Back to the Meal Plan

I'm feeling better today. I've started to notice my triggers. Sitting at the computer for a long time (because of this darn chair - I'm looking for a new one), talking on the phone because I lean my head and hold it with my shoulder, and sitting funny on the couch with my neck twisted, are all triggers for neck pain and the subsequent headaches - which I swear now are NOT migraines. I could feel the muscles in my neck ripple last night as I dozed on the couch face down. I think those muscles just get a lot of improper use and I have to figure out how to reduce the abuse I subject them to.

During the previously mentioned blog browsing, I discovered lots and lots of people who post weekly menus. They do this for several reasons. First, meal planning helps your evenings go more smoothly and can keep your food bills down, there's an answer every night - or at least a list of possibilities - to the question, "What's for dinner?" and they can get ideas and inspiration from others who post meal plans. I, personally, love to read what other people come up with for dinner. I sometimes ask my neighbor what she's had for dinner over the past week because she cooks more simply than I. That's a good thing, trust me. I'll agonize over all my ingredients and she'll come home and make turkey sandwiches and a bowl of soup! What a great idea! I never would have thought of it, seriously. I have to make everything complicated.

Well, I decided to get back into the swing of writing up seven dinner possibilities and stick to it for two or three weeks. I can see if the grocery bill can be brought down, maybe make dinner before 8pm, and give myself a little space in the evenings. So here goes nothing:

Meal Plan for June 2 - 8, 2008

• Monday - Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Rollups with rice and peas
• Tuesday - Mac & Cheese (the Blue Box) with Hot Dogs and salad
• Wednesday - Baked pasta with garlic bread, and salad or corn (boys are in football camp at CSU)
• Thursday - Meatloaf and mashed potatoes with corn (boys in camp)
• Friday - Breakfast for dinner. Eggs, bacon, grits, biscuits and gravy (boys in camp)
• Saturday - Soup, sandwiches and salad. (camp is over this evening) A IS HOME TODAY!
• Sunday - Spaghetti Carbonara with salad

The only ingredients I still need to buy for this weeks plan are salad fixings, hot dogs, chicken noodle soup and potatoes. That will cost me about $27 if I splurge. OMG, check me out! I just checked out the ads online for King Soopers and Safeway to find the best prices. I amaze me sometimes. I can't wait to start buying fresh produce at the farmers market. They don't have much right now because our growing season just started. When the zucchini shows up, I'll be in heaven. I have a recipe for a zucchini casserole thing that has pepper jack cheese in it that is to die for.

Because the boys will need morning fuel I'll have to have hard boiled eggs, bran muffins and cheese sticks ready for them to take off with in the mornings before the football camp they are attending this week. They will eat lunch provided by the camp so I don't have to worry about packing their lunches.

Did I forget to mention? Lindsay has gone up to the mountains with the in-laws for the first week of June. Lindsay spends a week every summer with her cousin, great grandparents (the hubby's Grandmother and Grandfather), and her great aunt (the hubby's aunt). She's going to do a 'spa day' this week because, you know, they are growing up and like to paint their nails and have a foot soak and use lotion... I even got a call a little while ago asking my permission to wear acrylic nails for the week. I caved and said yes. Hope she has fun playing in the woods, wading in the creek looking for bugs, and helping with dinner in fake nails!