tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post2521614516205287872..comments2023-10-05T06:31:44.750-07:00Comments on A Cultivated Nest: What 's For Dinner - Menu PlanningManuela@A Cultivated Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08282273791971364124noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-90313761122612205632008-10-27T19:26:00.000-07:002008-10-27T19:26:00.000-07:00yes..I'm a menu planner. I usually (i didn't do it...yes..I'm a menu planner. I usually (i didn't do it this weekend) because I worked 2 weeks straight and we went to the pumpkin patch and then didn't get a pumpkin..I did not want to spend 20 dollars for one pumpkin..and I have two girls. Anyways..i usually sit down on Sundays and read the paper and then clip coupons and then go through the flyer to see what's on sale and plan my menu for the week. If we have Soccer practice that night I plan something simple like mac and cheese and hot dogs. It works for me...I know I save money that way..it just time consuming.Gabrielle Maderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13789217163212189595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-83871778474321527852008-10-27T07:39:00.000-07:002008-10-27T07:39:00.000-07:00Dear Manuela,I am not very good at menu planning, ...Dear Manuela,<BR/><BR/>I am not very good at menu planning, but I will try to have an idea what I will cook and bake for at least two days. I order grass-fed lamb and fish once a month and keep my freezer stocked. I also try to keep my pantry stocked with the basics and buy fresh produce every week. I like the idea of shopping from your own pantry. I love to cook and bake from scratch and I find that has always saved a lot of money. We also eat all the leftovers, nothing goes to waste.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for sharing this!<BR/>Have a lovely week. I hope this one is better than last week!<BR/>PaulaPaulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09955769851619781088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-37399076877194771872008-10-27T06:53:00.000-07:002008-10-27T06:53:00.000-07:00Hi Manuela~ I thought about you the other day to w...Hi Manuela~ I thought about you the other day to whether you started another blog and I saw a link on another blog. Hope all is well. Your new blog is lovely. Have a great week.<BR/>BristolBristolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15801010028757405917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-63890094964851740342008-10-27T06:24:00.000-07:002008-10-27T06:24:00.000-07:00Hi Manuela, yes, we do plan meals in our house. A...Hi Manuela, yes, we do plan meals in our house. Actually, I should say my husband Chris does as he is the cook in our family. I make a dish for dinner only about once a week or so.<BR/><BR/>He sits down with me once a week and asks what I would like, what he is thinking of making etc and then does the food shopping from there.<BR/><BR/>This is done on a weekly basis. We like very much to eat out as well and I would say we do so about 2 times a week on average. <BR/><BR/>We are flexible with the week's food as well, so if we don't feel like that pasta one night, we can have it the next. It also lets me plan, if he is busy and cannot cook, then that is the day or days I know I will be doing the cooking because it will make his life easier. We've been doing it this way for years and it seems to work out most of the time, with planning meals this way.<BR/><BR/>RuthRuth Welterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08822466687503082708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-38588313043003442592008-10-27T06:02:00.000-07:002008-10-27T06:02:00.000-07:00We have been menu planning for several years now a...We have been menu planning for several years now and quite honestly I'm not sure I could go without it! It started out as a necessity as Audley was only paid twice a month and I was spending a fortune running to and from the grocery store throughout the month. Now, I plan for one week at a time and a back-up meal in case our plans change.<BR/><BR/>I gather ideas throughout the week for the family, magazines, my cookbooks and even food network. I keep a running list of these and add one or two things a week to our fairly basic dinner menu. I make a complete list before I shop for groceries (sometimes checking to see what is on sale or what I have coupons for) and then I check and see what I already have on hand and remove it from the list.<BR/><BR/>I try to plan crock pot meals for those days when we are on the go and also look at what all is on our calender for the week. If we are eating late, I will plan a light dinner, or if nothing is on the schedule I'll go all out. If Audley is out of town, I might plan something a really easy (as simple as hamburger helper) just so the kids can cook dinner.<BR/><BR/>I also save all of our menus in a 3-ring binder so that I can look back and see that I am keeping plenty of variety in our dinners.<BR/><BR/>Hope you have a great week!<BR/>JenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-87103157706578373252008-10-27T03:14:00.000-07:002008-10-27T03:14:00.000-07:00Wow you are up early too! I have a headache still!...Wow you are up early too! I have a headache still!<BR/>Come plan my meals for me :)ShabbyInTheCityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14091272622098491527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-28089219481055116172008-10-26T21:05:00.000-07:002008-10-26T21:05:00.000-07:00I try to plan my menus about a week or two ahead, ...I try to plan my menus about a week or two ahead, but if I plan farther than that, what sounds good right now, might not sound good to me in 3 weeks! I always have meat in the freezer and lots to choose from in my pantry and food storage, so a good meal is always on hand! I enjoy your blog!