Meal planning, shopping, cooking etc...
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Meal planning, shopping, cooking etc...
| Fri, 02-17-2012 - 12:38am |
... how do you find time to do it all?
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I try and make it as simple as possible, and double use a lot of things.
I usually plan ahead when I shop on weekends. In the winter I will precook on sundays. In summer I avoid using the stove when possible, but to be honest at least for my kids 90% of the time ints mircowavable meals. My little guy could live on chiceken nuggests my old chef boyarde. I will cook for me and DH. Not good for the diet but pasta dishes are pretty good to whip up fast at night. We get home at 6 kids in bed between 8:30 and 9 so not lots of time at night for all we need to do to spend a lot time preparing a meal and precooking helps but then its a storgage issue. I do use a grocery delivery service. It has ups and downs (produce not always the best) but about 20 min this morning ordering will be here tomorrow will have a 2 hour window that can suck but better then fighting with 2 kids in the store. Some weeks I go with my mom real early. I actually like going to the store its the other stuff, but if its empty and I can concentrate its my mommy time and my time with my mom. Its easier in winter because there is less to do on weekends it seems but I often plan my weekend around the weather. So like this weekend today is the cold day plan on getting laundry and cleaning done today so tomorrow we can enjoy the warmer weather. plus there is a hockey game on today so DH will want to watch (another tomorrow but planned grocery delivery around so once its over and food here we can go out) I do miss the carefree days when I didn't have plan so much but oh well.
I use Pinterest to keep track of my recipes. I have a board for "tried and true" and "recipes to try". Then, I sit down with my laptop and pick out the recipes for the week, compile a list of ingredients, and then compile a shopping list. The whole process takes about 30 minutes tops. :)
I always keep a few quick go to meals hand. For me, this means Stouffer lasagna, Buitoni shrimp and lobster ravioli, and refrigerated crescent rolls...which can be rolled out, stuffed and baked with many things...tuna salad, hamburger and cheese, etc. I also grill a huge family pack of burgers and freeze them. Great burgers on the fly. I've experimented with the premium canned veggies...already seasoned etc. A can, a quick meat (such as fish or shrimp) and boil in bag rice is great weekdays. As far as recipes. I love one dish meals...layered casseroles weekdays. The menu planner on allrecipes.com is worth the small member fee. I pick my menu from my recipe boxes...drag over to which day of week I plan to cook...and at the same time it creates the grocery list automatically from the ingredients list.