~ Homemade Corn Dogs, Mac & Cheese

13~ Fettucini Alfredo, Garlic Bread and Salad

15~ Oriental Noodles & Egg Rolls

16 ~ Taco Ring, Taco Dip with Cream Cheese

17~ Homemade Pizza Rolls

18~ Shanghai Wings, Rice

19~ Sweet BBQ Chicken Kabobs, Pasta Salad

20~ Strawberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast, Smoothies

21~ Chinese Chicken Salad

22~ Burgers, Roasted Corn Salsa

23~ Mostacolli, Parmesan Knots, Salad

24~ Sandwiches and Pasta Salad

25~ BBQ Meatballs, Oven Fries

26~ Chicken Stir-Fry, Rice

27~ Summer Salad

28~ Chicken Quesadillas, Chips & Salsa

29 ~ BBQ Ribs {recipe from Mommy’s Kitchen}, Potato Salad

30 ~ Sliders, Pasta Salad, Sweet Corn

31 ~ Southwest Chicken Wraps, Rice

Desserts…

• Peanut Butter S’Mores
• Muddy Buddy Cookies
• Oatmeal Scotchies
• Chocolate Mint Frosty {new recipe}
• Strawberry Cream Bars {new recipe}
• Oreo Ice Cream Cake {new recipe}

What’s on your menu? Don’t forget to stop back tomorrow for Cupcake Tuesday! We are kicking off a fun month with Ice Cream Truck inspired Cupcakes!

Gratitude Journal: I’m thankful today for my beautiful home.

I’m linking to…Menu Plan Monday

Ahhh…how time flies! The boys will be out of school later this week. Nick’s High School Baseball season finished up last week, and he starts travel ball on Thursday. We are super excited to see how this new team will do. We are very thankful and blessed for him to be given the opportunity to play with the American Legion Post Team this year. We will be traveling quite a bit, but it will be fun and well worth it!

We are still waiting for the weather to get better here. Doug got a new grill this past weekend, so we will be grilling out quite a bit this month.

June Menu Plan

30 ~ Happy Memorial Day! Cookout Menu

31 ~ Teriyaki Chicken, Broccoli and Rice

1 ~ Taco Ring, Spanish Rice

2 ~ Spaghetti & Meatballs, Italian Biscuits and Salad

3 ~ Liz gone…Doug & boys eating out

4 ~ Aloha Chicken {recipe from Taste of Home} and white rice

5 ~ Inside Out Burgers, Pasta Salad, Chips and Dip

6 ~ Crockpot Chicken, Mashed Potato Casserole

7 ~ Chinese Chicken Salad

8 ~ Grilled Chicken and Cream Cheese Enchiladas {recipe from Eat at Home}

9 ~ Strawberry & Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast, Fruit Smoothies

10 ~ Homemade Pizza and Slushies 

11 ~ Quesadillas, Cheesy Chili Dip

12 ~ Sweet BBQ Chicken Kabobs {recipe from Kraft}, Salad and Watermelon

13 ~ Honey Lime Grilled Chicken, Seasoned Rice

14 ~ Sloppy Joes, Veggies and Dip

15 ~ Easy Taco Bake, Chips and Salsa

16 ~ Fettuccini Alfredo, Parmesan Knots, Salad

17 ~ Chef Salad

18 ~ Bacon Cheeseburger Buns Roasted Potatoes

19 ~ Happy Father’s Day!

20 ~ Sandwiches and Salad

21 ~ Homemade McGriddles, Fried Potatoes, Fruit

22 ~ Chicken Stir- Fry and Rice

23 ~ BBQ Meatballs and Oven Fries

24 ~ Loaded Baked Potato Bar, Side Salad

25 ~ Grilled Honey-Soy Pork Chops, Salad, Deviled Eggs

26 ~ Casey’s Birthday Celebration…Mix & Match Burger Bar, Grilled Potatoes and Birthday Cupcakes

27 ~ Buffet (leftovers from party)

28 ~ Grilled Salsa Chicken {recipe from $5 Dinners}, Rice, Veggies

29 ~ Seven Layer Southwestern Salad

30 ~ Chicken Nuggets and Fries

Desserts…

• Easy Strawberry Pie
• Chocolate Covered S’Mores
• Muddy Buddy Cookies
• Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler
• Chocolate Mint Frosty {new recipe}
• Strawberry Cream Bars {new recipe}
• Oreo Ice Cream Cake {new recipe}

Don’t forget to join us for Cupcake Tuesday tomorrow! I have some fun Graduation Cupcakes for you!

