March Menu Plan – 2011

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