<BR/>StephanieStephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00903601195460493959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-83105805436269290142008-10-26T20:15:00.000-07:002008-10-26T20:15:00.000-07:00Hi. I found your blog tonight and I just want you...Hi. I found your blog tonight and I just want you to know how much I've enjoyed it so far. I went back and read every post (or at least skimmed them). I started saving so many things that I liked, that I just went ahead and added you to my blogroll. Thank you for all of your common sense ideas and the inspiration to do the best with what I have!Lurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08072001002835014391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-22046890135379466962008-10-26T17:54:00.000-07:002008-10-26T17:54:00.000-07:00I sort of kind of plan by the week..... BUt my hus...I sort of kind of plan by the week..... BUt my husband just told me this weekend he is going to semi retire next year.... so I am going to be counting on all your wonderful ideas..... to help me save money..... should have been worried about that for a long time.... but I am NOW.....<BR/>HUgs<BR/>LindaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-37108706665468497942008-10-26T15:56:00.000-07:002008-10-26T15:56:00.000-07:00helpful post. i alwas plan.. and rarely follow :( ...helpful post. i alwas plan.. and rarely follow :( i dont do well... but I wish to do well!! hahMomto5 RachelJoy Photographyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18108929304137785669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-8455082978117693302008-10-26T15:19:00.000-07:002008-10-26T15:19:00.000-07:00You're right that planning saves money. I havent b...You're right that planning saves money. I havent been doing it lately, just shopping the sales and couponing and working with what I have. Seems to be working for me right now. We focus on filling the large pantry and freezer with things we like and then we always have the ingredients we need.Kathleen Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11551093555973581448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-89750556628766881082008-10-26T14:54:00.000-07:002008-10-26T14:54:00.000-07:00Wow, what a timely post! I was sitting here this ...Wow, what a timely post! I was sitting here this morning thinking that I have fallen off the menu planning wagon the last week or so and need to get back on. It's important for me, because our son has developed a milk allergy/intolerance, and if I don't plan ahead the only quick and easy menus I have all include cream of something soups! OK, off I go to the land of notebook paper, pantry shopping and Sunday sales circulars! ;>Virginiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08929891137531671124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-64909011303426667192008-10-26T14:34:00.000-07:002008-10-26T14:34:00.000-07:00I'm terrible at menu planning & have never...I'm terrible at menu planning & have never done a good job of that for too long. I do buy my meats on sale & keep the freezer stocked up with chicken breasts, pork & beef roats, etc., so there is always meat around. I tend to rotate and have a meat with sides one night and chili or soup the next night and then something else the next night. I hardly ever plan ahead. I just tend to keep cooking the same things for the most part & just rotate everything every couple of weeks or so. I do throw in a new side dish or soup here & there when I find something new that sounds good. So far that's working pretty good for me. I think we get by pretty well on shopping the weekly grocery sales & buying meat on sale.Rhoda @ Southern Hospitalityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16741881774379561710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-17206455517056409212008-10-26T13:11:00.000-07:002008-10-26T13:11:00.000-07:00Oh I like the picture of the woman rolling up her ...Oh I like the picture of the woman rolling up her sleeves! Since our German appliances are so small, we really have to think about what foods to buy based on what we want to eat. So I guess it's forced planning!<BR/><BR/>Thank you for visiting me at www.makingthishome.com the other day so that I could find you! The pictures on your blog are really great--I love all the different sources to accompany your words.<BR/>KatieKatie @ makingthishome.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08720106984004009369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-62916514488514014192008-10-26T11:34:00.000-07:002008-10-26T11:34:00.000-07:00This is not a strength of mine as I tend to decide...This is not a strength of mine as I tend to decide what to make the day of cooking. I don't think I can have a set meal plan without flexibility, so when I do plan I try to keep it loose that way.<BR/><BR/>You are so right though that is saves money! It can really help to utilize those items that get lost in the fridge before they end up looking like a science project. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-5066081603957121452008-10-26T10:31:00.000-07:002008-10-26T10:31:00.000-07:00First of all, thank you very much for addressing a...First of all, thank you very much for addressing a topic that I myself need to work on a little more. Second, I am grateful for the link. I am going to sit down today and work on becoming more organized about the week's meals and grocery shopping (I tend to drop by the store everyday - isn't that awful?)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by my blog!