I need some menu planning help, from all you creative cooks

[sue_h]

I try and menu plan with the family once a week just after we have dinner. Not set night, just when I need to have it happen. They all get to choose one meal that they would like that week - that gives me 3 meals. If that means sushi every week, then that's how it is as I know they are enjoying it. The other 4 meals I plan then around what they chose. I try for one of each per week - beef, chicken, seafood, vegetarian, pasta, lamb or pork. I'm also a bit spontaneous and my pantry is well stocked with basics so I just fly off the seat of my pants for some of the meals. We don't have a set order and I think about the day and what we will be eating when I'm getting ready in the morning. Sometimes we have plenty of leftovers and I recreate using them and other times I just throw in something new. We also plan one dessert for the week and one week-end lunch.  I've also just got a few more ideas on how to make the menu planning process work a bit better for us from all of you - so thank you.

[judydawn]

Maybe we should do a menu plan thread were we can update it once we have made it for the week so we can even gleam inspiration there for our menu planning!

There is one here medusa http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=1529.0

[medusa]

I didn't see that.


I forgot to tell you about our YMCA nights (Yesterdays Meal Cooked Again) named by my daughter.  Love those nights, make enough for two nights and creatively try and make it into a different meal lol for the next night.  I am not sure any other members of my family love them as much as I do lol!!

[Coops]

I only plan the evening meals. I sit down with lots of cookbooks and bits of paper round me and look through them. As I go I select what I'll cook this week. I may also keep some for the next week. I also note on the menu plan if anyone will be out or late that night. I note where the recipe is and what I need to buy to make it. This helps with the shopping list.

This is what I do too. I also write down what ingredients I will need for any cakes and things I will be making, but for breakies and lunches I usually just always buy the same kinds of things.

[Caroline J]

Every 10 days or so I make Dan's Shepherd's Pie (forum) or Macaroni bake (forum) and put any leftover veg in there.  No waste and no one realises the meal is about 50% vegetables!