Works For Me Wednesday

Okay this is a newly discovered idea. I love the idea of weekly menus and have tried several different times in the past to implement them. But it has only been just recently that I have figured out a way to make them really work.

• I printed up a blank weekly calendar from PrintMaster.
  
• I then divided the days into three sections. A small one for breakfast, and two bigger ones for lunch and dinner.
• I then fill in the easier sections first
  
• Breakfast is always really easy; cereal on the days that I work in the morning, then rotate between things like waffles (frozen), French toast and oatmeal on days that I don't work early.
• Some of the lunches are easy; days I work mornings get sandwiches, it is up to hubby and kids what kinds. Other days are more invovled because I am working afternoons I like to cook lunch on those days. Sundays always depend on if we are eating at church or not.
• Dinners again rotate, easier things on days I work afternoons. Thursdays always get leftovers because that is our day to spend the afternoon in town at church meetings. Fridays it is homemade pizza - toppings vary from week to week.
  
• I try to put one new recipe in a week -- this week it is Pizza Chicken today -- If it is a keeper that recipe then goes into my recipe keeper.
• I fill in the leftover spaces with other dishes that I like to make and I know my family likes.
  
• I keep the menu on the fridge in a sheet protector.
• I make it on Satuday afternoon, check supplies, and make the grocery list from it. Only one trip to the grocery for the week.
  
• And -- this is the best part -- After the week is over, I put it in a notebook to keep for later to give me ideas.

For more great ideas see Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer