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Meal Planning

Alright ladies. So honestly, because I was never raised this way, I do not get how to plan my meals a week ahead of time and go purchase those things. My mom just made what we had, or we took a quick trip to the store to grab missing items.

I need to save money, I love to cook, and I am SO. EFFING. TIRED. of eating out. Someone please help me ;_;

BF and I's main issue is that we sit around for about 20 minutes every day and go 'What do you want to eat? What sounds good?' and I might shoot him in the face if I get asked it one more time, bless his heart. So I could grab a cookbook to begin combing through recipes, but it would still be the same routine 'Does this sound good? No? Alright, how about this?'. So how do I build a base of recipes that I can use for a couple of weeks before I start branching out?

How do I make sure I get the right amounts of the right ingrediants each trip without it taking up hours of one of my few precious weekend days? I work until about 7 every night so I don't have much time EXCEPT on Sat or Sun to go shopping for the week.

Basically, I am dumb. Teach me.
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Re: Meal Planning

  • every week I make a meal plan (dinner for weeknights, lunch and dinner on weekends).  I base it off what meat is on sale, what produce is on sale, and what snacks we need.  in fact, I am working on next week's right now.  Sprout's puts up their weekly ad for the next week on Tuesday (it starts on Wednesday).  I also look at the next week's schedule:  what nights are busy?

    usually I go shopping on Friday night or Saturday morning.  Friday night is my favorite (Saturday's are so crowded, unless I go early in the AM).

    so far, I've got:

    Friday (3-8):  going out to eat with friends

    Sat. LUNCH:  something from the freezer (we have baked chicken strips, soups, fried rice, etc. to choose from)
    Sat DINNER:  IGE spicy chicken sausage skillet

    Sun. LUNCH:  unsure, I'm still looking for something 30 min or less to make after church
    Sun. DINNER:  PB-chopped strawberry in WW wraps  (Sun. dinner is always small)

    Mon:  meatball tortellini soup (this makes enough for several days!)

    Tues:  ST asian glazed drumsticks (I have chicken legs in the freezer I need to use), baked brown rice and peas, roasted green beans

    Wed:  leftover soup from Monday (Wed nights are crazy for me, so I try to do something 30 min or less or leftovers)

    Thurs:  grilled chicken (with a spice rub I already have), salad, ST avocado buttermilk dressing, some kind of fruit (maybe pineapple?)

    for ideas, I use Pinterest to store them.  then I look through them and just decide.  I try not to do ALL chicken the whole week, mix it up (according to what's on sale).  my favorite sites are SkinnyTaste and Cooking Light.

    if you want more ideas, this week, we are having/had:

    Mon:  tostadas (homemade flour tortillas for H, WW for me) with leftover shredded chicken from last week, pinto beans I pulled from the freezer, arugula, chopped tomato, avocado, salsa.  H used his tortillas to make wraps (he is such a Mexican!), but I baked my tortilla for 10 min at 425 to get is crispy like a cracker... the PERFECT tostada!  H had some latin rice I had in the freezer, and I had a side of sliced kiwi.

    Tues:  ST ckn/zucchini patties with sauteed mushrooms/onions/jalapeno; baked red potatoes

    Wed:  baked lemon pepper chicken, brown rice medley, stir fried green beans

    Thurs:  ST quick skillet steak with mushrooms/onions, WW baguette, sauteed cabbage


  • kmbryant2413kmbryant2413 member
    5 Love Its Name Dropper First Comment
    edited March 2013
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_meal-planning-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:30b86869-6895-4a0f-b51e-c81669070210Post:41a9296c-2b0c-4f64-a72d-473cecb9e1b1">Re: Meal Planning</a>:
    [QUOTE]Mon:  tostadas (homemade flour tortillas for H, WW for me) with leftover shredded chicken from last week, pinto beans I pulled from the freezer, arugula, chopped tomato, avocado, salsa.  H used his tortillas to make wraps <strong>(he is such a Mexican!)</strong>, but I baked my tortilla for 10 min at 425 to get is crispy like a cracker... the PERFECT tostada! 
    Posted by CocoBellaF[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>Got me. Hahahaha</div><div>
    </div><div>
    </div><div>I think I am going to start with some things from yours! So do you basically just figure out what you're going to have based on what you've already got, then move on to what's on sale, then move on to stuff you've got to get full price? Kind of like that? And then as the weeks go on just go back to what you know you like to eat, and trying new things?

