Try it... menu planning!

We get the Denver Post for one reason: Sunday Coupons! It's exciting to open the paper to count how many coupon books are there and so fun to go through them. Most of them are dog treats and various Pillsbury products which can be frustrating. But it is fun to cut out coupons for things we need, things we haven't had in a while, and new things (like Chocolate Chex which is my new favorite cereal/anytime treat).

The other thing I love about Sundays: every two weeks I plan our menu. Nothing is more annoying than having to ask "What should we have for dinner... ugh!" Just ask Elise. So I decided to plan dinner two weeks at a time. I use a mouse pad/calendar I got at my old job. Once it runs out of months, I'll probably use a cheap little calendar.

As you can see, there are changes from the past weeks. My brother Andy asked me about this when I told him about our two week plan. He said, sarcastically, something like, "What if you want something other than what you have planned for that night?" Well, we have something else like an old standby or something else planned for a future day.







I get ideas for menus from my box of recipes that I collect from family, old magazines, and cookbooks. I keep a grocery list handy to write down all the ingredients I don't have. Today I went to the grocery store and bought everything on the list. I think Abby and I spent like a hour and a half or more there. It takes a while to get everything on the list, organize coupons, and make sure Abby is entertained at the same time.






But it's worth it! I have a fridge full of food, cupboards full of new ingredients I've never tried before (like Panko for Ina Garten's Asian salmon we're having soon(I'm going to make the full Going, Going, Gone menu!)).




So, tonight we're having Buffalo Chicken and blue cheese salads from a January Real Simple magazine I got for free last year from a giveaway box at CSU. Check my recipe blog Culinary Collie Sue for the recipe tomorrow...