No I do not have a certain day for a certain food or menu. Years ago I would make a menu for the week so I would have the food on hand, but never for a specific day. The only time I make a menu now is for a family dinner or for a holiday.

Sue

I like making a weekly menu, but since starting my job for the school year, I have been just so busy. This week, I am planning to make a pepperoni soup and an enchilada soup.

I try to plan menus out for seven to ten days from what we have in the pantry and freezer. I need to get down there and do an inventory. I'm terrible about buying beans, and finding five bags downstairs, or running out of white rice because I 'think' I still have five lbs downstairs.
I found a 25 lb bag of salt down there. Why did I buy 25 lbs of salt? LOL

I forgot to add what I might fix this coming week. I have some very nice pork chops, a boneless English roast and lots and lots of potatoes plus sweet potatoes and home canned green beans. I think I can come up with something. Potatoes were at a good price today, $1.99 for 8 pounds. I usually try to keep stocked up on most all my groceries. Now Alyssa gives me some fresh eggs from time to time. They are pretty eggs, light green, tan and off white.

Sue

Because I eat my main meal out daily, I know what days particular restaurants have.

Wed, if I want meat loaf and hungry for their awesome creamed corn I go to Paw Paw Patch

Tues and Thurs, Loui's has a wonderful baked snapper, always good veggies

Joel's which is a ways from my place, but I have their daily menu on my pc to see, and if it sounds good, I go there. Love their squash croquettes

Monday, Ms Myra's for smoked chicken salad, as that's the day they make it fresh

Weekends, Saturday, I love going to Nikki's Cafeteria down by the farmers market. Anything and everything is good there.

Sunday, usually get with a group from church and go somewhere.

etc etc etc

No menu planning at my house anymore - I am retired and eat whatever appeals to me at the moment. If I can't find anything in the fridge, freezer or pantry that sounds good, I know I'm not really hungry.

My stepson and grandson always have something in the refrigerator or freezer to eat, and most of the time they fix it for themselves.

When my kids were growing up I always had a weekly menu planned out. It helped tremendously because of their sports activities and school. When DH and I became empty nesters I stopped meal planning. I usually start thinking about dinner around 2pm-ish. I have 3 large supermarkets nearby, so it's easy to run out and get what I need.

Matti, I have been resorting to that running to the store, usually on my lunch hour..but this last week or so, I didn't do that..I think we ate out 3 times..that is far to many in 10 days time! We used to eat out 1-2 a month.

So back on track as much as possible.

With all the shopping today..it was 6:30 when I was ready to fix dinner..so I made it a quick pasta skillet meal. Left over baked chicken breasts, mini penne, broccoli in a creamy cheese sauce seasoned with garlic and shallots.

So let's see...we will be having over the next two weeks:

Chicken and Broccoli
Cashew Chicken
Garlic baked Chicken with Parmesan Spinach Orzo
Chicken Sausage Jambalaya
Cheesy Chicken Spinach Lasagna Rolls with homemade Focaccia
2 nights of Breakfast
Swedish Meatballs (beef)over rice (hubby isn't keen on noodles) and Baked Cheddar Cauliflower and Broccoli
General Tso's Meatballs(turkey)
Roast Pork Loin with Bacon and Brown Sugar and Twice Baked Broccoli Cheddar. Potatoes
Skillet Pork Chops with Milk Gravy and fried taters
Patty Melts and Fries

There are hotdogs and hot wings available too...in case we need fast food. ;)

terri, if you did not live so far, I'd come and eat your wonderful food every day.

Well Glenda, one of those trips you take needs to head this way!

I do try to make a menu simply because it helps me buy the groceries for the week.
I am trying to get us headed to a more low carb real food based diet, LCRF. My husband's diabetes numbers haven't been getting better so I am hoping to improve both of ours.

Lots of fish this week and some fresh vegetables and salads, chicken too.

Yes we make a menu. Make it for 7 days. Just to make sure that we have the food in the house. May not make it on the specific days. We do live close to a grocery store, but who wants to keep running there. ( ok my retired grocery store manger DH). lol We have lots of extras stocked in pantry and freezer, in case the grand children are here.
Mary

I am so used to making a 2 week menu I just can't get it out of my head. So I make menus..I don't always make a specific meal on a certain day, but I have the ingredients to make everything on the menu, like today, instead of having chili dogs & chips I am going to get out the steaks I have down for tomorrow and cook them today..Well Tony will grill them.

