dinner for the week

 

Planning meals for the week can be exhausting.  When Jeff and I were first married, I never really planned anything - I would get inspired during the school day, run to the store after work for fresh ingredients and throw it together when I got home.  Not to mention I was alone.  The house was quiet.  And I didn't have to do tricks to open the oven without killing a baby (balancing the hot baking sheet while holding Patrick back from the 400° oven with one of my legs).

 

Now that we have a third little person in our family, planning is essential.  I can't just run to the store every other day, even if I wanted to.  So this is what's been working for me, and I doubt it's an original idea...I bet women all over do the same thing, it's just that I have finally figured it out.

 

1.)  "This Week's Meals."

 

The internet is such a blessing, for real.  I'm so sick of the same old meals every month:  tacos, grilled chicken, beef stew.  Over and over.  You can find ANYTHING you're in the mood for, so I get my list from random sources on the internet.

2.) Grocery List.  I've been pleasantly surprised at how little I really need from the store, as long as I have the basics at home.

3.) Shop.  Once a week.

I also use that grocery time to pick up anything I need for my classroom/science activities as well, hence the styrofoam cups and gummi worms.

4.)  Read over recipe-de-jour.  Gather all ingreidents.  Chop what needs chopped.

I used to be in the middle of cooking a meal and realize I didn't have an ingredient.  There is nothing more frustrating, so now I put everything on the counter prior to cooking, just to be sure.


5.)  Cook.

The only issue with trying new recipes is that sure as shit, some are going to be complete flops.  Actually, the majority are flops.  But then you find a new recipe that makes you want to climb on top of the table and yell "I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD!"

i.e Apple-Honey Drumsticks.

Do yourselves a favor and make these - pair it with Uncle Ben's white rice and steamed carrots & broccoli.  I kid you not, there was a moment after I ate my portion that I wished I didn't have to make Jeff a plate because I wanted to eat the rest.

*A couple tips:  put in a little more honey than it calls for, use good quality chicken (I splurged on organic), and if you don't have red pepper flakes, just use ground cayenne pepper.


6.)  Enjoy your week stress-free!  All your meals are planned, and all your ingredients are bought!  Such an innovation!