I answered a few questions about what we were in the mood to eat, and then I sat back and let the computer figure out my menu-and how much money I'd be saving by using the in store specials in the recipes. 
We'll be having chicken fettucini alfredo, mozzarella cubed steak, and balsamic and blue cheese tilapia fillets. All of the recipes are easy to print, email, or save in your personal files. Plus-you see exactly how much money you can save with each recipe.
Next, you review your grocery list and adjust it as needed-removing any items that you might have on hand. 
You can then print your grocery list, your recipes, your meal plans-or you can email them to yourself to use when you are ready. 
There it is, waiting in my inbox. I'll probably add a few items to my list before I make it to the grocery store. 
That's it! Once a week, you can spend five minutes and access store specials and customized recipes to help you plan your menu. I may not follow the recipes to the letter, but I love having some ideas generated that are linked to sale items. I'm sold!
HEIDI'S FOOD ON THE TABLE PLAN
I told my little sister Heidi about Food on the Table and she was gung-ho, especially since she had a weekly menu in her hands in five minutes. Honestly, the whole process took five minutes-and I had to slow her down so I could take pictures. See for yourself!
First Heidi registered an account-first name, email, password-that's it! 
Next, she picked a participating grocery store in her area. 
She clicked on a few categories of food that her family regularly eats. 
She selected items from her list that were also on sale at her grocery store.
She customized her plan by choosing time saving recipes for this week. (Good idea since she's got four kids under the age of 7.)
Within seconds, the computer had generated recipes. 
She's making pasta with Italian sausage and ground beef. (The kids will love it!) 
Look what she saved on just this one meal. 
She reviewed her grocery list 
...and hit print. That was it! Next week it'll be even faster for her, since she won't have to spend thirty seconds registering.
Give it a try and tell me how you like it! (Click here to go straight there.) I know you'll love it. It'll save you time and money, so you can go spend you time and money on the things you truly love.
Next Up:
Chicken Fettucini Alfredo
There are still unexpected storms of lightening, thunder,rain, and hail (even in a minivan). There is still mud on the road and nothing to eat in the wagon (unless you count Cheetos and granola bars). It's still a little dangerous (mostly from the drunk driver at rest stop #174, and the escaped convict in Rifle, Colorado) and quite a bit tiring. The main difference is that we can make it to our destination in 25 hours, a trip that took the pioneers about four months. You've got to hand it to those frontier pilgrims that forged the trails west. I don't know how they did it, but I tip my dusty bonnet to them, all the same. This week, we've been pretending to be pioneers in Nauvoo, Illinois. We were fitted with costumes and put on wholesome, cheerful smiles and tried to act the part. From all of these costumes, 
and a couple of fittings, 
we were transformed into the Pennywise Pioneer family. 
West and cousin Jack before....
and after as two, squirrely pioneer fellas. 
Sailor and her cousin Eloise (and cute little Claire) before
...after,
and somewhere in between.
Together we were part of the cast of the Nauvoo Pageant and helpers for the Frontier Country Fair, before the show. My job was to teach people to tie rag rugs.
I'm a little craft-challenged but I got the hang of it eventually, kind of-sort of-maybe. 
If you really want to tie a neat and tidy rag rug, better ask one of these nice ladies in the pioneer outfits.
Besides rag rug tying, there were so many things to do at the Frontier Country Fair, like stick ball, 
log sawing, 
handcart pulling, 
parlor games, 
rag braiding (much easier than rag rug tying), 
gunne sack races,
stilts, 
teddy bear rope races, 
whirly-gigs,
a puppet show, 
a bag pipe band (I'm taking up the bagpipe just as soon as I can save enough pennies to buy a chanter and a kilt.)
and dancing
to a live country music band with the charges on violin. 
At first, West wasn't so sure about being on stage again. 
(He said he didn't want anymore attention ever again after the Today Show.) Look at him getting poked in the nose by the and leader's bow. 
By the end, he warmed right up and even smiled once or twice. 
Those are my babies. My toe-tappin, pioneer, fiddling babies. And these are just the pre-show activities. And there are even more things to do in the town of Nauvoo-even more interesting, family friendly things to do that teach you more about life in the 1800's and the integrity of the people who went before us on the American frontier. It's all free. Can you believe that? 100 percent free to the public. And what about the actual show, the Nauvoo Pageant? 
I can't describe it with words, except to say that is powerful, inspiring, and absolutely beautiful. I hope you'll see it for yourself next year. It's one of the best things that my family has ever been a part of. We won't forget it and we will try to be better because of it. To learn more, 