The October Menu

Common thinking is that three weeks of repeated activity establishes a habit, and we made it through the month of September with our meal planning plan. Woot! Small victory, yes, but we are going to build on that by continuing through the month of October. So far, dinner has been a much more organized affair, and Skip and the duo are especially enjoying having left-overs for lunch the following day.

October's menu is as follows:

Week One:

1st (Tuesday): Buttermilk Baked Chicken
2nd (Wednesday): Spicy Asian Barbecued Drumettes
3rd (Thursday): Grill-Smoked Pork Chops
4th (Friday): Chili
5th (Saturday): The duo's birthday party... so... pizza, of course.
6th (Sunday): Spaghetti

Week Two:
7th (Monday): Creole Chicken with Field Peas
8th (Tuesday): Meatloaf
9th (Wednesday): Thai-Style Grilled Chicken
10th (Thursday): Pork Chops and Field Peas
11th (Friday): Grilled Hamburgers
12th (Saturday): Crockpot Chicken and Dressing
13th (Sunday): Lasagna

Week Three:
14th (Monday): Braised Pork Chops
15th (Tuesday): Pan-Seared Chicken Breasts with Lemon and Chive Sauce
16th (Wednesday): Carnitas
17th (Thursday): Vegetable Soup
18th (Friday): Grilled Chicken Breasts with Blackstrap Molasses
19th (Saturday): Baked Pork Chops
20th (Sunday): Spaghetti with Meatballs

Week Four:
21st (Monday): Pork Roast with Cornbread Stuffing
22nd (Tuesday): Orange-Honey Glazed Chicken
23rd (Wednesday): Meatloaf
24th (Thursday): Steak, Baked Potato with White Cheddar Cheese, Asparagus
25th (Friday): Chili Rubbed Chicken
26th (Saturday): Chicken Fingers, Fries, Green Beans
27th (Sunday): Ravioli

Week Five:
28th (Monday): Moo Shu-Style Chicken
29th (Tuesday): Roasted Pork with Black-Eyed Pea Salad
30th (Wednesday): Dijon Pepper Steak with fresh vegetables
31st (Thursday): Chili

A few of you were curious about the shopping list. A draft shopping list for the above meals looks something like this:

Buttermilk
Milk
Butter
Eggs
16 Ounce Ricotta Cheese
Italian Cheese Blend
Mexican Cheese Blend
Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
3/4 Pound Sliced Mozzarella Cheese
White Cheddar Cheese
White Wine
Light Brown Sugar
Chicken Bouillon Granules
Creole Seasoning
Cornbread Stuffing Mix
Bisquick
Molasses
Light Corn Syrup
Honey
Thyme
Dry Mustard
Allspice
Cloves
Chili Powder
Paprika
Granulated Garlic
Garlic Powder
Red Pepper Flakes
Kosher Salt
Italian Seasoning
Cilantro
Ginger
Coriander
Sage
Cumin
Oregano
Cinnamon
Basil
Fennel Seeds
Parsley
Cornstarch
Flour
Sugar
Vegetable Oil
Olive Oil
Sesame Seeds
Apple Cider Vinegar
White Vinegar
Red Wine Vinegar
Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
Hot Sauce
Honey Barbecue Sauce
Soy Sauce
Hoisin Sauce
Toasted Sesame Oil
Ketchup
Yellow Mustard
Worcestershire Sauce
Dijon Mustard
Taco Shells
Tortillas
Spaghetti Noodles (4)
Spaghetti Sauce (4)
Lasagna Noodles
Chicken Broth (6)
Cream of Chicken Soup
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Dry Soup Mix (or make your own)
Breadcrumbs
28 Ounce Can Diced Tomatoes (3)
Tomato Paste (3)
Tomato Sauce (5)
Frozen Meatballs
2 Pounds Frozen Ravioli
2 Packages Frozen Field Peas with Snaps
Package Frozen Vegetable Gumbo Mix
Package Frozen Baby Gold and White Whole Kernel Corn
Baking Potatoes
Lettuce
Garlic Cloves
Onion
Limes
Lemons
Oranges (8)

Meat Servings: Ground Beef, 8; Chicken, 14; Pork Chop, 3; Pork Loin, 3; Italian Sausage, 1 (one pound); Steak, 1.  (Tip: We purchase all of the aforementioned meats at Costco and repackage into serving portions. Costco's cheese is also competitively priced.)

Whew!  The list is lengthy, but if you are lucky enough to have a stocked pantry you probably already have at least a third of the items on hand.  The list also contains primary cooking ingredients that can be used for multiple recipes over a few months. (Please substitute ingredients if your pantry is not fully stocked and/or if you want to spare your budget. We make substitutions with practically every recipe.)  The remaining items are actual food.  So while the list is long and the total is unpleasant, at least you have actual food when you arrive home... versus a lot of convenience foods and snacks.  Most importantly, the meal plan dashes your children's hopes for McDonald's.