Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Menu Planning


So, I am an ideas person... in fact, both Tim and I are. There are many grand ideas floating around our household and sometimes (but not always....) little action to follow. Many projects that have been started, well, you get the picture!!

I have heard of people menu planning, and I think my own mom tried it when we were kids. It's one of those ideas that sounds good in theory! However, I have decided to try it. Honestly, I am not the best cook, Tim is better than me. And he enjoys it more!! But waiting for him to cook is kind of silly when he gets home from a hard days work. And by the time he gets cleaned up and in the kitchen, it's getting pretty late. Plus I am home, and feel like it's part of my responsibilities too. Our previous system had him cooking and me doing dishes. Because he dislikes dishes immensely, and I prefer dishes to cooking. It worked well until recently - Charlotte needs her supper earlier and we need to have a night together!

So I came across a blog where the writer meal plans. And linked to hers was a blog with a whole community of menu planners! I also dislike thinking of meals on the day I need to make them, so planning should help! So I decided to take the plunge and try it. If it doesn't work, no big deal. If it does, perhaps I will reward myself and get a slow cooker on sale somewhere... this will seriously help the issue of cooking at 4 with a fussy baby clinging to my pants, her not so good time of the day.

So basically, I am going to hook myself up with this community and link to organizing junkie every Monday when I post my meal plan. I would love to hear if you meal plan and if you have any tricks about making it successful!

So here is my menu plan for this week, so far going well! (The only one I have missed is making Charlotte's second batch of food, I hope to do that tonight or tomorrow. I fed her a cube of last night's specialty tonight.)

Monday: Sweet and Sour Chicken Drumsticks, Basmati Rice and Peas
Sweet Potatoes, Carrots and Broccoli puree (homemade) for Charlotte

Tuesday: Toploin steak (BBQ'd) marinated in Italian dressing, Mashed potatoes, and roasted veggies
Potato, Leek and Pea puree for Charlotte

Wednesday: Haddock, steamed new potatoes and asparagus
same for Charlotte

Thursday: Crusted Chicken Fingers and Zucchini sticks with Cheddar - Spicy Mustard Dipping Sauce (my NEW recipe for the week, from Rachel Ray's "Yum-O" cookbook also found here)
California Chicken recipe for Charlotte made with chicken, tomato, avocado, full-fat natural yogurt, and cheddar cheese

Friday: Nanny's Taco salad
Creamy Avocado dip and steamed veggie sticks for Charlotte (and for us too!)

I used a book called "First Meals" by Annabel Karmel for the recipes for Charlotte. She has a great website I just discovered here.

I am going to leave Saturday and Sunday open for any leftovers, or easy meals (soup, sandwiches etc.)

My goal is to get a bunch of food frozen for Charlotte this week (veggies primarily) and next start making fruit dishes to freeze. Yum!

Check out organizing junkie for more menu planning ideas!

3 comments:

  1. Meals at your house sound delicious.
    What time do you serve????

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  2. Haha!! Usually around 6ish :)

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  3. wow, they do sounds delicious! i'm impresssed!

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