    </div>
    my blog - for the love of ein
    'Next time, just fart.' - BriSox81
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  • edited March 2013
    pretty much!  I try to keep stocked up on things I use a lot (Rotel, diced tomatoes, broth, rice, pasta, etc.).  I don't worry too much about full price vs. sales.  I do my food shopping at Sprout's and they are generally very cheap for meat/produce compared to the regular store.  I do try to get meat that's on sale, but if I'm not feeling it, then whatever.  sometimes I'll ask H what he'd like for the next week, but it's usually enchiladas or steak... so I don't ask him unless I'm feeling enchiladas or steak.  ;)  just kidding.  sort of.

    this week, London Broil is on sale for $3.99 so I'm going to grab some even though I'm not using it.  I have some lobster tails in the freezer as well.

    I usually try to make one big batch meal a week.  I'll do a whole ckn in the crockpot and use it for a casserole and tacos in a week (or just freeze it and pull it out at a later date to use).  or ST arroz con pollo.  or soup.  or a casserole.  or baked chicken tenders.  surprisingly, almost anything freezes well if you do it right.  if we're having Mexican one night, I'll make a big batch of rice and crockpot pinto beans, and freeze half so I can pull it out for another meal (most of the food last night came from the freezer!)  in the summer, H grills a lot for me so that is easy.

    I just started trying different recipes until I started getting into a groove.  I spend less money now than I did at first because I've kind of got a system down.  I also keep in mind breakfast stuff we need (we both eat full breakfasts everyday) and snacks (generally dried fruit, fresh fruit, yogurts, cheese sticks, trail mix, nuts, hummus, salsa) and check to make sure we have enough each week.
  • I'm also really bad at this game.  I try and browse pinterest for recipes, and then get to the grocery store, but it seldom works out.  

    I'm totally all for a Monday Meal Planning Post with grocery list for the following week.  Or Friday?  So we can all piggyback off each other?
    I french with my man
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  • peek- I'm game.  I usually have my list done on Wed or Thurs.  I work on it Tues when the ads come out.  I shop on the weekends.
  • Then maybe a Wednesday post?  We live next door to Safeway, so I feel like I get their ads at least three times a week in our mailbox.  We don't get the paper though, so I'm good with whenever.
    I french with my man
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  • tuarceathatuarceatha member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its First Comment Name Dropper
    edited March 2013
    aw.

    Lots of things work. What I do is share a(n?) OneNote with H in which we have compiled a list of recipes we like, or want to try. These recipes are from food blogs (links) or are written out from memory.

    We start a new document every January (copying and pasting recipes/links to recipes we want to have readily available and leaving behind 'meh' recipes from the year before. We used to use GoogleDocs, but OneNote works better).

    Every Sunday, H sits down an plans out what meals we'll make for dinners each night we plan on eating in. He looks through food blogs, browses our list in OneNote, and looks at old lists for inspiration. Then he spends a good deal of time trying to figure out which recipes he and/or I might enjoy, what ingredients said recipes might require, how much time they'll take to prepare, and then he estimates the costs of adding ingredients to our weekly grocery list. (We average around $55 a week on groceries for the two of us. We eat dinner out every Friday night.)
  • also:  every night before bed I check the menu to make sure the meat is out to defrost over night. 

    and when I make a chicken in the crockpot, I shred the meat and then throw the bones back in with some random veggies and herbs, fill it up with water, and let it go on low for 8 hours; strain and you've got homemade (preservative free, low sodium) chicken broth!

    I am not weird, I promise.  we just make the most of every dollar because our budget is tight.  and it's only like 5 minutes more effort.  :)
  • Meal planning and cooking are like the worst part of adulthood for me. I am NOT a planner. Nor am I a cooker.
  • You ladies are seriously the shiznit. I would LOVE to do a meal plan post sometime during the week and I will start working on next weeks right now, with the help of Cocos already laid out for me :3

    I just feel a little overwhelmed starting the whole process, and when I get overwhelmed I kind of give up. So I'm going to not chide myself when I forgot something, or are a little overwhelmed to cook dinner. I know that BF will put up much less of a fuss in general if I say 'This is what we're having. DEAL.' Haha.

