Menu Plan Monday?

In the past few months, I’ve been trying to plan ahead as far as a menu for the week or maybe a week and a half at a time depending on my level of creativity and/or what we have going on in our calendar.  We don’t have a lot of activities outside of the house, but it seems like there is always room for better organization.  In the past year, I hate to think about how much food went to waste in our house due to lack of planning.  I was ashamed to think about it when there are so many people who go without food on a regular basis.  I decided we desperately needed to improve, and planning ahead seemed like the most logical and easiest step to take.  I think it really has helped as far as creating far less waste, so that makes me feel better.

Then last week, in looking at different blogs (although I’m a loser for not remembering which one), I ran across a link to the Organizing Junkie website and was in awe over how organized this chick is.  I have no hopes of ever being so organized (I sort of prefer a more-organic quasi-chaos), but I figure I can check it out, learn something along the way and play along on a much much lower level.  If nothing else, I hope to get more ideas of what to make for dinner.  Friday is always the “eat out” night.  Since I do 99% of the cooking, dear hubby has now gotten into the routine of giving me the night off.  But for Menu Plan Monday here goes the week ahead…

Credits: Jenn Barrette - Kitschy Kitchen Organized

I sat down and came up with a month of non-repeating menu items and am going to re-create a master dinner ideas list that we used to have, so we can add to it and keep branching out.  Tonight, since little mister is in Oregon with Jessica, it will be a quiet evening around the house, so I plan to sit with my magazine collection (Everyday Food, Cooking Light, Food & Wine and Food Network) and see what I can find to add to our repertoire. 

And for a food-related scrapbook LO... little mister is eating something, making a mess, but enjoying it fiercely...

Credits: Jenn Barrette Scrap-like-me Template & Jenn Barrette/Sahlin Studio - Kitschy Kitchen kit

Do you have a rotating menu?  Do you plan ahead?  If so, how far in advance?  Do you have any great recipes that are a hit with your family?  Where do you come up with new ideas for cooking?  Do you use your camera to document your cooking skills or scrap recipes?