Yes, I know, some of you will say, well, just have your kids do the cooking...or the cleanup... I do, often, especially for the clean-up part. But it's still on my radar. As far as having them do the cooking -- they do breakfasts, but honestly I feel like for dinner it's just easier for me to usually make it (or have them help). And if you're going to tell me something like have your husband do some of the cooking or the cleanup...JUST DON'T please. I'm happy for you that your husband helps out in this manner, but just don't go there with me. Thanks :)
One of the ways I have found to make this whole production a little bit easier is to make a monthly meal plan schedule (for dinners). It does take work to figure this all out the month before, but I have found that making a plan and grocery shopping for the whole month (mostly) saves a lot of time and hassle. The biggest "hassle" is remembering to thaw out the meat for the next day's dinner.
As probably everyone experiences (whether you plan your month's meals ahead or not!) it is easy to fall into a rut and make the same things over and over and over and over and over and over. . . :) One way I try to get away from this is to use different cookbooks (my recent favorite is this 1959 gem!
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| A great find! |
Yes, it takes time...all in one chunk...but once the plan is made, it certainly makes each day a little easier! Especially if you have already done your grocery shopping for all those meals already (and I find it saves money to do this rather than planning meals day by day and zipping to the store for last-minute necessities--especially because we live in an Island community and our local "grocery stores" are just convenience stores attached to gas stations!) :)
Here's an example of our menu plan for this month:
We've found some delicious favorites working our way through different cookbooks! Some of our favorites from the Farm Journal cookbook are Onion Pie (see here) and another is Eggs in Spanish Sauce (see here).
How about you? Do you make a monthly plan? Or weekly? Or do you just come up with meals day to day?
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| Eggs in Spanish Sauce |
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| Onion pie!! yummmm! |
For more "F" posts, check out here!
we have no plan other than the lad cooks one night, I cook one night and hubby another.... one night is leftovers, sundays is scrounge your own and Mondays we are out. it works for us. :)
ReplyDeleteI have been doing a lot of freezer cooking in the past with my mom. This summer we slowed down, and I miss it! Lunch is usually figure it out, but I love knowing that everyone goes to bed with a full tummy of healthy food!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you as I like to cook dinner and prefer that my husband doesn't attempt to cook a meal! Love him dearly but, not him cooking. Onion pie sounds interesting as I've never heard of it before.
ReplyDeleteI plan weekly and without the plan I run into those days when I haven't a clue about what to make for dinner. Your cookbook looks really wonderful! Great Post!
ReplyDelete*note to self "Monday is pizza night* We'll see you later. :) I usually can do a week or so at a time. I've been freezing more meals. I do about 10/month, but over 2-3 non-consecutive days so it isn't overwhelming.
ReplyDelete:) after Labor Day and before Memorial Day our local pizza place has half off pizzas on Mondays--until all the vacationers return! :)
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