This is my favorite time of year in the garden. Everything seems to be growing and green and dinner is so easy when I can walk out the door and trim or pick and then serve.

It’s not always pretty in my garden. My failures usually outnumber the successes. I try and go with what works – and scratch my head when what worked last year didn’t work this year!

Carrots that were stunted.

Cabbage that grew double-decker heads.

Cucumbers that should be ashamed of themselves.

This year all of my vegetables are doing well, especially the carrots and salad mixes. I planted strawberries but have yet to eat one. Birds, kids, and slugs seem to all have enjoyed a taste but I am determined!

Weekly Meal Plan

Meal planning saves money, minimizes food waste, and ensures healthy, home cooked meals for the upcoming week. Meal planning is my frame work or agenda of what home cooked meals we’re going to have for the upcoming week. It only takes about 10 minutes to meal plan and involves a quick view of the week ahead and checking to see what staples I already have at home in the refrigerator, in the pantry, and the freezer. Once the meal plan is made, then I make a grocery list of what items are needed.

With weekly meal planning, there’s an efficient plan of cooking for the week, I know what nights we’re having leftovers and I can keep track of what nights my kids are scheduled to cook – and clean up! By eating at home, we’re able to avoid unhealthy, processed foods. If we have a plan, we eat healthier at home – skipping fast food restaurants.

Weekly meal plan from Monday, June 3, 2013 to Sunday, June 9, 2013

Monday: potato salad and green salad (all from the garden!)

Tuesday: pinto beans with fresh salsa

Wednesday: whole wheat pasta with mushrooms and fresh herbs and green salad (all from the garden!)

Thursday: egg strata with fresh vegetables leftovers from night before

Friday: pork chops, green salad and quinoa (my son made dinner this night)

Saturday: pinto bean and cheese burritos with fresh salsa neighborhood party with dinner served!

Sunday: fish, brown rice, green salad neighborhood party with dinner served!

Weekly meal plan from Monday, June 10, 2013 to Sunday, June 16, 2013

Monday: everything in the refrigerator – eggs, beans, spinach, cheese, bread strata

Tuesday: fish, quinoa, green salad

Wednesday: Mexican pulled pork and beans with tortillas – “street tacos”

Thursday: whole wheat pasta with ground pork and tomato sauce (my daughter made dinner this night)

Friday: roasted chicken, brown rice and green salad

Saturday: – this was catch-up night – we had hummus platters with veggie sticks

Sunday: (Father’s day) skirt steak, vegetables, bread – all on the grill (my son made dinner this night)

Weekly meal plan from Monday, June 17, 2013 to Sunday, June 23, 2013

Monday: tacos (with leftover skirt steak), pinto beans, guacamole and fresh salsa

Tuesday: shrimp scampi and green salad (all from the garden!)

Wednesday: shrimp scampi (leftovers) and green salad (all from the garden!)

Thursday: egg strata with greens from the garden and bread scraps from freezer (my son made dinner this night)

Friday: pan seared salmon, brown rice, green salad (my daughter made dinner this night)

Saturday: family party at cousin Renee’s house (my adaptation of her recipe is here)

Sunday: pasta salad with vegetables and shrimp (my son made dinner this night)

Weekly meal plan from Monday, June 24, 2013 to Sunday, June 30, 2013

Monday: grits and collard greens with bacon (my daughter made dinner this night)

Tuesday: summer dinner (my daughter made dinner this night)

Wednesday: bbq pork country ribs (from freezer), grits and collard greens (leftovers)

Thursday: pinto beans, brown rice and fresh salsa bowls (my son made dinner this night)

Friday: pinto beans, brown rice and fresh salsa bowls (leftovers)

Saturday: egg strata with vegetables from the garden and bread scraps

Sunday: pork chops, quinoa and green salad (all from the garden!) (my son made dinner this night)

What’s for dinner at your house? How is your garden growing?

Go Gingham related links:

Grocery shopping from the bulk bins and food storage containers
Re-using glass jars and how to get them ready for re-use
Frugal grocery shopping – without coupons!
New to cooking at home? Fear not!