    I guess I'll write out some recipes that I know I'm good at, and sort of start my own cookbook. I've been wanting to do that anyways, so here we go! :)
    my blog - for the love of ein
    'Next time, just fart.' - BriSox81
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_meal-planning-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:30b86869-6895-4a0f-b51e-c81669070210Post:be1ae918-fe38-49ba-a406-d3cfcf269108">Re: Meal Planning</a>:
    [QUOTE]I'm kind of in love with this:   <a href="http://organizedhome.com/sites/default/files/printable/notebook_food_menu_planner_weekly_list.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://organizedhome.com/sites/default/files/printable/notebook_food_menu_planner_weekly_list.pdf</a>
    Posted by peekaboo2011[/QUOTE]

    <div>Aww yis.</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer;" class="toggle_inline_image constrained_image" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m087wuPOrN1qgb232.gif" alt="image" width="237" height="185" /></div>
    my blog - for the love of ein
    'Next time, just fart.' - BriSox81
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  • at first I would forget to put things down (and I still do sometimes) but after a few times it just becomes second nature.  don't get overwhelmed.  if you forgot something, you can still make it work.  just might have to get creative.  ;)

    I'm back in school to become a registered dietician, so this is like my favorite thing to do.  very strange, but whatever.

    peek:  I use this:  http://www.theprojectgirl.com/2009/01/19/menu-planning-form-free-download/ (the second one).

    I like it because it separates things into categories, so when I'm in the dairy section it's all right there and I don't have to scan the list.
  • Oh, that's the pretty one I was looking for.  I'm pretty sure my method of grocery shopping qualifies me for the failing at adulthood line.  I'm usually just like "this looks tasty, ooooh, what's this?"  And then I've spent $100 and I've forgotten half of what I need.
    I french with my man
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_meal-planning-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:30b86869-6895-4a0f-b51e-c81669070210Post:cb3aa1cc-6fa6-4ab9-9547-5a3ddd4933bd">Re: Meal Planning</a>:
    [QUOTE]Oh, that's the pretty one I was looking for.  I'm pretty sure my method of grocery shopping qualifies me for the failing at adulthood line.  I'm usually just like "this looks tasty, ooooh, what's this?"  And then I've spent $100 and I've forgotten half of what I need.
    Posted by peekaboo2011[/QUOTE]

    <div>
    </div><div>This is me. Just because I can drink doesn't mean I consider myself an adult. :( I'm bad at it. But I feel like maybe if I can get a handle on this, maybe bills will be next. Haha.</div>
    my blog - for the love of ein
    'Next time, just fart.' - BriSox81
    image
  • I used to do that.  but now with my job situation being what it is, I just can't.  it's hard and sad, and once in a while I will grab something new (like a bottle of salad dressing that I've been eyeing for a few weeks), but we just can't afford the splurges all the time.  WAH WAH WAH.
  • Hey, you are so much better than I am! The post that suzie made yesterday kind of hit home (her parents raised her terribly financially irresponsible) and made me realize that I need to overcome the bad habits my parents instilled (they are GREAT people, promise!) before I start having the little ones, and this is a big one!

    If I get better at managing my budget, I will be a lot happier very quickly. Cooking also makes me happy, as does not sighing and arguing over dinner. So, I figure three birds with one stone!
    my blog - for the love of ein
    'Next time, just fart.' - BriSox81
    image
  • I have to go to the grocery store ALL the time so I can relate.  FI and I do have a pattern of me cooking on either Sunday or Monday (Monday if we eat out or order in on Sunday).  That makes left overs for Tuesday.  FI cooks on Wednesday.  I cook on Thursday.  FI orders out on Friday and I'll have salad. Saturdays are up for grabs depending on our schedules.  I have to branch out and try some new recipes lately, however.  We are getting really predictable in what we make.
  • I need your recipe for the meatball tortellini soup, Coco, if you have it offhand! I need something to freeze.
    my blog - for the love of ein
    'Next time, just fart.' - BriSox81
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_meal-planning-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:30b86869-6895-4a0f-b51e-c81669070210Post:4f548f60-cc2d-49b7-aaa6-d6071018503b">Re: Meal Planning</a>:
    [QUOTE]I have to go to the grocery store ALL the time so I can relate.  FI and I do have a pattern of me cooking on either Sunday or Monday (Monday if we eat out or order in on Sunday).  That makes left overs for Tuesday.  FI cooks on Wednesday.  I cook on Thursday.  FI orders out on Friday and I'll have salad. Saturdays are up for grabs depending on our schedules.  I have to branch out and try some new recipes lately, however.  <strong>We are getting really predictable in what we make</strong>.
    Posted by minskat30[/QUOTE]

    <div>THIS.  M and I don't live together, so I'm at his place Tuesdays and Thursdays for our workouts.  I asked him what he wanted for dinner tonight, and he goes "grilled chicken over pasta?"  We have that EVERY SINGLE TIME.</div>
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  • What we usually do is go grocery shopping twice a month.  We're going this Sunday so I have to start planning the menu soon :(

    BF pays for the groceries so he's the one that looks for sales and whatnot.  We ALWAYS get chicken since we eat it like 4X a week.

