November Menu & Giving Thanks

As I'm planning for our November meals I realize I've lost some a lot of the joy in serving my family through this continual task of cooking and cleaning up and shopping and planning. We've been doing well to eat at home relatively economically but no doubt about it, it has become a grind.  So I'll be working on my heart this month as I'm working with my hands to seek the blessing of these days and these potentially mundane tasks.  And no better time than in this season of Thanksgiving!

This month I'll give thanks for:
* plenty of food on the table, and in our pantry and freezers - God has provided
* the healthy faces that gather at our table to be nourished and trained
* the blessing of having a husband who will pitch in with cleaning up so my work is made lighter
* a kitchen that is amply equipped for preparing meals with ease - running water, a dishwasher, a great mixer and so much more - these are indeed gifts
* the special recipes of this season which add richness to our lives and the future memories of our children

In the shopping department I'm hoping to stock up on some seasonal sales, especially butter and sugar and hams and a couple turkeys.  We'll also continue with our Bountiful Baskets pick-up to keep things fresh and healthy. 

Dinners:
1. crispy buffalo chicken salad (inspired by one I've enjoyed a couple times at Mimi's Cafe)
2. chicken parmesan w/spaghetti, yellow squash
3. broccoli cheese soup, whole wheat rolls
4. savory chicken tenders, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower
5. homemade pizza
6. chicken noodle soup, cheese biscuits
7. roast beef, mashed potatoes & gravy, corn
8. corn chowder, ham focaccia
9. eggs, sausage, raspberry muffins
10. beef stew, biscuits
11. Colorado white chili, chips, apples
12. shepherds pie
13. beef & broccoli, brown rice
14. pasta e fagioli, garlic breadsticks
15. steaks, baked potatoes, green vegetable
16. baked potato soup, crackers, raw veggies & dip
17. cheesy chicken pasta bake, green beans
18. chili, cornbread, raw veggies
19. rice bowls (beans, cheese, salsa, veg., sour cream, etc.)
20. tacos
21. sloppy joes, spaghetti squash, fruit salad
22. slow cooker garlic brown sugar chicken, rice, broccoli
23. pineapple chicken, rice, carrots
24. turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, mixed vegetables
25. Birthday dinner out?  Or at least take-out?

Lunches:
leftovers
chicken salad sandwiches
lentil soup w/added veggies & pasta
pasta salad w/ham or turkey
snack lunch (fruit, meat, cheese, crackers, veggies)
pintos, rice & cheese

Breakfasts:
pumpkin coffee cake
scrambled eggs w/ swiss chard, ham & cheese
whole wheat cinnamon rolls
soaked oatmeal w/fruit
green smoothies, hard-boiled eggs
oatmeal
cinnamon oat zucchini muffins

Baking, Sweets & Treats:
whole wheat bread
apple crisp w/ice cream
caramel apple cider
caramel corn
chewy ginger cookies

Dinners in bold are the meals we'll intentionally have a child help with.

What are you cooking up this month?

October Menu Plan - Better Late Than Never

We've taken a big trip this month to Canada in celebration of my grandmother-in-law's 90th birthday.  We had a great time and were blessed to be hosted so generously by my in-laws so I've not done much cooking of late.  But we're back to reality here so I'm trying to jump back in to home life and making some decent meals for the rest of this month.  I also have the opportunity to get away to a retreat so I tried to include some options which my husband can easily make since I haven't had time and wasn't organized enough to stock the freezer with meals for my absence.  We'll continue with our big kids helping to prepare and clean up one dinner during the month.   As I made this menu I included as much as possible from ingredients we already have on hand and that will clear out our freezers as I need to make room for 80 lbs. of chicken which will be picked up at the end of this month.  Time to get eating!

Dinners:
1. beef burritos
2. creamy chicken wild rice soup
3. roast beef, mashed potatoes & gravy, corn
4. spaghetti & homemade sauce
5. beef stew, biscuits
6. take-and-bake pizza (thanks to a gift card)
*7. sweet & sour meatballs, rice, green beans
*8. whole wheat pancakes, bacon, fruit
*9. BBQ chicken sandwiches, carrots
10. chicken noodle soup, biscuits
*11. pizza (one cheese, one ground beef)
12. chicken pot pie
13. salad with chicken & feta

Lunches:
leftovers
scrambled eggs, toast, fruit
quesadillas, carrots
egg salad sandwiches
ham sandwiches

Breakfasts:
cold cereal (thanks to Grandma)
homemade granola
soaked oatmeal w/berries
pumpkin whole wheat muffins
oatmeal

Baking:
cranberry oat bars
whole wheat bread

caramel corn

*Kid's choice = they make or help with the meal they chose.

Our grocery budget may be a bit off this month as we've made some bulk purchases with the chicken coming and 150 lbs. of wheat purchased on our way home which together account for around $200.  We'll just have to see how it all plays out.