Cooking!
Now, I have the time to actually cook! In the hustle and bustle of active family life, it was often something quick, easy and simple, then off to dance class! Now, it is just us and cooking has become a daily pleasure!
Today, I make fresh seasonal and healthy meals! But this is not a magical occurrence (well mostly!)! It is all in the planning!
Menu planning may seem like just one more thing to add to your to do list, however, consider this:
*With a planned menu, you are more inspired to cook!
*No more “What’s for dinner” sad conversations. Something is already planned!
*All the ingredients are on hand.
*Meals become more healthy as you do not have to choose a convenience food.
*Eating seasonal and local is planned.
*You control what you and yours are eating.
Ok! Now you are ready to start planning! Are you a cook book collector? A food magazine connoisseur? Family recipe holder? Get them out, sink into a cozy chair, take a cocktail out to the deck, line the dinning room table. Plan for about an hour. I also find that menu planning is better if I am hungry, then everything looks so good! Include others in your planning. Everyone gets a say!
Have a dedicated notebook to record your choices. I like the old school composition notebooks as the pages do not come out! Now, date the page with the weeks and make every other line for each day. Do 2 weeks worth of planning at a time.
More planning thoughts:
*First label each day with the main idea such as – pasta on Monday, beef on Tuesday, beans for Wednesday…right! This will make finding recipes less overwhelming and gives a purpose for your recipe hunts. Also, this gives you the best variety of meals.
*Once you land on the recipe, write done the name and, really important, where the recipe is so you can find it on the day! I write the name of the cookbook or magazine, the moth and year and page number. If it is a Pinterest recipe, I save it to my “This Week” Board. Set the recipe aside so it stays separate from ones you are not using for this menu cycle.
*Plan with a thought to items you already have in stock in your pantry or freezer.
*Your shopping list should be handy to jot down any new items you will need.
*Think seasonal! Make the Farmers Market apart of the planning! This way, when you are strolling through the market, you know what you will need and will eat at the peak of freshness!
* Be daring and bold in your selections! Now is the time to try Indian cooking, homemade pasta and sauces, southern specialties and ethnic recipes.
*Sometimes the recipe was so good, it gets a star next to it on the menu! This way we know this should make another appearance!
*Other times, we do not repeat a recipe. Not always are the meals winners!
*Feel free to deviate from your plan. After all, it is your plan!
*Look at tomorrow’s dinner today so you can pull things from the freezer or pre-prep for your cockpot meal to be dashed off in the morning!
*Snacking can be planned also! You can plan healthy snacks and desserts and avoid munching on mindless food. Snack with a purpose!
*Practice makes better practice, so keep at it!
Now for Us 