<BR/>Blessings,<BR/>ElizabethElizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00495298953834229360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-41532559843869807252008-10-26T10:04:00.001-07:002008-10-26T10:04:00.001-07:00I have to say I plan more than I do not...I could ...I have to say I plan more than I do not...I could be better...sheila from life @ #17https://www.blogger.com/profile/14307471105709629639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-7461996290141092232008-10-26T10:04:00.000-07:002008-10-26T10:04:00.000-07:00I grumble about this all the time. I think it is ...I grumble about this all the time. I think it is why we out too often too. I need to sit down and make a menu. I told my hubby that I've been doing this for 25 years and I'm ready to turn the menu planning over to someone else. I'll have to check out that website.Bettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03598073152850671278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-39438331457305753412008-10-26T10:03:00.000-07:002008-10-26T10:03:00.000-07:00I have have starting writing out a menu for 2 week...I have have starting writing out a menu for 2 weeks worth of meals and posting it on the fridge. Every time I make one I cross it off the list. This has helped organize me and ground me. When I start thinking about supper I go to the list and it's nice to know that everything I need to prepare the meal is in the pantry!<BR/><BR/>It's also nice because I usually give hubs a choice in the morning about what to eat so I can just read off the list instead of standing in front of the pantry for 15 min while trying to remember what all we have!<BR/><BR/>I look forward to seeing your menu and ideas!Victoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18355490512757848795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-84638313448234535322008-10-26T05:07:00.000-07:002008-10-26T05:07:00.000-07:00I enjoy baking far more than cooking as well, whic...I enjoy baking far more than cooking as well, which may be why I've resisted menu planning for so many years. Every day I feel that same anxiety...what's for dinner? So this post is nudging me in the right direction. Now I'm going to read what your commenters have said for more info. Thanks!Veehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00618654361869856894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-80590484955363965262008-10-26T04:48:00.000-07:002008-10-26T04:48:00.000-07:00I'm a crazy menu planner. But, often times the me...I'm a crazy menu planner. But, often times the menu gets thrown aside for a spontaneous meal (per hubby's request) and it makes me crazy. But, I like everything to be just so and throwing a wrench in my plans doesn't quite work for me. LOL.<BR/>But, if i don't plan, I would buy crazy stuff at the store for sure. LOL.Suzannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09305115475768268004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-8827843128624865172008-10-25T23:40:00.000-07:002008-10-25T23:40:00.000-07:00I sure enjoyed catching up on your Site tonight. ...I sure enjoyed catching up on your Site tonight. SO impressed with the harlequin planters you covered and the twig arrangements! Also, I love the candle sticks you painted black and the beautiful job you did on the bookcases. Very nice! : )<BR/>Mary LouM.L. @ The House of Whimsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11876000107443188596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-63334633912807477292008-10-25T22:31:00.000-07:002008-10-25T22:31:00.000-07:00Meal planning is something that I'm trying to be m...Meal planning is something that I'm trying to be more consistent at also. I try to plan for two weeks. I try to plan some quick meals, along with more involved meals. When something comes up, and things get crazy, I use the quick meal. I plan mostly from my pantry. When I want a change, then I look at my cookbooks or go on line to find something different.Then shop intentionally. <BR/> All of your project are so inspiring to me. Your tassel project was so cute, I had to make one, only I couldn't find the right kind of shaker. So I found an alternative, and still had the fun of making a quick, elegant tassel. I wrote about it on my blog. Thank you for the inspiration.<BR/>DebbieDebbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07290066332265098182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-56099743594441555662008-10-25T20:04:00.000-07:002008-10-25T20:04:00.000-07:00I used to be better at menu planning. Now that th...I used to be better at menu planning. Now that there's just the 2 of us it's a lot less stressful. Sometimes it's popcorn for dinner cause that's what we feel like. MimiMimi Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10615059010141169618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419684017931883072.post-10659016265588545182008-10-25T19:37:00.000-07:002008-10-25T19:37:00.000-07:00Dear Manuela, What a treasure and a beauty your bl...Dear Manuela, What a treasure and a beauty your blog is! I am just starting one about loving to be a homemaker at http://kindaretro.blogspot.com and I COULD LEARN SO MUCH FROM YOU! Would you mind if i list your blotg in my retro blog list? If so just let me know. I am a menu planner for sure, but I am also a meal freezer, making triple batches of a dish and freezing the other 2 batches so that I don't have to cook 3 times a day every day. Some even do once a month cooking, and spend about 4 hours cooking enough entrees for a month of dinners, then add some fresh ingredients at the last minute after they have been cooked. Sure simplifies life. I also advocate buying in bulk and dividing into usable portions, storing food, and owning a big freezer. It is so much more cost-efficient and time efficient. I will visit often! Isn't it great choosing to be a homemaker??<BR/>Blessings,<BR/>Sheila/BluebirdyBluebirdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07443245849821593007noreply@blogger.com