I’ll get to my November meal plan in a second. But first things first. Did you get any trick or treaters last night? We got a few and they were all fun and chatty and excited about Halloween. Not a single one of them was shy and they all seemed to be really excited about their costumes.
I had one kid pick up the can of beans, really consider it, and then tell me the can was interesting. But she ultimately decided to put it back and go for a packet of peanut M&M’s.
Another one reached in the candy bucket and said “I think I’ll take this package of butter”. But when I told her it was actually a tin of sardines, she just started giggling. I told her I had some butter in the fridge if she really wanted some, but she just laughed and said no, she’d just take some candy instead.
Kids are HILARIOUS!!!
And the best costume of the night? It was a girl who came dressed in a black mini skirt, tights, a leather jacket and big hair. First I asked her if she was a rockstar. She shook her head no. I tried again. Taylor Swift? Nope.
Then she showed me her shirt. It said “Jessie’s Girl” on it. It made me smile.
Talk about the best costume ever!!
I then proceeded to tell her that I was so in love with Rick Springfield when I was a kid and that I even brought his album {the one with the dog on it} to show and tell and my teacher even let me play a song on the record player for the class.
She just smiled {and probably thought I was a nutter}. How did it go at your place last night? Any cool costumes or goofy conversations with kids?
Okay, on to my November meal plan. I decided to make a meal plan for 1 reason:
We have a lot of food in the pantry and freezer and I don’t want to waste time playing the whole… What am I going to make for dinner game? I want November to be easy and relaxing and low stress.
And also, if I have the whole food thing figured out, that will leave me with LOTS of time to work on my rugs.
Breakfast Ideas
- Bagel and lox with capers
- Steel cut oats with brown sugar and dried fruity bits
- Toast or English muffins with jam
- Shirley’s iced cinnamon raisin bread {recipe cut in half}
- Bacon, eggs with peppers and onion
Notes: Make a batch of pickled red onions early in the new year. They go great on bagels and lox and in fresh {and pasta} salads.
Lunch and Dinner {Linner} Ideas
- Stove Top Stuffing meatloaf with mashed potatoes
- Stuffed shells
- Sheet pan party nachos
- Tuna casserole
- Costco spinach ravioli with pesto sauce
- Trader Joe’s pumpkin and mushroom ravioli
- Trader Joe’s hatch chili mac and cheese
- Trader Joe’s Kung Pao chicken and rice
- Fried rice
- 8 can chicken taco soup
- Tomato and roasted red pepper soup
- Breaded chicken with Trader Joe’s mushroom risotto, broccoli
- Pickety bits x 4 {once a week}
- Thanksgiving dinner {with leftovers for 2-3 days}
Dessert Ideas
- Homemade Apple Galettes
- Homemade Pumpkin Pie or Coconut Creme Pie
- Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Trader Joe’s Bon Bons
- Trader Joe’s Chocolate Covered Bananas
Snacks
- Nuts, dried fruit, chips
- The world’s best chocolate chip cookie
*I’m not a snacker, but the HH is. Pretty much the only snack I eat is a cookie with my afternoon cup of tea 😉
Thanksgiving Weekend
- Jenni-O turkey breast {cooked in the Crock Pot} and cranberry sauce
- Amberlina’s Sweet Potato Casserole
- Mashed potatoes and gravy
- Frozen peas {you gotta have peas to put in your mashed potato volcano}
- Baked pineapple custard
- Stove Top Stuffing {with all sorts of add ins}
So there’s my November meal plan. I’m going to print this out and stick it on the fridge and then cross the meals off as the month progresses.
Figuring it all out now, rather than later, is so much easier.
Being organized is SUCH a time saver. Don’t you agree? Do you have a meal plan? Most months I just wing it. But this winter I want to squeeze as much indoor productivity {ie: rug hooking and arts and crafts} time as possible out of the long winter months.
Keep on, keeping on.
~Mavis
Mary says
Book marked! I hate figuring out what’s for dinner!
Lynn says
You are so incredibly organized. I try but usually lose steam quickly. I just want to know where the sardines fit into your November food plan or did someone finally take them last night;)?
Holley says
You’re absolutely right!!! Just the mental space that you’ll have free because of your plan is just wonderful!!! Here’s to Craftvember! Cheers!
Rosemary says
I make a bunch of meals ahead of time. Some are canned (French Onion Soup, Beef Stew, Beef in Wine Sauce, Beef Stroganoff along with pickled bean salad, pickled carrots, honey ginger carrots and glaze carrots) and some are frozen (meatloaf, meatballs, chicken-broccoli-cheese casserole, eggplant parmigiana, hotdog casserole, chicken wings). I also have a bunch of cooked chicken in the freezer for when I want orange chicken or sweet & sour chicken or chicken salad. And, I have cooked Italian sausages for when I want an Italian sub with peppers and onions. For breakfast I usually have Belgian waffles and cinnamon rolls already made and in the freezer. Meals for me are pretty much just reheating something (and I love that option on my air fryer – things taste like they are freshly made). Every once in a while, I will actually cook something . . . 🙂
PS: Have you tried the pumpkin pie at Costco? Yum!! And you get a HUGE pie for only $5.99!
Kari says
We try to do a weekly plan, but during Covid, we did 1-2 months at a time. I kept those menus, and I occasionally pull them out for ideas when I feel stuck in a rut.
Each week I follow a theme, then vary the recipes:
Monday—Soup
Tuesday—Tacos or other Mexican
Wednesday—Crockpot (it is bowling night)
Thursday—something over rice
Friday—Italian
Saturday—leftovers
Sunday—the hubby grills/smokes something.
