Menus and Grocery Shopping

Yesterday, I planned my menus for the week, made my grocery list, and went to the grocery store.  This is the one thing I do that always makes me feel as if I have a handle on things (whether or not I really do), and I usually am pretty consistent with it.  Since most of the time there is just the two of us, I usually only plan 3 or 4 menus per week as each menu usually is enough for 2 meals. We eat out with friends once a week.

This is what we are eating this week:

1. Skillet Barbecued Pork Chops/Black Eyed Peas/Sauteed Cabbage/Leftover carrots
2. Chicken Stir Fry/Rice/Chilled Mandarin Oranges
3. Oven Pot Roast/Potatoes and Carrots/Green Beans/Tropical Fruit with Cheese Salad

I rarely see anyone at the grocery store who appears to be shopping from a list.  I always have one. The other day I was talking with a neighbor about this. She admitted she never does - she always "knows" what she needs.  Now I am wondering if there is something wrong with me because her home and her life seem much more organized than mine.  Maybe I spend too much time making lists!

Years ago I made a project of marking down all the aisle numbers where items that I bought were located in the grocery store and using that information to make my Publix Grocery List.  This is the store where I buy most of my groceries.  Occasionally, I go to Sam's to buy meat. I have never believed that I saved much money by running around from store to store chasing sales. I don't really enjoy grocery shopping!

An objection I have heard to a list like mine has been that stores are always moving things around.  I only remember that happening one time at Publix.  (The key words here are "I only remember".  I have shopped there for years, and they must have changed more than once.) By that time, my husband (who loves to go grocery shopping) was so hooked on my list that he took a tour around the store, noted all the changes, came home and edited my chart for me.

Tomorrow I will post the Pork Chop recipe. Have a great day!!