Hello beautiful ladies! Is it feeling like fall yet in your area? The leaves are changing here and the temperature is definitely cooler. I’m thinking it’s time to start making soup again. Last year during the fall/winter I would try to designate one night as soup night and I think I’ll do it again. Using theme nights when menu planning can really help to take the guesswork out it. Some other ideas include pasta night, mexican night, pizza night, etc. I usually do a beef night, a pork night, a chicken night, a leftover night, a pizza night and now a soup night. Sometimes I add a breakfast for dinner night just to be wild and crazy 🙂 My friend Andrea from Simple Organized Living just started using this method. You can read more about her process here. Do you like to use theme nights to plan your weekly dinner?
Resources:
First up are two posts all about grocery shopping with kids, something I love to do. I hate it when I have to go grocery shopping alone which is the case now that my youngest is in school full time. It always made the time go so much faster and I found there are just so many teaching moments in the grocery store. Of course it does take some training and these two posts below provide a lot of helpful hints on how to do that.
Grocery Shopping with Small Children ~ @ Books \’n Other Stuff
Grocery Shopping with Kids ~ @ Organizing with Sandy
Next up:
Menu Board with free printable ~ @ This Mom’s Happy Life
Very cute Lunch Organization Chart Tutorial ~ @ Lil’ Luna
Find more of my family’s favorite soup recipes listed in my Family Favorite Recipe Index.
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My Menu Plan:
Monday: Spaghetti a la Philly
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Black Bean, Corn and Chicken Chili
Wednesday: Smokey Honey Mustard Pork Chops
Thursday: Leftover buffet
Friday: Soup night ~ Spud Special Soup (a family favorite!) served with Bread Machine Buttermilk Wheat Bread
Saturday: Dinner out!
Sunday: Breakfast for dinner ~ Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
WHAT’S ON YOUR MENU THIS WEEK?
Menu Plan Monday guidelines and banner selections are here.
Rita says
I think our weather here in northern Michigan is much like yours. I love the menu choices this week!
The Happy Housewife says
I wish we had fall weather here! It is still in the high 80’s/ 90’s!
I’ll just have to remember that when everyone else is stuck in the snow we’ll be at the pool. 🙂
You’re menu looks great, we’re having some fall recipes this week too… we’ll just turn down the a/c when we eat them. 🙂
Laura says
LOL!
Liz@PocketChangeGourmet says
Thanks for hosting Laura! Wondering if anyone else get a Database Error when trying to enter.
~Liz from Hoosier Homemade & Pocket Change Gourmet
Laura says
Yes it’s because of everyone trying to access at the same time. Sorry about that!
Gretchen says
I am going to have to try that spud soup. Thanks for hosting!
Elizabeth@ReadySetSimplify says
It is just barely starting to feel like fall here. I like the theme night idea. I do usually try to have at least one meatless night, but this week I have 3! I also like to have one soup night and one crockpot day – but this week I have neither, so I guess I’m not that consistent! But soup and crockpot meals are likely to increase here as the weather cools. Happy fall to you!
April @ Angel Foods Kitchen says
Those Apple Cinnamon Pancakes look so good, I pinned them to try soon.
Liz, your not the only one getting the error message. I think so many people are trying to come on Laura’s page at the same time, that it causes the site to temporarily crash.
Thanks for hosting MPM Laura and have a great week! 🙂
Laura says
Yes that’s exactly what is happening 🙂
SnoWhite @ Finding Joy in My Kitchen says
Have you ever made wheat buttermilk bread before? We hadn’t until over the summer and it’s our favorite bread — so moist and yummy. You’ll love it, if you haven’t made it before.
I’m with you, soups are back on the menu.
Laura says
Yes this recipe for bread is one of our favorites. So good!!!
joann says
Theme nights help me very much with meal planning. I don’t think I could do it without the themes. It’s overwhelming to me. “Taco Tuesday” is a favorite with everyone.
I’ve also been trying some new soup recipes. We eat it many days for lunch. The kiddos love soup. I just need some more recipes! Unfortunately, any form of potato soup will not be on our menu courtesy of me.
Laura says
Do you not like potatoes?
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy says
Yes, I love to plan by themes, and they change according to season, too. This week is also my first week bringing soups back into the menu. I usually have 1 slow cooker dish, 1 pasta dish, 1 breakfast-for-dinner, 1 sandwich-ish meal, and 1 more involved meal. In the fall and winter, soup usually replaces the pasta dish or casserole.
Laura says
Great minds think alike 🙂
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
We’re experiencing fall weather here in the mid-Atlantic. Today, I’m making Tuscan Tomato soup; I’ll be posting the recipe later.
The apple cinnamon pancakes look yummy! I think we’ll try them next weekend. My dh likes to make breakfast on the weekends. I’m okay with that!
Beneath The Clutter says
I love the idea of having a soup night, especially for the fall. I usually have a fish night (or two). Well, I should really call it salmon night because that’s all I seem to cook.
This week’s menu includes tostadas, steak with a corn salsa, and baked ravioli. Still need to figure out Thursday dinner. Fridays are our Out To Eat Night.
Queen of the House says
Yes, we are definitely have fall weather and I, too, and in the mood for soup! My menu plan this week also has me using my crock pot 3 times! Haha! Have a great week!
ter@waaoms says
I finally put up my menu but for some reason am unable to link it above, it keeps telling me that it can not find a back link. Anyway you can see it at http://inthekitchenwaaoms.blogspot.com if you want!
Laura says
It simply means that you haven’t linked to me in the body of your Menu Plan Monday post.
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage says
Hey Laura! No changing leaves here yet, but definitely that “fall smell” in the air. But cooler? It’s been cooler all summer for us- boo. We have been having nice enough weather the past few weeks to ripen the tomatoes and peppers, though- whew!
