Showing posts with label menus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label menus. Show all posts
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Weekend Meal Preparation AND Thrive in Five Day 27!
Woke to face a day of catch up! Yet my energy level is low - understandably.... 3 days with 7+ hours of riding in a car.... sleeping in horribly soft hotel bed.... yikes!
But it's a good sunny day... took my walk and felt MUCH better when I got back. A cup of tea and a piece of fruit..... just sets me up to get going again!
I have to say that my Healthy Habits for the year are really helping build better health and life!
I putzed around a bit trying to get some housework done... the laundry was overflowing (of course)... the pet hair has accumulated (of course)... the kitchen wasn't as bad as it could have been (thank you, boys!)... so I chased after this and that.... but mostly tried to clear the decks of the immediate issues - and get myself back in place :-)
Eventually gave up - checked the tides and went out in the sun for another walk! How refreshing to my spirit! I have allowed myself - in the last year or so - to stagnate inside. I have forgotten how much 20 minutes outside shores me up and clears my head.. One of my HABITS this year will be to identify and CEMENT in place some coping strategies that are healthy. Stepping out of the door and WALKING is an easy one of them!
************************
Saturday is the day I try to get my food planned and prepared for the week ahead. I don't like having food decisions to make when I am hungry!
I usually prepare a soup or stew, a casserole, and a basic meat entree. And I have a list of the ones we usually eat that I can rotate.
So.... here is my strategy:
Go through the pantry, freezer, fridge, etc. and discover items that either need to be used, we haven't had in a while, or I feel like using up. While I am doing that, I recognize that I need to dream up about 3 meals ahead - that's meals for 3 mights & leftovers for a couple..... and we will free think the others (eating out, sandwiches with the teens, etc)
With this knowledge & the knowledge of what we have eaten recently, I choose my items to make. I usually choose a soup or stew (like chili or potato soup), a casserole (taco rice) or sandwich (burger - dog) meal and a basic entree meal (grilled chicken or turkey). I put any additional needs on the grocery list (I go on Mondays). I also shop AROUND the store... buying sale produce FIRST!
Then - the advance prep! Chopping veggies, soaking and cooking beans, cooking rice.... all this can be done ahead. Most can be cooked ahead and put in the container size you need for a meal. After I serve meals, I preserve the leftovers in good servings to keep us from overdoing it! Many things I do can also be frozen - so my weekend planning sometimes comes right from the freezer!
I also cut and bag servings of veggies, cut romaine & spinach for salads (keeps pretty well for about 3 days)... and I put it in serving size containers so I can grab and go. I 'containerize' things like cottage cheese and yogurt that no one eats but me. I am more likely to eat it if I don't have to think about it or prepare it... and eating from a container is bad news for me!
One serving in a container means I have good food to grab when I am in that hungry NONthinking place :-)
And sometimes I'll make sandwiches ahead so I can simply choose good snacks / meals. I like having choices ready to go.
I have a small organizing container on the top shelf of my fridge with my personal-sized foods..... and, more often than not... my family is beginning to snag the good stuff too :-) YAY!!
Have fun this weekend - and get your weekly plan done! It will save you a TON of time and aggravation as the week goes on - and save you remorse too - when good choices are easier to make!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Pantry Clean-Out & Thrive in Five Day 12
Having a hard time getting motivated today - glad my mile is done! And did a few calf raises and squats while I got the laundry going.... I need to focus on 15 minute stints of work or my days will disappear in a haze!
Last night I did my weekly goal assessment to see where I am and what I need to do to achieve them. Not too bad... got to spend some time yesterday working on my quilt strip and got the hand-quilting done! yay! (I haven't touched the thing since last JUNE.... but now for next week, I will assign myself the task of locating the rest of the quilt and figuring out what needs to happen next (not actually DOing it, mind you, unless the timing is right.... but having the step laid out and stuff ready will make it an item for the NEXT week :-)
Good to see progress..... 15 min daily on my entrance (out and in) saw two garden beds cleaned out and a small tree cut down and hauled off, baseboards, doors, woodwork, light switches and light fixtures cleaned, AND a horrible louvered door looks a lot more respectable. I'm amazed what I can do with a little FOCUS!
