I love lists. They're one of my favorite things. Honestly. I'm that weirdo who actually looks forward to the part of doctor visits where you to have to fill out forms.
Over the 6.5 years that I've been married to my dude, I've always menu planned for the whole week because I hate going to the grocery store and aimlessly buying stuff. Otherwise, 9 times out of 10, I'll buy stuff we already have, don't need or won't be able to use up before it spoils. So I menu plan. It keeps life simple, grocery shopping less hectic (especially since I often take my munchkins with me) and dinner time less of a panicked I-forgot-to-buy-tortillas situation.
It's also a fantastic way to make sure that you're including some variety in your meals. Asian and Mexican foods are my favorite cuisines to cook. Which I always admit awkwardly because I'm the whitest white girl you'll ever meet so I feel like I don't have enough street-cred (ethnic-cred?) to claim that those are my cooking strong points. So! we would probably stick to those two if I didn't menu plan.
I've tried several types of ways to organize my menu planning and I think I've finally settled on something that works perfectly for my family!
I've tried several types of ways to organize my menu planning and I think I've finally settled on something that works perfectly for my family!
This guy is something I discovered at Target a couple months ago and I'm a huge fan. Before this came into my life, I was using paper menu plan things (from Michaels) that hung on my fridge. Every week something comes up and causes me to have to rearrange the plan and so I was burning through those papers like crazy.
This option, however, is dry-erase so I can just quickly wipe something off and move it around. Love that! I also love that it has a spot to keep the marker attached because I would totally lose it in two seconds if it didn't!
I hung this on our kitchen cabinets using the 3M velcro-like tabs and it's staying up fantastically. I also like that it has a cork strip on the bottom so I can pin any to-do lists (because you know I make a new one every day) or whatnot onto it.
I also like that the husband can glance at it on his way out the door in the morning and know what we're going to be eating. Which sometimes means that he knows he only has a certain number of hours to convince me to add some meat to a vegetarian meal. :)
Anyhow, this isn't a sponsored post or anything like that. Target has no idea who I am. I just love this product and the simplicity it has brought to my life so I wanted to share with y'all.
Oh hey, would you like one? I would love to send you one!
~ Giveaway Details ~
1 Dry Erase Magnetic Weekly Planner. Giveaway open to residents of the U.S.
How to Enter: leave a comment letting me know what your favorite weeknight dinner is!
Bonus Entry! Pin this page or anything from my blog to Pinterest. Leave a separate comment letting me know!
Bonus Entry #2: Invite friends to join the Damn Good Food facebook page by clicking on the page's asterisk and selecting the "share" option. Leave a separate comment letting me know you did so!
Giveaway ends 1/13/13. Winner will be announced on my blog bright and early the morning of the 14th. I highly advise leaving your email address or blog link with your comment(s) so I can directly contact you. :)
Because of the cold weather, the favorite at my house right now is hot sandwiches and soup. In the summer, it's anything that comes off the grill. jtwitchell2001@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteFabulous idea! I love lists too, there's something so sastifying about making a list and crossing each item off. Just pinned this post, plus your chocolate biscotti (YUM!). jtwitchell2001@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI've pinned lots of stuff and brag about DGF often ... does that count?
ReplyDeleteI use the paper kind from Michaels but I'd be willing to give this a go. Sad news, when close friends win giveaways it looks suspicious. Darn
My hubs and I both work full-time, so on weeknights, QUICK is key! Our current fave is roasted spaghetti squash with a great tomato sauce and a giant salad. Absolutely delish, healthy, and fast!You rock Sarah! undisclosedpropensities@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite weeknight dinner is one that somebody else cooks! LOL
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, it is something that is quick & easy, like spaghetti, or something I can put in the crockpot, like taco soup.
Thanks for the chance to win the dry erase board :)
Pinned this page: http://pinterest.com/pin/91197961176211183/
ReplyDeleteOur favorite week night dinner is fast and easy, like pasta or fish.
ReplyDeletePinned the avocado spinach enchiladas and love your pb chicken!
ReplyDeleteI have pinned several things, but today I pinned the chicken artichoke soup. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy fave weeknight dinner is spaghetti bolognese, bolognese in the crock pot!
ReplyDeleteMy go to is chicken and rice casserole. I can put it on, and let it bake while doing other things.
ReplyDeleteOur favorite is pizza. Too bad we aren't eating too much right now. Or yakisoba (japanese fried noodles and vegetables, speaking of white people making asian food...).
ReplyDeleteThat's a fantastic idea! I'm on the "burning through paper like mad", as my man and I share meal-making duties...so if one of us has a brilliant idea, the entire rest of the week has to change.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite mid-week meal is curry. I take leftovers, add coconut milk and a little broth, and curry seasoning, then serve it over rice. Voila! :)
(forgot email: bethwade1 at gmail dot com )
DeletePinned your smashed red potatoes recipe (yum! dill!): http://pinterest.com/pin/249246160599147052/
ReplyDelete(forgot email: bethwade1 at gmail dot com )
DeleteFacebook love: https://www.facebook.com/beth.wade.568/posts/554745664555213
ReplyDeletebethwade1 at gmail dot com
we love baked fish
ReplyDeleteinvited friends to join us on facebook
ReplyDeleteCrockpot roast and veggies--when I walk in the door and smell those wonderful smells and realize I don't have to do anything more to get it ready! desertsurvivor @ live.com
ReplyDeleteWe are a big fan of chicken and rice for dinner! My personal favorite thought is tofu pad thai!
ReplyDeletePinned your roasted red pepper soup recipe! Gonna try that one soon!
ReplyDeleteEating out. ;)
ReplyDeleteI like pizza because it's something I know that the kids will always eat. I really like breakfast for dinner too.
My favorite weeknight dinner is probably fettucine alfredo because I usually have everything on hand to make it so it saves me if I've run out of time to do what was originally planned. brianne.hoag@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Pinned this page because it is a great idea!
ReplyDeletebrianne.hoag@gmail.com
Shared on facebook! brianne.hoag@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite week night meal is tacos! Love it because I can get all the "fixings" ready before hand and makes for an easy post-meal clean up. Plus, my whole family LOVES tacos :)
ReplyDeleteSarah Kracke