Terri would you mind sharing some of those recipes? The cashew chicken and the baked broccoli and cauliflower recipes?

But, back to the question. I usually to a big grocery shop once a week. I plan for 3 or 4 days of dinners. Sometimes my husband has last minute appointments and his dinner could be a sandwich, so I am always flexible.
I usually then go to a smaller grocery store to fill in for other meals. Also, I prefer the meat at that store.

I often don't decide whats for dinner till an hour or so before our 6 pm mealtime. Gives me time to thaw something if needed. I keep a well stocked pantry and freezer for making mealtime entrees. When I cook from scratch I almost always make enough for at least 2 meals. If it is something that freezes well, I make enough to put some in the freezer too. So there is always a good selection to choose from at the last minute.

These days I don't do nearly as much from scratch cooking. Fresh veggies and fruit are always on hand, but as a rule they are served raw as in salads or out of hand.

I grocery shop once a week for the fresh stuff (dairy, meats and produce) and to replace anything that was used during the week before from the pantry or freezer. If there is any planning ahead it is likely to be just 24 to 36 hours so the meat from the freezer can have time to thaw by placing it in the fridge for the next day's dinner.

I used to, but I don't see the need now. Except when company is coming. I love making meal plans and yours sounds wonderful. My GD is coming at the end of the month and I'm so excited. I have a whole page of menu ideas scrawled in a notebook I keep just of menus I serve.

Happy cooking, Terri!!

I pretty much know what I'm making for the week. When I decide what to make each day is based on my mood or energy.

If I ask Dh what he is hungry for he says food...he is very easy to please!

Cheryl, I often get that response from my husband too..and then I will make something I want..that I know he'd prefer not to have..lol...I cater to the guys most of the time..

Kamren was just looking over my list and said I like #12 the best..What's that? Patty Melt..lol..he even likes his with a bit of basalmic grilled onions!

He's a foodie..that one..appreciates flavors!
He wants to be a chef..we have a highly accredited Culinary Program at our High School..he is so excited to start taking the classes next year.

Yes, I will be happy to share the recipes..now mind you Ellen, the two you requested are not tried and true in my kitchen yet..they've been on my to do list for a while..and I jumped in this time around.

Almost all the recipes are pinned at Dinner Plans on my Pinterest.
TerriM or terri_memos

Baked Cauliflower Broccoli Cheddar

Cashew Chicken

I have made the Broccoli Chicken that is pinned and we loved it..the chicken fat left on the thighs melt away by the time the dish is served..which is huge with my boys..they will pick apart a chicken thigh and eat very little usually.

I do not care to cook, so I fly by the seat of my pants nightly;) I am vegetarian and DH is a meat eater~~so it has taken me a while to get that together. I never leave the grocery store without at least 3 full meals in my cart ready to fix. We eat very simple a protein his meat mine a meat replacement, rice, past or potato~~steamed veg, salad or fresh veggies to munch and usually a fresh fruit. Easy Peasy. I have a vegetarian crock pot cookbook and am trying things from it, that DH will eat and for him we just add a grill whatever. I do eat salmon, we have that 2X's a week.

Here is my menu through Thursday...
Chili Dogs tonight...DH wanted chili dogs, & DD wanted us to wait on the steaks til tomorrow.
Steak, salad & baked potatoes
Quinoa & Black beans, salsa & chips
Chicken Packets, boiled red potatoes, & edamame
Pork Chops Pizziola, Scalloped potatoes & broccoli

I do have the menu planned for the next two weeks too..

Thanks Terri!

You are welcome Ellen! It'd be fun to compare notes!
I have frozen cauli..so will use that and fresh broccoli. It's such a simple recipe..can't go wrong!

I will sub a bit with the cashew chicken only because I don't have all the things..but have stuff that will work.

I use rice vinegar and fish sauce instead of rice wine and oyster sauce.
I also use Tamari instead of soy.I like the flavor much better I learned that when I was eating Wheat Free.