meal planning
The Chef
Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Elias woke up and saw that daddy was working from home Friday, excitedly he asked if daddy was making pancakes (common weekend occurrence). Eddie said he wasn’t but that he could do it if he wanted. Elias pondered that suggestion and then went to the kitchen, found the recipe book (Joy of Cooking), read the recipe and made the pancake batter (with only a few questions of us), cooked them up and little bro Bayus set the table for us all to eat together!
Elias then the found a Sunset cookbook (more pictures) and brought it to me to tell me he want to make a souffle next, its a tie between that and chicken kiev. We had a discussion on the differences between stirring, whisking and folding ingredients together as well as what a roux paste is and how many more things he can make once he learns how to make a roux. Ahhh, the Joy of Home Schooling ala the Joy of Cooking!
Next on the menu:
Chicken Kiev for tonight (with garlic roasted asparagus and brown rice) and he wants to make the souffle for Easter Sunday breakfast!
Sometimes my husband throws ideas and assignments out to the kids that are far more than I think they can handle….and often they surprise me with their capabilities. I’m so glad that between my husband and I we can balance one another and each bring our own strengths into the raising of our children, I’m blessed!
An awesome blog full of great ideas!
Thursday, February 18th, 2010 | Uncategorized | No Comments
If you haven’t checked out this blog link yet let me humbly encourage you to do so. Val is so full of great ideas, amazing recipes and beautiful pictures and instructions for all- check it out!!!
You’ve been enlisted…..
Monday, January 12th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 7 Comments
….into the sandwich assembly line! For anyone that has ever bought Smuckers Uncrustables and cringed at the price or the wayyyy too long ingredient list and for any mom that wonders when their kids will be old enough to help with the laundry list of work they create (love them though we do, we’d still like some help). Here are some pictures of what the kids helped me do today…….38 sandwiches (pressed with the Pampered Chef cut-n-press and baggied individually for the freezer)! Our chickens are very much enjoying the excess of heels and crusts!
Meal Planning Binder….
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 7 Comments
People have been telling me lately how organized I am. Anyone who’s known me closely for any length of time is welcome to chuckle along with me at these comments 
I don’t typically classify myself as an organized person. I generally operate in a lot of clutter, chaos and ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ kind of adventures- however, because I know this of myself I have created organization within my chaos as a means of keeping sanity. I call it ‘post it notes on steroids’. At the inspiration of a very good local friend, Heather, I have put together our own ‘meal plan binder’ and it has been working out beautifully!
Start with a blank calender and begin plugging your favorite recipes into the blank slots. I decided that our family only really needed to plan and buy for 5 dinners/week due to the inevitable leftovers night and one night out either with family, friends or at restaurant (also a good night to try out a new recipe if we happen to be home instead). To make my recipe brainstorm easier I started by designating some ‘theme’ ideas for example:
crockpot/oven recipes (1 per week):
chicken enchiladas
Veggie Sausage Soup
Italian Chicken legs
Cranberry Chicken
Taco Soup
Shepherd’s Pie
fresh (1 per week):
Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad
Chef Salad
Shrimp Cocktail and salad pack
asian chicken salad
pasta salad with Chicken/apple salad sandwiches
tomato/basil fresh rolls
stove top/BBQ or oven (1 per week):
creamy orzo with chicken and mushroom
chicken and apricot couscous
paella
turkey burgers
chicken picatta and pesto pasta
BBQ chicken pieces with garlic greenbeans
stir fry (1 per week):
chicken and brocolli fettucini alfredo
chicken stir fry and fresh rolls
fajitas
beef and brocolli with fresh rolls
stir fried rice
peanutty noodles with tofu and peas
easy/fun (1 per week):
homemade pizza
spaghetti or lasagna
baked potato bar
homemade mac and cheese
corn dogs
burritos
Next I got myself a binder and some pocketed subject dividers and started organizing this all in a central location. Note that as you will see in the pictures and attached files, I have not finished weeks 5 and 6 yet. Each divider is a weeks worth of dinners, with all recipes printed and in page protectors. Each weekly pocket holds the master grocery list for that week of dinners, items divided by quantity/item/recipe name so that it is easy to edit out a recipe or multiply it for bulk cooking. Also note that ingredients are organized by dept of the grocery store (my grocery store in the order I walk it, you’ll have to alter it for your own grocery store and habits) and there are extra blanks in each ‘dept’ so you can add items to your list throughout your week (aka we are out of bananas and yogurt for breakfasts). Once the binder is all compiled (or at least one week at a time) you can start using it and rotating through the weeks. The more weeks you have then the more variety you have.
Just last week we had lasagna scheduled (which is something I always cook in bulk). I bought extra ingredients and in the end had 9 lasagnas on my counter to put in the freezer. With a 6 week rotation of menus- that is 1 year worth of lasagnas! If I pick 1-2 freezable recipes per week to make in bulk I will have a stocked freezer and quick meals on hand for 6month-1year!
I hope all this information is helpful to others- I know it has been wonderful for our family Enjoy!
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