Thanks for all your ideas!
Jeri says
I really like your daily themes! I might move my recipes around and place into those categories so it’s easy for me to pull that group out. Thanks for sharing that idea!
Paula says
It is “No Stress November.”
Laura says
I hope you have some extra bags of chimichurri rice in your freezer because I was at TJ’s the day before yesterday and they have discontinued it! I am crushed.
I’ve been making a monthly meal plan on my phone for the past several months with the shopping list for the stores I use below. It’s greatly helped me do a better job of using what we have on hand as well as not forget things we need, add more variety to our meals, and stay within our monthly budget.
Suzanne Shaw says
Mavis – can you / have you posted ‘Shirley’s Iced Cinnamon Raisin Bread’ half-recipe?
Katelyn says
The recipe is linked – just click the red words and it’ll open the post with the recipe. Happy baking!
Tanya says
We are THE Halloween neighborhood for the Upper Keys where I live. Since there is no school tomorrow for the kids we were going a little later than usual. We had about 350-400 kids. The whole neighborhood is closed off to traffic and the adults have a block party at the same time with “treats for adults i.e. jello shots and beverages” Everyone dresses up and it makes for a good safe environment for kids to run free and have a great time. They even have a candy drive in town to distribute in the neighborhood to help with the cost because there are so many kids.
Margo says
I’ve been winging it for a while, but this week finally made a loose meal plan. I found a frozen corned beef in the bottom of my freezer recently and I’m going to crock pot that for dinner tonight. Then we can much on sandwiches this weekend. Less stress when you know what to make for dinner that night.
Holly G says
My son had one trick-or-treater at his apartment this year. He was pretty excited aswe have gone 26 years at our place with 1 trick-or-treater (none again last night). Hubby does alway insist on buying some candy though – just in case.
Vanessa Strawder says
Cutest Trick-or-Treater I had was the older (probably 9 years) sister who was with 2 little brothers who both wanted to ring the doorbell- she asked me to close my door again so the one who didn’t ring originally could have a turn- Funny enough, it totally satisfied him! So sweet!
Amanda says
That’s adorable! Such a sweet and understanding big sister!
Susan says
Awwww….that is adorable!!!
Mel says
We never get trick or treaters but always leave the light on, pumpkins lit, and candy out just in case. Our son is not quite old enough to trick or treat, but I am very much looking forward to all holidays next year when he can participate more.
My meal planning is a mess these days, but I’ve done a bit better this week. I have turkey chili in the crockpot going for tonight.
Ramona says
I had about 50 trick or treaters. More teenagers than smaller kids. Also had a few adults dressed up and came to door lined up with kids and bucket for candy. One girl came and I thought she was a “hippie” , shows how old my thinking is. She said she was “Barbie”, but she had beads, rose colored glasses, boots and a pink dress must be the modern Barbie.
My grandkids came to my neighborhood since they live in country. Besides candy they got a light up wrist band, and a Hot Wheel car, that impressed me someone was giving those out.
Lana says
Our neighborhood is really dark and we all have an acreage so no one wants to walk here. It’s been years since we had anyone come to our door.
I make my menus on a wall calendar for a month at a time. If we don’t use one of the meals I put an X on it and when I make the next month’s menu I just move it down. When I start a new year I keep the previous year’s calendar for a cheat sheet. I started this over twenty years ago to save my sanity. Five kids asking what’s for supper could just look at the calendar.
Molly S. says
I also was in love with Rick Springfield! He was the first concert I went to with my best friend and our mother’s. We thought we were so cool! My mother asked if I wanted to see him in Portland this past summer and I declined…
sandy says
I am so impressed with your meal plans.
I live in a historic district where the neighbors hold contests for the decorations, Old Towne Orange,CA-drawing news and media coverage. It is a bit out of hand. Cars at complete gridlock on all of our small streets-and the main blocks are closed for traffic.-Safety has been an issue. We get thousands-yes, thousands of trick or treaters-all ages. They are great about winding down about 9, and are so sweet, respectful and a delight. I always run out of candy early ( even though I buy Costco bags of candy) and go to a neighbors house where we all gather. Makes it fun. I did get a blow up corgi costume, but it was a challenge to see. Never grow up
KCB says
We had 90 treaters. We only have 6 children in our neighborhood but we always get a lot of kids. It was cold & wet last night. I think our biggest number was 130–before Covid.
SueD says
When we first moved here, we would get 300-400 kids trick or treating. Our sub got a lot of bus-ins. Five years later, it was down to kids in the sub, 50-60. The past few years, the high was 20, the low, 8. We had 10 this year. I give out small bottles of bubbles, and they always go over well, teens or younger. This year, I put them out in a bowl as we have small puppies, and I can’t take the screen out of the top part of the storm door, so I didn’t get to see costumes.
Bettina says
A question for everyone. Whilst rooting through the freezer last week, I found a gallon size ziploc bag of meatballs that I made with wild rice. The meatballs are raw. Somewhere, the recipe card I usually tuck into or tape onto the bag has disappeared. Any ideas on how to cook some really tasty looking slow cooker recipes for these lovely little meatballs?
Ashley Bananas says
I haven’t done a more formal or written out meal plan in several years. It was hard to get a hang of it, but when I did we did really well by it. Right now I am doing so much sale and coupon shopping that we really are relying on loss leaders to shape our meal plan and that is more week by week. We also have just about added another person to our household so we have an increase in food usage. It’s been an interesting year.
Nita says
Can you please add me to your email subscription list? The window on the right panel says “not secure” so I’m leary of using it. Thank you!
Mavis Butterfield says
Done! An email with an activation link has just been sent to you. 🙂