Well I think I may attempt a 4 week monthly menu and grocery list!!  My PLAN is to grocery shop at the "grocery store" 1 time a month and then weekly head to the farmers market and such to pick up FRESH produce and even back to the FARM FRESH MILK!!     I do know last time I did it (8 months preggo) it was LONG and tiring-- but I did save $$... so we'll see!!

I was looking at Tammy's Long Term Menu Planning entry and that helped me get started.  I then pulled out my recipe binder for some ideas.. most of which come from The Family Homestead under the Kitchen section.

Here is the list I made for the first 4 weeks- not sure if I could re-sue this for a few mnoths-- we'll see how THIS month goes!

*More how to's at teh end of the menu list....

4 Week menu Plan

Main Meal (served at noon-ish)

Wk 1

HM ckn rice soup w/ hm bread

Vegetarian lasagna

Ckn spaghetti w/ vege

Ckn cacciatore

Meatloaf mashed potatoes/ vege

??

Hm thin crust pizza w/ salad

Wk2

HM vegetable soup w/ hm bread

Grilled/marinated steak / b. potato/ vege

Tacos

Honey glazed ckn w/ vege

Roast w/ veges

?

Grilled/marinated ckn w/ vege

Wk 3

HM beef barley soup w/ hm bread

Meatloaf w/ mashed potatoes and vege

Ckn spaghetti w/ salad

Grilled salmon w/ vege

BBQ ckn w/ vege

?

Grilled/ marinated Steak /b. potato/ vege

Wk 4

12 Bean soup w/ hm bread

Pasta w/ sauce w/ vege

HM shake n bake ckn / vege

Garlic parm ckn / vege

Grilled / marinated ckn /vege

?

HM thin crust pizza w/ salad

Breakfasts

Oatmeal

Hm Granola

Egg

Pancakes

Muffin / Bread (cinnamon raisin/ ch chip/ zucchini bread, banana bread)

Crock-pot oatmeal

Lunches (served at dinner time / dh’s packed in his lunch for work)

Tuna salad served on salad / or pitas

Turkey served on salad or pitas

Egg salad served on salad or pitas

Baked potatoes w/ fixing’s

Ckn wraps

Leftovers

 *******************************************************

To be sure I don't forget any hidden ingredients I will sit down and fill out this handy-dandy little chart (it really helps me not to forget anything).   Not sure this link is working correctly, it is under Household- Grocery list-- sorry about that.

(Need more meal ideas...here are HUNDREDS each week....

 OH and I forgot to add--  Before I head out shopping for this type of "LOAD"  I ALWAYS complete a Freezer and Pantry Inventory.  I use the ones found HERE at Cindy's Porch.    Here is a previous entry where I did an inventory w/ pics.   

Maybe this way I can stay a GOOD bit under budget?  We'll see---  when peek produce season kicks in it will be more of a challenge!!