I’m linking to…Menu Plan Monday

Can someone please tell me where April went? WOW! Time is flying by! We are keeping busy with Baseball and Track for the boys and of course, LOTS of fun things happening here. With the addition of 2 trips this month, our May Menu Plan features lots of easy and make-ahead meals.

Congrats to Marianne for winning the Freschetta Pizza and LaCuisine containers. She said…My favorite pizza is a “garbage” pizza with a side of jalapenos. For the Grateful Giveaways Mother’s Day Winners…head over here.

2 ~ Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Salad

3 ~ Beans & Weenies

4 ~ Italian Meatball Subs {recipe from Alli-n-Son}, Chips and Pickles

5 ~ Cinco de Mayo ~ Baked Chicken Chimichangas and some fun cupcakes

Margarita Cupcakes for Cinco de Mayo

6 ~ Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Wraps {recipe from $5 Dinners Cookbook}, Potato Salad

7 ~ Chicken Phillies and Pasta Salad

8 ~ Happy Mother’s Day

9 ~ Quick & Easy Chicken Barbecue Sandwiches, Mac & Cheese

10 ~ Meatballs and Gravy, Mashed Potato Casserole

11 ~ Southwestern Salad and Cheesy Chili Dip

12 ~ Chicken Fettucini Alfredo {recipe from Mommy’s Kitchen}, Garlic Bread and Salad

13 ~ Appetizers and Baked Potato Bar

14 ~ Special Burger, Fries and Milkshake {recipes from Bobby Flay’s New Burger Cookbook…watch for a giveaway starting Thurs. May 5th}

15 ~ Roasted Chicken, Baked Potatoes, Sweet Corn

16 ~ Breakfast for Dinner ~ Homemade McGriddles, Fruit Smoothies

17 ~ Mini Meatloaves, Mashed Potato Casserole

18 ~ Easy Taco Bake, Chips and Salsa

19 ~ Chicken N’ Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Corn

20 ~ Sloppy Joes, Chips, Veggies and Dip

21 ~ Chicken Stir Fry and Noodles

22 ~ Hamburgers, Grilled Potatoes with Mushrooms

23 ~ Fruit Glazed Pork Chops, Baked Potatoes, Veggie

24 ~ Baked Chicken Legs, Mashed Potatoes, Veggie

25 ~ Cheesy Chicken Burritos, Spanish Rice

26 ~ Goulash, Parmesan Knots, Salad

27 ~ Buffalo Chicken Fingers, Oven Fries

28 ~ BBQ Chicken Fajitas {recipe from Eat at Home}, Rice

29 ~ Stuffed Crust Pizza

30 ~ Memorial Day Cook Out

31 ~Breakfast for Dinner ~ IHop French Toast, fruit

What will you be serving up this month?

I’m linking to…Menu Plan Monday

Well, Spring has sprung here. Our weather is still pretty chilly, but it’s slowly getting better. We are in full swing with baseball season, so I have added lots of make-ahead and Crockpot meals to the menu this month.

We have lots of great things planned for this month…watch for another great Grateful Giveaways on April 11th, when we bring you 8 fantastic Graduation Giveaways to enter, I’m heading to NYC later on in the month for the Hellmann’s Sandwich Club and I get to fix sandwiches with Bobby Flay! YAY!! How exciting is that??

The week of April 11th, I will be joining 5 other great bloggers to bring you a Virtual Easter Dinner, similar to the Virtual Thanksgiving Dinner we hosted last Fall.  And there will be LOTS of other Easter desserts and treats so stay tuned for those.

