We often buy food based on sales at the grocery store.  When ribs or pork shoulders or chicken are on big sales, we stock up.  Unfortunately, this often means filling up our freezer with way too much meat.  Even when preserved in the freezer, the product is only good for so long.  This month’s meal plan focuses on cleaning out our freezer a little.  We hope to gain some extra space in our freezer and lower our grocery bill for the month.  We also plan on trying out a number of slow cooker recipes that we will introduce to you over the next couple of months.

October 2012 Monthly Meal Plan

Week 1 (September 30 – October 6)

With a couple of busy days this week, we decided on some easy dishes.  We already have virtually everything that we need for the meals this week.  A little fresh produce to supplement the frozen components make for some healthy (and tasty!) meals.

Sunday–Check out the September Meal Plan!
Monday–Butternut Squash Gnocchi
Tuesday–Sub Sandwiches
Wednesday–Fishstick Tacos
Thursday–White Bean and Turkey Chili
Friday–Leftovers
Saturday–Spaghetti

Week 2 (October 6 – October 13)

Using some ground turkey leftover from the chili makes great use of a large package of meat.  Half-priced ribs get amazing all-day cooking taste and the Pork BBQ will be used over and over again next week.  The slow cooker gets used three times this week.  That’s great for eating well with our busy schedule.

Sunday–Pizza
Monday–Bruschetta and Israeli Cous Cous
Tuesday–Turkey Nachos
Wednesday–Slow Cooker Ribs
Thursday–Appetizer Dinner
Friday–Leftovers
Saturday–Slow Cooker Pork BBQ Sandwiches

Week 3 (October 14 – October 20)

The pork that we cooked on Saturday gets three completely different uses this week:  with peppers and onions for a yummy cheesesteak, as spicy enchiladas, and as a quick fried rice.  We don’t use the slow cooker at all for dinner this week, but every weekday meal is quick and easy to throw together.

Sunday–Ham Dinner
Monday–Veggie Casserole
Tuesday–Pork Cheesesteak
Wednesday–Pork Enchiladas
Thursday–Pork Fried Rice
Friday–Leftovers
Saturday–Sub Sandwiches

Week 4 (October 21 – October 27)

Another three slow cooker meal week!  Corn chowder, chicken and rice, and beans and rice are filling, cheap meals that our whole family will love.  Fried shrimp on Saturday will be such a yummy treat!

Sunday–Quesadillas
Monday–Corn Chowder
Tuesday–Breakfast
Wednesday–Slow Cooker Arroz con Pollo
Thursday–Beans and Rice
Friday–Leftovers
Saturday–Fried Shrimp Dinner

Week 5 (October 28 – November 3)

Extra shrimp gets double duty as a quick fried rice and the slow cooker gets another workout with lasagna and chili this week.  Pizza and candy on Wednesday is no trick; it’s a Halloween treat.

Sunday–Shrimp Fried Rice
Monday–Slow Cooker Lasagna
Tuesday–Slow Cooker Chili
Wednesday–Pizza and Candy for Halloween
Thursday–See November’s Meal Plan!
Friday–See November’s Meal Plan!
Saturday–See November’s Meal Plan!

As always, if you are looking for recipes or answers on monthly meal planning, please leave a comment or email us with your questions.  We can’t promise that we will have all of the answers, but we will do our best to find them!  Just send us an email at [email protected].

Have you tried monthly meal planning? How did it go? Any tips or suggestions?  Leave us a comment and let us know.