Pantry Purging:
Pantry Menus Week 3 -
If the item is in BOLD - that means I have it already.. the only groceries I am buying this month are perishables and really good deals on things we use a lot. I do have to chuckle a bit about these pantry purging posts.... I know that most of you, my readers, are MUCH more proficient in the kitchen than I. This is a true learning exercise for me and a great experience :-) Thank you for sharing my journey!
#1 – Random soup, bread and salad
Random Soup... okay random soup is primarily a veggie thing and SO easy! As you go through your week... dump all the leftover veggies & juices and brown rice in a container in the freezer. When you are ready to make soup... dump this into a crockpot. Add a can of diced tomatoes (petite diced for us!). Chop an onion, some carrots and the end of the celery stalks. What’s in your vegetable crisper? Chop it up and add it... Add all the odds and ends of veggies in your freezer – you know.. those little bags with a little bit left? Is there any cooked meat in there? Chop that up too...
okay.. now assess... is your combo more Italian? Mexican? Plain? Add a can of beans that will compliment your mix.. and then spices.... Italian = basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, garlic... Mexican = chili powder, garlic, cumin... plain = bay leaf, thyme, poultry seasoning (for chicken or turkey)
I only skip potato – because I may want to freeze it again if I make too much and the texture of frozen potatoes is not so nice! That said.... if you have potatoes.... cook them separately and blenderize them and THEN add them. It makes a creamer soup that will freeze just fine... (No wonder my freezer is always full - I COOK for it!)
#2 – Meatball subs and cut veggies
(I found a bag of meatballs in the back of the freezer). Add these to the clearance hot dog buns I found the other day with a little marinara and mozzarella from the freezer.... and we are good to go.
BTW - I ONLY buy on sale IF I can schedule it in and have a purpose in mind! If I am not clear on what I will DO with a sale item - it's clutter! I don't care what the price is :-) I DO like a bargain - but that is exactly why I have to do a clean-out every few months!
#3 – Found a package of polish sausage hiding in the freezer... will add some of the potatoes I got on a BOGO last week and a head of cabbage
#4 – 2 packages of stuffing.... added ONE to some frozen chicken breasts and broccoli. Along with a handful of shredded cheddar and a little milk - it was an awesome casserole! Something new :-)
*****Thrive in Five Update*****
Daily Dozen exercises! LOVE this concept - I've sort of been doing it with my "20s". But I will change things up a little.... and follow Hannah's suggestions. I bought the ankle weights - and have found them a nice home in the kitchen so that I can wear the WEIGHTS while I work in there! Having 10 pounds around my ankles should keep the snitching and snacking to a minimum too! More leg work in the kitchen..... arm work too. I am still dealing with shoulder issues so no big weights for now - but I did grab 2 matching water bottles (20 oz bottles are a little less than 1-1/2 pounds each) from the fridge to do the arm exercises :-)
I find that attaching the exercises to an existing habit seems to help make them happen. I already have the habit of doing calf raises and squats while folding laundry (really :-) ) And the kitchen ones should come together nicely.... the floor ones I will have to work on because I am not ON the floor with kids any more. I'll report back on that as I find my groove...
The biggest difficulty I am finding with this program is that I live in the country and use up extra bandwidth (or air time or whatever you want to call it - it costs more!) downloading videos and audio. I don't do it for anyone else - even YouTube - but, Hannah - you are worth it!
What I am loving the most about this program is that it is helping me make the mental changes! It is easier and easier to make good choices as I feel better and more energetic.... but also as I remember that I am special - and I am worth the effort! And, just like I would NEVER be comfortable with MY CHILD binging on high-calorie, non-nutritive food.... I would get up and fix them something healthy! No effort would be too great to help nourish and nurture them..... so too - I should do for MYSELF. What am I doing standing at the pantry door trying to decide if I want to eat cereal out of the box because there are no chips in there?????
Last night I did my weekly goal assessment to see where I am and what I need to do to achieve them. Not too bad... got to spend some time yesterday working on my quilt strip and got the hand-quilting done! yay! (I haven't touched the thing since last JUNE.... but now for next week, I will assign myself the task of locating the rest of the quilt and figuring out what needs to happen next (not actually DOing it, mind you, unless the timing is right.... but having the step laid out and stuff ready will make it an item for the NEXT week :-)
Good to see progress..... 15 min daily on my entrance (out and in) saw two garden beds cleaned out and a small tree cut down and hauled off, baseboards, doors, woodwork, light switches and light fixtures cleaned, AND a horrible louvered door looks a lot more respectable. I'm amazed what I can do with a little FOCUS!
