menu plan monday ~ in reverse ~ october 24

I am participating in Menu Plan Monday at orgjunkie.com, but unlike most of the other participants who plan their menus and post them that week, I'm always a bit behind, and I post my menus a week later. I do this so that I can let you know if I try a new recipe and it's not that great. I don't want to blog about a recipe if it's no good.  I cannot emphasize enough how much menu planning has helped me out.  I'm spending less at the grocery store, we are eating out less, and eating healthier foods.  I'm not as stressed out at dinner time trying to pull something together with whatever ingredients I have on hand.  It takes a bit of time on the weekends to create our menu plan, but all week long I'm thankful that I took the time to get organized and make a plan!  I look at my calendar for the week while menu-planning and figure out what kind of meal would be best for each day.  Busy evenings call for crock pot cookin' while Friday night family nights are a little more relaxed and I can take my time cooking.  Participating in MPM has also inspired me to find new recipes for my family, and I hope that when you read this post you can find new recipes for your family as well!

Here's what we ate last week:
Monday ~ Dill Pot Roast with wild rice (a family favorite!)
Tuesday ~ Beef Barley Vegetable "Stoup" (super easy and super yummy)**
Wednesday ~  Brinner:  Whole Wheat Waffles, sausage, and hashbrowns
Thursday ~ Skillet Pork Chops with Rosemary Cream Sauce & Egg Noodles**
Friday ~ Homemade pizza
Saturday ~ Dinner at our school's Fall Festival
Sunday ~ Beef Tenderloin with Gorgonzola Sauce, herb-roasted potatoes, sauted snap peas & homemade slow cooker applesauce**

**I got several of my recipes this week from my new favorite cookbook: Eat What you Love by Marlene Koch I highly recommend it.  I borrowed a copy  from the library a while back and then ended up buying it because I loved it. 

What's cooking at your house?