Tired of cooking the same old things! What do you cook....?

I'm always looking at food sites and food blogs to get ideas. Always try new recipes, at least once a week. I never go to the store and buy the same things over and over, I buy what looks good and what's on sale. That way, I always have different things in the freezer. Last time I went shopping I had shrimp, fish, and chicken. This time I have chicken, pork, and ground beef. I always have venison in the freezer as well.
 
We meal plan for 2-3 weeks at a time and try not to have the same thing too many times over the course of a couple of rotations but it does get difficult sometimes. Some of the meals that we see on a "regular" basis.

Fettucine Alfredo Florentine
Falafels
Harvest Chicken
Manhattan Clam Chowder
Southwest Salad
Teriyaki Chicken Skewers w/ Asian Slaw
Shrimp Pasta Toss (with Kalamatas, sun dried tomatoes, etc)
Grilled Fish and "Chips" (potatoes chopped like steak fries, tossed in italian dressing and parmesan cheese and baked)
Chipotle Fish Tacos
"Regular" Tacos
Vegetarian Tacos
Cheesy Cauliflower and Smoked Venison
Homemade Mac & Cheese w/ Baked Tomatoes on top
Chili (we make it vegetarian)
Chili Cheese Fries (with the leftover chili from the night before)
Goulash
Chicken Cranberry Salad
Veggie Burgers
Regular Burgers
Minestrone and Baguette
Steak Sandwiches
Homemade Pizza
Bacon and Cabbage Home Fries
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Quesadillas
Kabobs
BBQ Chicken w/ Grilled Veggies
Tortilla Soup
Ceviche
Fajitas
Stir Fry (Shrimp or chicken, generally)
Stuffed Mushrooms
Taco Salad
Sausage Pasta w/ Tomatoes and Spinach
Apple Chicken and Potatoes
Enchiladas Suize


I'm sure I'm missing a bunch, but aside from this we look through magazines, cookbooks, blogs, watch food shows on TV, etc to get additional ideas and try to put a few new things into the rotation each time we plan. If we like them we keep them and add them to the pile of "usual" recipes.
 
Things my family likes that are fast:

Kebobs (chicken, smoked sausage, or steak) Throw meat in a marinade or just toss in seasoning, string on bamboo or metal skewers with onion and bell pepper, brush with olive oil and grill for 15 minutes. Make extra and chop for Quesadillas later in the week.

-Chili (they love this as a left-over on baked potatoes.)
-Chowder (corn with salmon is a favorite.)
-Stir Fry chicken/pork/beef with veggies and rice (great when you have a few odds and ends veggies.)
-Fajitas (strips of chicken/pork/beef sauted with onion and pepper strips then pour on sauce of lime,chili,cumin,soy-sauce,and honey at last minute and heat through.)
-enchilada pie: cooked chicken, corn, black beans, salsa & green onion mixture layered between corn tortillas with jack cheese, and sauce (cream of chicken soup, sour cream, chili powder, cumin) layer like lasagna, cover with foil, bake for about 30-40 minutes. Serve with rice and salsa.
-Pasta with fresh veg sauce of the day (could be mushroom with bacon and tomato, shredded zucchini and carrot with onion, asparagus/chicken/lemon, etc.)
-Steak sandwiches with provolone and sauted onion (wrap in foil and heat in the oven for 10 minutes.)
-Shrimp and grits
-Foil packet fish (place a fish filet on a large sheet of foil, season, top generously with veggie ribbons or thin slices, season veggies with ginger/soy or pesto/lemon juice/ or salt&pepper butter/wine, close packet tight, put on baking sheet and cook for 20-30 minutes. Serve with orzo or rice.
 
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This took me SO LONG to coordinate, and setup so that it makes sense and the meals vary. For us Mon/Tues & Sun are days I don't want to spend much time cooking so that is how I planned the meals... enjoy

The Month Planned
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The Basic Ideas behind the plan: (most recipes are NOT included)

Lettuce Wraps
chicken salad
tuna salad
egg salad
ham/roast beef & cheese w/mustard
taco flavored meat mix/cheese/tomatoes
beanie weenies

Dinner Ideas -
-Foil Packs -
-Chicken Hobo - chicken/bacon/pepper w/ potatoes/carrots/onions
-Barbecue Chicken - w/baked potatoes & corn/cob & steamed broccoli or cauliflower
-Italian Chicken - rosemary/garlic/onion/carrots/ over boiled pasta w/spinach salad
-White Fish - cod filets w/garlic, butter, rosemary & olive oil w/baked potatoes & garlic bread
-Arroz con Pollo - chicken/rice/broth/assorted veg
-Fricase de Pollo o Carne - chicken or flank steak w/potatoes/carrots/corn/tomato sauce over white rice
-Frijoles Negros - black beans w/pork neck & garlic/onion/cumin - White rice & pork
-Ropa Vieja - shredded beef/tomato sauce w/bell pepper/onion/garlic over rice w/spinach salad
-Pork Tenderloin - scalloped or mashed potatoes & steamed mixed california veggies
-Chicken Scampi - chicken/milk/parmesan cream sauce/garlic/onion/italian herbs over angel hair pasta steamed broccoli/carrots/cauliflower
-Baked Ziti Lasagna - sausage/beef/spaghetti sauce/ziti pasta layered lasagna w/salad
-Fried Rice & Mixed Veggies with pineapple chicken & honey (brown sugar/soy)
-Sweet & Sour Meatballs w/mashed potatoes, corn & broccoli
-Pot Roast - potatoes, carrots, onions, corn
-BLT's w/sweet potato fries
-Sausage & Peppers w/potatoes - skillet fried w/onions/bell peppers/potatoe chunks over rice (add scrambled eggs occassionally)
-Pizza w/meat, bell peppers and a hot vegetable pasta salad
-Slow Cooker
Pulled Pork
-Cheese Burgers - Macaroni & Cheese
-Fajitas - beef or chicken/peppers/onions refried beans & spanish rice (shredded lettuce)
-Steak & Potatoes w/salad & side veg
-Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn & buiscuits
-GrilledChickenSalad
-Spaghetti
-Picadillo

Soups -
White Bean Chili -
-Chicken Corn Chowder w/garlic bread
-Mama's Italian Sausage Stoup w/croutons or crusty bread
-Potato/Corn/Cheese Soup w/Beef/Bacon or Ham and corn bread
-Split Pea Soup w/Ham
 
I 2nd the idea of searching the BYC cookbook here
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Tons of great recipes & ideas!

I tend to buy the same cuts of meat - chicken thighs & breasts, ground turkey, fish, pork chops & rarely beef - but make them using different recipes. Also use different cuts of meat or types of fish I haven't tried before.
Ethnic recipes are inspiration for me - usually more vegetables than meat used so they are healthier & economical.
In cold weather I make a lot of soups, in wamr weahter I grill extra and freeze for later.

Google is great for ideas. just put in the name of an ingeredient with "recipe" after it and get ready for thousands of ideas!
I also read a lot of magazines (free at the library) or trade with friends (magazines & recipes).

Sometimes I make a flop, but that just means I toss that recipe and don't use it again.
 

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