I’ve used theme nights for years- i agree they make it easier to focus on what recipes to choose from and they help to keep variety. Mine are: Soup/Salad (guess which is winter and which is summer?), Mexican/Asian, Beans (really helps me to remember to cook with this frugal staple!), Chicken, Fish/Vegetarian, Pizza/Hamburger Night (alternate weeks), and leftover-whatever’s-around night. The beef and pork get used in the other nights, but chicken is my family’s favorite, so it gets it’s own night.
Of course, this is only a guideline- I always reserve the right to switch things up. 🙂
Tammy says
Thanks for posting so many great ideas, Laura!
Last week, I changed my menu plan on Thursday & Friday. I ended up using the frozen cooked chicken, provolone, & peppers that I used in my chicken cheesesteaks (Martha Stewart) last Sunday. I made a chicken pot pie on Thursday and chicken spaghetti on Friday.
Sept. 18th – Salad & crudités always available
SL-Sack Lunch for my son
Sun. – Roast, carrots, potatoes, peas, rolls
MSL – chicken (from grill Sat.), roll, carrots, string cheese, raspberries, crackers
Mon. – McD’s BOGO Happy Meals (takeout after play date)
TSL – Pizza, grapes
Tues. – Chik-fil-A (school’s night event)
WSL – Tofurkey sandwich, pretzels, carrots, string cheese, fruit strip
Wed. – Chili (cooked meat in freezer), pimento cheese, grilled cheese
ThSL – Pasta, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, string cheese, pretzels
Thurs. – French dip sandwiches (using leftover roast)
FSL – French Bread Pizza, grapes
Fri. – Chili (leftover) dogs, fries or onion rings
Sat. – Fair? – out
Tiffany says
I love soup! So glad cooler weather is here, so we can eat it more often.
Tracey M says
Thanks again for hosting this link up! I love the recipe ideas I get here.
SharonMarie @ kitchengrapevine.com says
I’m having a very hard time linking up to Menu Plan Monday. It goes to the link where a picture is supposed to pop up and then nothing happens. What am I doing wrong? Sometimes “once in a great while” I can get it to go through, but I don’t know what I do different those times.
Laura says
Hmmm I’m not sure Sharon, are you getting any sort of message? Have you linked to me in the body of your Menu Plan Monday post? It won’t let you link up if you haven’t done that.
Stephanie Sikorski says
I’m so excited to find you!
*I’m new here!*
I’m a Menu Monday girl too!
I tried to add a link above but I keep getting an error msg … what am I doing wrong?
Laura says
What does your message say? Have you linked to my site in the body of your Menu Plan Monday post? It won’t let you link up if you haven’t so that might be it. Let me know how you make out.
Erin@TheHumbledHomemaker says
My meal plan includes a recipe for a quick supper recipe! It’s my go-to supper when I need a fast meal! Thanks for the link up!
http://www.thehumbledhomemaker.com/2011/09/plan-it-dont-panic-meal-plan-for-919.html
Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger says
So happy to find an official menu plan monday site! Happy to share my attempts at organization! Thank you for hosting! **I am new here**
Laura says
Welcome, thanks for participating!!
Keisha@ CapturedFootprints says
Hello Laura!! I found your blog yesterday and instantly started following. It’s definitely feeling like fall here in “Hotlanta”…how crazy is that. But I know it is just mother nature playing games. Tomorrow the weather will be 80+ degrees.
I’m excited to participate in Menu Plan Monday!!! I’m new here!! I’ve been menu planning and coupon clipping since early spring. I enjoy it. I figured I needed to set the foundation for menu planning and cooking responsibilities between my fiancé and I. He is still getting use to it. :-). I planned to write a post about our menu so this is perfect timing. I will post and link up my plan tonight!! Thank you for hosting!!
Laura says
Awesome, thanks for participating Keisha!!
annika says
Thanks for hosting MMM again and sharing yummy recipes! I will be trying Spud Soup & Apple Pancakes soon!
Dawn @ Guiding Light says
Hi! I linked up for the first time – WOOT! Thanks for all the GREAT info on your blog / site!
Martha (MM) says
Hi Laura!
I’m finally back to menu planning after a summer of freedom. When I found myself muttering bad words under my breath because I didn’t have dinner planned after work I knew it was time to get back in the swing of things.
I agree with you on the theme nights. I think that’s one of the things that helped me most when I first started menu planning years ago. These days I usually take a quick inventory on what I have that needs to be used, then ask the family if there are any special requests for the week, and then fill in any days with either trying new recipes, theme nights, or meals from my once a month cook and freeze sessions.
Have a great week!
Christy @ Tools for Kitchens says
Hi, Laura! I am sharing three recipes today: ambrosia, wet bottom shoo-fly pie, and Lithuanian kugelis. Thank you for hosting us!
Carrie @ My Favorite Finds says
Hi, Laura. I know it’s Friday, and I’m so thankful your linky is open several days past Monday! I have been visiting your site everyday this week, looking for the link up, and I could finally find it today. I’ve never had a problem before, but for some reason this week, everytime I visited your homepage, and clicked on “Blog” or on “Menu Plan Monday”, I was taken to menu plans from last week. Oh well! I’m glad everything seems ok. I was kind of worried about ya!
Laura says
Hi Carrie, yes that has been happening to a few others. When you come to my site, try clicking on refresh, that seems to help the problem. Sorry about that!!!
Jennifer says
I came over to enter my menu plan for today and found this post, but no new post for Sept. 26. Am I looking in the wrong place?
Amy W.C. says
Here’s my new menu plannign blog! Everyone check it out and follow me! 🙂
http://thinspired1.blogspot.com/2011/09/its-obsession.html