This year I decided to tackle things with a bit more planning than I have in a while.  Inspired by Simone Boswell who planned a full year's menu (her blog here) I decided to do similarly.  As the family and complexities of life have increased, much of the planning I used to do was squeezed out (or plegged out) so it feels nice, with an odd mix of familiarity and strangeness to be planning once again.

 

I have made a shopping plan as well as a menu plan, using the COLES ONLINE website to have it all delivered. 

Setting all this up took a fair bit of time but it should only take 5 mins each week to update the order... I have had a lady come help with my ironing and a tiny bit of cleaning each fortnight and she has had to stop so this is my time-trade-off though it will also cost less than having her come! I did my OWN IRONING for the first time in 5 years this week!!!

For the menu I did a table with Sun - Sat across the top. Then under the day write in things that happen regularly that evening which affects what I cook - eg Mondays meal needs to come out of a pot hot so it's nice for all who will eat at about 5 different times. Then pick the main ingredient like Mince, Chicken, Fish etc for each night of the week then fill in with your regular meals. Even doing 4 weeks worth of this can roll-over for as long as you want. My menu is a little more complicated than than in truth - but that's the basic gist of it! I did about 15 weeks and then rolled it over to fill out the year just changing a few things for the 2 cooler terms. Also I left special occasions blank to fill in as we go... All with the knowledge I can ditch ANY meal if I want to do something different!!! 

 

I set up a "Basic weekly list" - the same things every week... then 2 fortnightly lists to alternate ordering. Then a "menu week" with the specifics of that weeks meals. (I will still do Fruit and veg and bread separately). That way I can add 3 of the 4 lists with one click each and hopefully the online part will only take a few minutes each time.

 

If you click here or on the graphic to the right a PDF of the menu will open.  Now - this was orignially done for MY USE not for the website so it's a bit rough 'n ready but you're welcome to have a look.  As I mentioned all the special occasions are blank - including the days of the Jewish Feasts which is something I am still learning about and incorporating into family life as living 'object lessons' in Bible history.  Article here.

 

If there should be enough call for it I can expand with basic recipes but I'll wait and see if there's any feedback for that before spending the time!