    I use Pinterest to organize my recipes.  I plan out that we're going to eat ALL of the recipe every night.  BF cooks on Thursdays and Sundays so I don't worry about those days since he usually pulls something out of his rear.

    Mondays I usually make something Mexican/tex mex (this used to be meatless Mondays but BF put his foot down)
    Fridays are "fast Fridays" these are usually recipes I can whip up real quick since Friday nights I concentrate on drinking all the vodka.
    Saturdays I use the crock pot since I'm busy Saturdays.
    Tues/Weds I find whatever looks good.

    I'll make a Pinterest board with recipes I'm cooking the next two weeks.  I use the app called "out of milk" to store my grocery list onto my phone.

    The good thing with Pinterest is that we always end up planning and buying more groceries than meals we cook so I can pull previous week recipes and "repin" them to the next week so that I don't have to do more grocery shopping.  For example, last grocery shopping trip I pinned a shrimp and rice casserole but we never ended up making it.  So I repinned it to this menu and making it tonight.  I guess it saves time and money. 

    I'm still new to this as well.  My mom was the shlt at planning meals for two weeks but doesn't want to teach me.   

     Wedding Countdown Ticker




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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_meal-planning-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:30b86869-6895-4a0f-b51e-c81669070210Post:57f84ac5-9cc0-49d4-a5de-b8c7f64ee5e2">Re: Meal Planning</a>:
    [QUOTE]What we usually do is go grocery shopping twice a month.  We're going this Sunday so I have to start planning the menu soon :( BF pays for the groceries so he's the one that looks for sales and whatnot.  We ALWAYS get chicken since we eat it like 4X a week. <strong>I use Pinterest to organize my recipes</strong>.  I plan out that we're going to eat ALL of the recipe every night.  BF cooks on Thursdays and Sundays so I don't worry about those days since he usually pulls something out of his rear. Mondays I usually make something Mexican/tex mex (this used to be meatless Mondays but BF put his foot down) Fridays are "fast Fridays" these are usually recipes I can whip up real quick since Friday nights I concentrate on drinking all the vodka. Saturdays I use the crock pot since I'm busy Saturdays. Tues/Weds I find whatever looks good. I'll make a Pinterest board with recipes I'm cooking the next two weeks.  I use the app called "out of milk" to store my grocery list onto my phone. The good thing with Pinterest is that we always end up planning and buying more groceries than meals we cook so I can pull previous week recipes and "repin" them to the next week so that I don't have to do more grocery shopping.  For example, last grocery shopping trip I pinned a shrimp and rice casserole but we never ended up making it.  So I repinned it to this menu and making it tonight.  I guess it saves time and money.  I'm still new to this as well.  My mom was the shlt at planning meals for two weeks but doesn't want to teach me.   
    Posted by buddysmom80[/QUOTE]

    Following you.
  • edited March 2013
    MEATBALL TORTELLINI SOUP

    Meatballs:
    1 pound of extra lean ground beef
    ½ C Italian style bread crumbs
    2 tsp dried oregano
    1 ½ TBSP minced onion and garlic
    ½ tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)
    1 egg
    2 tsp. olive oil

    Combine above ingredients using a small ice cream scoop (makes approx. 36 meatballs).  Lay on a baking sheet covered with foil and back at 400 until done (10 min?)  You can let them sit on the baking sheet until you need them.  

    Soup:
    2 TBSP. olive oil
    1 medium onion finely chopped
    4 carrots, peeled and cut into small pieces
    3 tsp minced garlic from a jar
    8 C. low sodium, low fat chicken broth
    1 C. water
    20 oz. package fresh cheese tortellini
    2 TBSP Italian seasoning
    1 TBSP dried basil
    2 roasted red peppers (from a jar), chopped and drained
    2 TBSP. lemon juice
    6 C. loosely packed baby spinach leaves
    Salt & pepper

    Saute the onion and carrots in the oil about 5 minutes, add garlic, cook & stir 1 min.  Add broth, water, ¾ tsp salt & pepper to taste. Once it begins to boil add meatballs & cook 6 mins adjusting heat so the liquid just barely bubbles. Add pasta, Italian seasoning, basil, peppers & lemon juice. Cook 3-4 mins till pasta tender, remove from heat. Add spinach, let sit for 2 mins till spinach wilted.