April Menu Plan…

4.  Pioneer Woman’s Sour Cream Noodle Bake, Salad

5.  BBQ Meatballs, Salad

6.  Andrew’s 20th Birthday Dinner

7.  Italian Chicken Calzones

8.  Cheeseburger Mac, Salad, Homemade Bread

9.  Homemade Corn Dogs, Oven Fries

10. Roasted Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Corn

11. Breakfast for Dinner…Fried Egg Sandwiches, Bacon and Fruit

12. Eat Out…Baseball game

13. Mexican Lasagna, Rice

14. Chicken n’ Noodles, Mashed Potatoes

15. Bacon Cheeseburgers, Loaded Waffle Fries

16. Italian Chicken Melts {recipe from Eat at Home} and Pasta Soup

17. Heading to NYC for Hellmann’s Sandwich Club…Doug cooking

18. NYC…making Mini Meatloafs ahead for the family to eat

19. Tuna Casserole

20. Sloppy Joes, Chips, Salad

21. Baked Ziti, Parmesan Knots, Salad

22. Pizza

23. Honey Lime Grilled Chicken {recipe from Mommy’s Kitchen}, Rice

24. Easter Dinner {stay tuned for a week filled with Easter Food coming April 18th.}

25. Breakfast for Dinner…Breakfast Burritos and Smoothies

26. Ham Leftovers

27. Taco Ring, Chips and Salsa

28. Special Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Pasta Salad

29. Swedish Meatballs {recipe from Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms}, Noodles

30. Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Salad

Don’t forget to enter my current giveaway for a one year membership to MyCakeSchool!!

I’m linking to…Menu Plan Monday

I’m so excited for Spring to get here I can hardly stand it! We still have snow on the ground, and cold temperatures but the birds are singing and the days are getting longer.

As Spring approaches we continue to be super busy on Hoosier Homemade. I have LOTS of great surprises coming for you!! And they might just involve a new eBook AND a new blog!! Yes sir!! We are so excited we are about to burst!! BUT, we can’t….more details coming your way soon!

Now…let’s talk Menu Planning…Monthly Menu Planning to be exact. I have had several comments over the last few months, “Wow, I can hardly get one week done, how can you do a whole month?” “Planning for a whole month would be great, but too difficult.”

Planning your Monthly Menu is not any more difficult than planning for a week. Actually it’s easier. When I plan for the whole month, I have less repeats, I know what we are having ahead, if I have a plan we don’t eat out as much, if something goes on sale I can stock up AND I only have to do it once!

I need to plan our menu, to stay organized, and if I’m going to sit down and go through recipes of my own, cookbooks and the internet, I want to get it all done at once. Sure, it takes a tad bit longer than if I planned only 1 week, but it’s done…for the whole month. And after you have several months done, you can just repeat the entire month or make a few changes and repeat. Last month, I was returning home from the Blissdom Conference right at the end of the month, and I needed to get February Monthly Menu posted. I had Doug look back at last year’s menu, and he came up with a menu quickly and easily.

The other little trick that I use to help make the planning go easier…I assign days different meals {themes}

