Must we re-think the weekly menu and grocery list 52 times a year! What if we create a basic monthly menu and general shopping list which can be used over and over? Of course, this is flexible, and new items can be added to your menu while the ones you're tired of can be deleted, but the idea is to MAKE a menu plan, PRINT IT OUT and take it with you when you MUST make an emergency trip to the grocery store.

Hopefully, this will prevent the problem of "I got a full basket of groceries and NOTHING to eat!" Most of these are simple meals that don't need a lot of fuss to get to the table.

My 5-week plan has 5 dinner meals each week. This allows for one leftover night and one night out.

You can make the meals as simple or complicated as you want. For example, many grocery stores offer baked chicken in the deli. You may choose to purchase this instead of baking it yourself at home. You may choose canned green beans and instant mashed potatoes or you may have the time to make the baked chicken yourself, fresh green beans and homemade mashed potatoes.

You decide what works for you!

Week One:
- Hamburgers, lettuce, tomato, cheese, oven fried potatoes
- Baked Chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy
- Macaroni and Cheese, Spinach
- Pea Soup and ham, garlic bread
- Shrimp and rice, broccoli

Week Two:
- Tuna noodle casserole, corn, chicken soup, cheese, noodles, mayo
- Polish sausage, pan-fried potatoes, red cabbage
- Veal stew, potatoes, carrots, beef bouillon
- Tacos, cheese, taco seasoning, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, ground beef
- Chicken Chinese meal, snow peas, rice, chicken breast, carrots

Week Three:
- Chicken breast, rice, spinach, mushrooms
- Spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread, salad
- Pork chops, Au gratin potatoes, sauerkraut or red cabbage
- Beef Stew, potatoes, and carrots
- Lasagna, salad

Week Four:
- Hot dogs, baked beans, sauerkraut
- Steak, rice, salad
- Omelets and pan-fried potatoes
- Meatloaf, potatoes, carrots
- Soup and sandwich (egg or tuna salad), chicken noodle soup

Week Five:
- Homemade Pizza, salad
- Vegetable dinner, steamed squash, corn on cob, carrots, green beans, hot rolls
- Cabbage rolls, soft bread steaks, salad
- Chicken noodle casserole, carrots or vegetable in season
- Shrimp, red beans and rice, steamed broccoli

Focus on the weekly specials of fruit and vegetables in season; changing as needed.

Staples: flour, sugar, cereal, orange juice, soup, mayo, condiments, salt and pepper, paper products, cleaning products, personal products.

by Leslie Sausage
heart4home.net

Leslie Sausage lives with her husband in rural Texas. She is the mom of four grown children, a freelance writer and an elementary school teacher! She is the author of several eBooks. For creative, practical and fun ideas please visit her web site at http://www.heart4home.net