    ETA:  I will usually do all the chopping first, then while the meatballs are cooking I'll get started right away on sauteeing the veggies and getting the soup going.  I've found that I cut down on time this way and it's a faster meal.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_meal-planning-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:30b86869-6895-4a0f-b51e-c81669070210Post:571711e9-3f98-4c83-aa89-89152970b2a0">Re: Meal Planning</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Meal Planning : Following you.
    Posted by jenjenniferf[/QUOTE]

    I would suggest you pay close attention to "put a star next to that recipe" board.  Those are tried and true recipes that we really like!  BF loves the chicken cordon bleu casserole and Italian chicken.  I could eat the honey butter pork tenderloin every day!

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  • buddy - It sounds like your system works! I like the re-pinning if you don't make it so you know what you already have.

    My job has a freakin' social network blocker on it so I can't get to pintrest to find all of these delicious things. I usually live and die by the Pioneer Woman 'cause she's snarky and makes bomb food simple. And honestly, by the time I get home, I don't want to get on the computer and do more searching.

    I did just plan out and print all the recipes for the next week, so now it's finding what's on sale, comprable subsitutues for cheap-ness, and sticking with it! I spent 15 minutes at work printing and planning, and I think that is something I can continue doing. 
    my blog - for the love of ein
    'Next time, just fart.' - BriSox81
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  • YAY!  what did you decide on??
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_meal-planning-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:30b86869-6895-4a0f-b51e-c81669070210Post:8d92f6bb-8588-4a35-968b-019d8ca47232">Re: Meal Planning</a>:
    [QUOTE]YAY!  what did you decide on??
    Posted by CocoBellaF[/QUOTE]

    <div>I'll post it on the meal planning thread for tomorrow, butttttt:</div><div>
    </div><div>Monday: 'Almost Lobster' (you use halibut and dress it like lobster, it is amazing), with the Pioneer Woman's 'Crash Potatoes' and cajun fettucini alfredo.</div><div>
    </div><div>Tuesday: Grilled balsamic and seared garlic round steak, with grilled lemon asparagus and french bread.</div><div>
    </div><div>Wednesday: Leftovers, 'cause I garuntee there will be plenty.</div><div>
    </div><div>Thursday: Something out, we have pool league.</div><div>
    </div><div>Friday: Porterhouse steaks for two, with french cut green beans and 'Annies' organic mac and cheese.</div><div>
    </div><div>Saturday: Chicken manicotti with garlic bread</div><div>
    </div><div>Sunday: Lazy Leftovers.</div>
    my blog - for the love of ein
    'Next time, just fart.' - BriSox81
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  • I would love to meal plan more but it can be pretty hard.  It depends on when I have rehearsals and sometimes BF has hockey on different nights of the week. Our diets are quite different too.  On night he has hockey I leave him to his own devices. 
    I always keep standard stuff in the house rice, quinoa, pasta, beans, frozen veggies, apples, hamburger buns, hamburgers.  I usually keep a pot of frozen homemade pasta sauce in the freezer.
    I'm all for trying to start up meal planning but sometimes I come home and I'm too tired to cook what I intended or just not in the mood for it.  I usually grab my recipes from pinterest and foogawker.  Since I blog about a new recipe a week, I'm always trying something new.  I usually go back to my blog for old recipes and I also write reviews of the recipes so I remember if they are worth repeating.  I try to plan a week or two in advance most times.  I make lists based on what I would like to eat for the next two weeks.

    I may buy an eggplant but sometimes I don't know when exactly I will eat it or what I will do with it but it will get eaten.   Am I making sense?

    Anniversary

  • I might come have dinner at your house, thanks.

    love crash potatoes.

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_meal-planning-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:30b86869-6895-4a0f-b51e-c81669070210Post:5168d708-d6c0-47f8-89ee-e9ca18523ece">Re: Meal Planning</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Meal Planning : I would suggest you pay close attention to "put a star next to that recipe" board.  Those are tried and true recipes that we really like!  BF loves the chicken cordon bleu casserole and Italian chicken.  I could eat the honey butter pork tenderloin every day!
    Posted by buddysmom80[/QUOTE]
    I need to follow you too.  I need some good recipes for meat for the BF.

    Anniversary

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