I don't know when this crazy obsession for meal planning started, but one thing I do know is that it has worked for us the past ten years and it's about time I share my tips and tricks!


First things first, it’s all about the planning! I take my “menu ideas” list {the link is found on the sidebar to your right}, and plan out my entire month in advance on our calendar in the kitchen. What works best for us is the following:


Sundays = a nice meal

Mondays = chicken

Tuesdays = soup/pasta

Wednesdays = beef

Thursdays = fish

Fridays = Date Nights {i.e. no cooking}!

Saturdays = misc

This way we rotate meals so we aren’t stuck in a rut. I then take my “grocery list” {the link is found on the sidebar to your right} and make my shopping list for the next 2 weeks. Remember, initially this takes more time in the beginning, but then your entire month is planned and you won’t have to figure out what’s for dinner plus I promise it saves money on your grocery bill!

January 4, 2009

Roast

My sweet husband threw dinner together this particular Sunday and he did a great job!  The only thing I’d do different is make some gravy for the potatoes, haha!  I like to get my roasts at Sams Club or Costco (they have a 2 pack) and then I cut those in half and then we have 4 different meals.  I like chuck roasts, but that’s our preference.  Other sides we do are jello-o, rolls, or corn.  It just depends what we have on hand.



















Roast


1 chuck roast

1 pkg Lipton onion soup mix

1 cup of water


If I put it in the crockpot I put it on high for 4 hours.  I prefer to put it in the oven though, so I cut 2 large sheets of tin foil.  I use a 13x9 pan and one sheet goes length wise and the other goes opposite.  I put the roast in the middle and add my soup mix and water.  Then I roll the foil up one way, then the other.  Then I bake it at 350 degrees for 3 hours.  


A variation to this for an even easier meal is to throw it all in the crockpot including carrots and peeled and cubed potatoes.  If I do it this way I usually add 2 soup mixes and 2 cups of water.  I then cook it on high for 4 hours, or low for 8 hours.

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