We have several family members coming to spend the week of Thanksgiving with us. As much as I love cooking, I’d rather spend time visiting with my loved ones than in the kitchen preparing meals. We’re also on a tight budget, so I don’t want to break the bank when purchasing foods for us to eat. I’ve been brainstorming and have come up … [Read more...] about Affordable, Easy-to-Prepare Meals for Large Groups
menu planning
Healthy Convenience Foods
I typically avoid purchasing convenience foods because they are pricy both in terms of their monetary cost and in terms of the toll they take on health. We all experience busy seasons (such as after the birth of a baby) where convenience foods can help us preserve our sanity. Are there any convenience foods that can be considered … [Read more...] about Healthy Convenience Foods
Fall 2014 Menu
The official start of autumn is only a couple of weeks away. In addition to the changing leaves and pumpkin-flavored baked goods, I’m eager to start a new menu. As I’ve shared before, I periodically develop monthly menus. We use each for 3 consecutive months before moving on to a new one (read more on why and how I plan monthly menus … [Read more...] about Fall 2014 Menu
Summer 2014 Menu
Though it has been only two months since I posted my spring menu, we’re already moving on to our summer one. There were lots of tasty dishes on the spring menu, but morning sickness left me unable to consume many of them. Subsequently, I planned our summer menu and we’re enjoying it more successfully. As I’ve shared previously, I … [Read more...] about Summer 2014 Menu
Spring 2014 Menu
Our winter has been so cold and snowy that we’re incredibly eager for spring! Though we’re only getting a small taste of warmer weather, we’re ready to begin using our spring menu. As I’ve shared previously, I periodically develop monthly menus. We use each for 3 consecutive months before moving on to a new one (read more on why and how … [Read more...] about Spring 2014 Menu
Why and How I Plan Monthly Menus
I’m often asked about why and how I plan monthly menus for my household. Usually these questions are accompanied by an exasperated statement such as “I could never be that organized.” Believe it or not, it’s pretty easy to plan monthly menus. Additionally, it has saved my family so much time and money that I haven’t considered reverting … [Read more...] about Why and How I Plan Monthly Menus
Winter 2013 Menu
Brrrrrr! Cold temperatures have set in and Christmas is just around the corner, so it’s time to start using this year’s winter menu. As you may recall, I periodically develop monthly menus. We use each for 3 consecutive months before moving on to a new one (read more on why I plan monthly menus here). We only include dinner selections … [Read more...] about Winter 2013 Menu
Fall 2013 Menu
The weather is still pretty warm where I live, but the calendar indicates fall is quickly approaching. Among other things, this means my household is ready for a new monthly menu! You may recall that I periodically develop monthly menus. We use each for 3 consecutive months before moving on to a new one (you can read more on why I plan monthly … [Read more...] about Fall 2013 Menu
