So new laptop does not have a program that will open my menus that I had on my desktop. So I have to redo then all. They will be up as soon as they are finished hopefully tonight or tomorrow morning. Thanks for understanding.
Side note: temperature is not going to stay this unusually warm for long so enjoy it and start planning your chillis, soups, stews, and oven meals soon!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Grocery Shopping Step 1
Grocery shopping trip to be planned for one day this weekend. So I need to prepare now to figure out what I will be needing to buy.
First thing we do is go through the cupboards, fridge, freezers and pantry to see what we have. After a while you will be able to have a general idea, but I still like to double check to make sure that I have not missed anything that will spoil soon. I record what I need to be using this month in my meal planner. I do NOT like wasting food.
When we are going through things we take note of how much of our 'always on hand' items we still have. This month/6 weeks(See I plan for a month but normally end up having enough food for 6-8 weeks even)
This month we are starting to run low on whole grain pasta, frozen peas, canned and dried beans, cereal and sugar. So I put those things into my grocery list app(pen and paper works just as well).
Now that I have a good idea as to what I have on hand I start to make the menu out for the month. This is the part that takes some time, but after one or two tries it is simple and quick. One way to simplify things is to make breakfast the same for each matching day of the week. Mondays are always cereal with fruit. Ect. Here is an example of my monthly menu. Note I personally found it more simple if I work all the breakfasts for the month and then go back and do lunch and dinners for each day. Lastly, I do snacks. Also, because of my husbands work schedule we eat a larger meal at lunch and a lighter one at dinner.
Mondays-Cereal with Banana
Tuesdays-Scrambled eggs sprinkled with cheese and a piece of whole grain toast
Wednesdays-Oatmeal with raisins
Thursdays-Poached eggs on English Muffin
Fridays-Special pancakes with dad! They varies from week to week, but are always pancakes. We have had blue, red, green, sprinkles, chocolate chips(which we learned the boys actually do NOT like), fruit..ect. Whatever the great dad of the house feels like cooking up!
Saturdays-Egg scramble with whole grain toast. Scrambles are made to order with your choice or tomatoes, spinach, onions, ham, cheese, mushrooms and whatever else we may have on hand.
Sundays-Whole grain toast with peanut butter and fruit
Stop back by tomorrow to see my completed menu and time saving shortcuts that I use for meal ideas.
First thing we do is go through the cupboards, fridge, freezers and pantry to see what we have. After a while you will be able to have a general idea, but I still like to double check to make sure that I have not missed anything that will spoil soon. I record what I need to be using this month in my meal planner. I do NOT like wasting food.
When we are going through things we take note of how much of our 'always on hand' items we still have. This month/6 weeks(See I plan for a month but normally end up having enough food for 6-8 weeks even)
This month we are starting to run low on whole grain pasta, frozen peas, canned and dried beans, cereal and sugar. So I put those things into my grocery list app(pen and paper works just as well).
Now that I have a good idea as to what I have on hand I start to make the menu out for the month. This is the part that takes some time, but after one or two tries it is simple and quick. One way to simplify things is to make breakfast the same for each matching day of the week. Mondays are always cereal with fruit. Ect. Here is an example of my monthly menu. Note I personally found it more simple if I work all the breakfasts for the month and then go back and do lunch and dinners for each day. Lastly, I do snacks. Also, because of my husbands work schedule we eat a larger meal at lunch and a lighter one at dinner.
Mondays-Cereal with Banana
Tuesdays-Scrambled eggs sprinkled with cheese and a piece of whole grain toast
Wednesdays-Oatmeal with raisins
Thursdays-Poached eggs on English Muffin
Fridays-Special pancakes with dad! They varies from week to week, but are always pancakes. We have had blue, red, green, sprinkles, chocolate chips(which we learned the boys actually do NOT like), fruit..ect. Whatever the great dad of the house feels like cooking up!
Saturdays-Egg scramble with whole grain toast. Scrambles are made to order with your choice or tomatoes, spinach, onions, ham, cheese, mushrooms and whatever else we may have on hand.
Sundays-Whole grain toast with peanut butter and fruit
Stop back by tomorrow to see my completed menu and time saving shortcuts that I use for meal ideas.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Fruit Sneaker
A great way to sneak in an extra serving of fruit a day is to put pureed fruit on pancakes, or even waffles in the morning. I would suggest whole wheat, or other whole grain choice for the bread item, however, even adding just the fruit to your white pancakes or waffles it a great replacement to your syrup.
Not only do you get in a serving of fruit you cut out extra sugar that you add from your syrup. There is a wide varieties of fruit that make your pancakes OVER the top for your children.
Apples
Blueberries
Pineapple
Strawberries
are our favorites.
Take fruit and peel off the rinds and clean. Place in a sauce pan with 1/4 cup of water, let simmer until soft. Take a potato masher and mash the fruit to bring some more juices out. Serve over warm pancakes.
Another option for the apples is to first make applesauce the night before and serve that over the pancakes or waffles.
This is also a great special treat before bedtime.
Additional ideas: Add plain yogurt with your fruit, sprinkle cinnamon on top of fruit, need a crunch? mix in granola to your fruit before applying to pancakes, or try some peanut butter on your pancake or waffle first followed by your fruit.
Let me know if your little ones like this version of their morning favorites.
Not only do you get in a serving of fruit you cut out extra sugar that you add from your syrup. There is a wide varieties of fruit that make your pancakes OVER the top for your children.
Apples
Blueberries
Pineapple
Strawberries
are our favorites.
Take fruit and peel off the rinds and clean. Place in a sauce pan with 1/4 cup of water, let simmer until soft. Take a potato masher and mash the fruit to bring some more juices out. Serve over warm pancakes.
Another option for the apples is to first make applesauce the night before and serve that over the pancakes or waffles.
This is also a great special treat before bedtime.
Additional ideas: Add plain yogurt with your fruit, sprinkle cinnamon on top of fruit, need a crunch? mix in granola to your fruit before applying to pancakes, or try some peanut butter on your pancake or waffle first followed by your fruit.
Let me know if your little ones like this version of their morning favorites.
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