Mondays – Quick and Easy

Tuesdays – Make Ahead

Wednesdays – Mexican

Thursdays – Italian

Fridays – Kid Friendly

Saturdays – New recipe

Sundays – Family Meal

So…what are we having this month…

1. BBQ Ribs and Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese {recipe from $5 Dinners}
2. Taco Soup
3. Spaghetti & Meatballs, Salad and Parmesan Knots
4. Pizza Rolls and fries
5. Grilled Cheese and Soup (Doug still in search of the best Grilled Cheese Sandwich)
6. Shanghai Wings, Oriental Noodles
7. Grilled Chicken Fajita Pasta {recipe from $5 Dinners}
8. Kielbasa and Fried Potatoes
9. Quesadillas, Chili Cheese Dip
10. Fettucini Chicken Alfredo, Salad and Garlic Bread
11. Stromboli {recipe from Pillsbury}
12. Pork Chops, Baked Potatoes and Veggie
13. Buttermilk Chicken Strips {recipe from Mommy’s Kitchen}, Oven Fries and Corn
14. Cheeseburger Mac and veggie
15. Chicken Wraps and Fried Rice
16. Taco Ring, Chips and Salsa
17. Happy St. Patrick’s Day {GREEN food ideas coming next week}
18. Appetizers and Baked Potato Bar
19. Mexican Meatloaf
20. Chicken Phillies, Oven Fries
21. BBQ Chicken Sliders, Chips and Fruit
22. Teriyaki Chicken, Rice
23. Have-it-Your-Way Tacos {recipe from Meal Makeover Moms}
24. Baked Ravioli
25. Stuffed Crust Pizza
26. Chili Nachos {recipe from Mommy Hates Cooking}
27. Grilled Hamburgers, Deli-Style Pasta Salad, Deviled Eggs
28. Breakfast – Make Ahead Sausage Casserole and Fruit
29. Chicken N’ Noodles, Mashed Potatoes and Corn
30. Chicken Fajitas and Rice
31. Lasagna Skillet {recipe from Lauren’s Latest}, Salad, Garlic Biscuits

Look!! My blogging friend Tiffany is offering this pretty Printable Weekly Menu Planner. Hurry on over and grab one for yourself! And it’s FREE!

Don’t forget to enter my Blogging Anniversary Giveaways!!

• $5 Dinner Mom Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook {ends 2/28}
• Bounce for a YEAR {ends 3/1}
• Zoolu $50 Gift Certificate {ends 3/2}
• Veripur Hand Sanitizer {ends 3/3}
• Modern Bird Studios Original Painting $200 {3/4}

I’m linking to…Menu Plan Monday, Mommy’s Kitchen

Ok, will someone please tell  me where January went?? Really, time is just flying by! I’m back home from Blissdom, and had an amazing trip!! If you were there, please be sure to give me a shout out in the comments.

But, now it’s back to reality, and feeding my family. Have I told you lately, that I really love menu planning, it just makes life so much easier. And Monthly Menu Planning is even better! Do it once {or have your husband do it like I did this month} and you are done! What I usually do is assign a different type of meal each day, like…Mondays are quick and easy, Tuesdays are make-ahead, Wednesdays are Mexican, Thursdays are Italian, Fridays are Kid-Friendly, Saturdays we make a new recipe and Sundays are family dinner days! Here is what we will have this month…

February Meal Plan

1 ~ Enchilidas, Dip and Homemade Tortilla chips

2 ~ Baked Chicken, Potatoes

3 ~ Chicken Pot Pie

4 ~ Kielbasa, Rice, Veggies

5 ~ Pizza

6 ~ Super Bowl Party

7 ~ Broiler Pork Chops, Home Fries

8 ~ Soup & Sandwich

9 ~ Stuffed Baked Potatoes,{from My Blessed Life} Appetizers

10 ~ Mostacolli, Salad

11 ~ Meatloaf, Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans

12 ~ Taco Ring, Nacho Bar

13 ~ Doug, in search of the perfect Grilled Ham & Cheese

14 ~ Valentine’s Dinner

15 ~ Tuna Casserole, Salad

16 ~ Breakfast {Homemade McGriddles} and Smoothies

17 ~ Chicken Stir-Fry, Rice

18 ~ Beans & Weenies, Mac & Cheese

19 ~ Quesidillas

20 ~ BBQ Meatballs, Oven Fries

21 ~ Chili, Cornbread Muffins

22 ~ Asian Chicken Wraps,{from $5 Dinners} Rice

23 ~ Spaghetti & Meatballs, Garlic Bread, Salad

24 ~ Chili Cheese Dogs, French Fries

25 ~ Chicken N’ Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Corn

26 ~ Pizza

27 ~ Tostadas, Spanish Rice

28 ~ Roasted Chicken, Baked Potatoes, Beans

Do you menu plan? What are you having this week?

I’m linking to…Menu Plan Monday and Mommy’s Kitchen

Come join us for the Valentine Party at It’s A Blog Party!