Pantry Purging:
Pantry Menus Week 3 -
If the item is in BOLD - that means I have it already.. the only groceries I am buying this month are perishables and really good deals on things we use a lot. I do have to chuckle a bit about these pantry purging posts.... I know that most of you, my readers, are MUCH more proficient in the kitchen than I. This is a true learning exercise for me and a great experience :-) Thank you for sharing my journey!
#1 – Random soup, bread and salad
Random Soup... okay random soup is primarily a veggie thing and SO easy! As you go through your week... dump all the leftover veggies & juices and brown rice in a container in the freezer. When you are ready to make soup... dump this into a crockpot. Add a can of diced tomatoes (petite diced for us!). Chop an onion, some carrots and the end of the celery stalks. What’s in your vegetable crisper? Chop it up and add it... Add all the odds and ends of veggies in your freezer – you know.. those little bags with a little bit left? Is there any cooked meat in there? Chop that up too...
okay.. now assess... is your combo more Italian? Mexican? Plain? Add a can of beans that will compliment your mix.. and then spices.... Italian = basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, garlic... Mexican = chili powder, garlic, cumin... plain = bay leaf, thyme, poultry seasoning (for chicken or turkey)
I only skip potato – because I may want to freeze it again if I make too much and the texture of frozen potatoes is not so nice! That said.... if you have potatoes.... cook them separately and blenderize them and THEN add them. It makes a creamer soup that will freeze just fine... (No wonder my freezer is always full - I COOK for it!)
#2 – Meatball subs and cut veggies
(I found a bag of meatballs in the back of the freezer). Add these to the clearance hot dog buns I found the other day with a little marinara and mozzarella from the freezer.... and we are good to go.
BTW - I ONLY buy on sale IF I can schedule it in and have a purpose in mind! If I am not clear on what I will DO with a sale item - it's clutter! I don't care what the price is :-) I DO like a bargain - but that is exactly why I have to do a clean-out every few months!
#3 – Found a package of polish sausage hiding in the freezer... will add some of the potatoes I got on a BOGO last week and a head of cabbage
#4 – 2 packages of stuffing.... added ONE to some frozen chicken breasts and broccoli. Along with a handful of shredded cheddar and a little milk - it was an awesome casserole! Something new :-)
*****Thrive in Five Update*****
Daily Dozen exercises! LOVE this concept - I've sort of been doing it with my "20s". But I will change things up a little.... and follow Hannah's suggestions. I bought the ankle weights - and have found them a nice home in the kitchen so that I can wear the WEIGHTS while I work in there! Having 10 pounds around my ankles should keep the snitching and snacking to a minimum too! More leg work in the kitchen..... arm work too. I am still dealing with shoulder issues so no big weights for now - but I did grab 2 matching water bottles (20 oz bottles are a little less than 1-1/2 pounds each) from the fridge to do the arm exercises :-)
I find that attaching the exercises to an existing habit seems to help make them happen. I already have the habit of doing calf raises and squats while folding laundry (really :-) ) And the kitchen ones should come together nicely.... the floor ones I will have to work on because I am not ON the floor with kids any more. I'll report back on that as I find my groove...
The biggest difficulty I am finding with this program is that I live in the country and use up extra bandwidth (or air time or whatever you want to call it - it costs more!) downloading videos and audio. I don't do it for anyone else - even YouTube - but, Hannah - you are worth it!
What I am loving the most about this program is that it is helping me make the mental changes! It is easier and easier to make good choices as I feel better and more energetic.... but also as I remember that I am special - and I am worth the effort! And, just like I would NEVER be comfortable with MY CHILD binging on high-calorie, non-nutritive food.... I would get up and fix them something healthy! No effort would be too great to help nourish and nurture them..... so too - I should do for MYSELF. What am I doing standing at the pantry door trying to decide if I want to eat cereal out of the box because there are no chips in there?????
Friday, January 13, 2012
Christmas Planning (?) and Thrive in Five Day 5
What day is it anyway? Life gets crazy sometimes, doesn't it?
Man - yesterday I didn't get to all the Thrive in Five action steps.... it was a BUSY day. I had an errand with my husband - and, from where we live, any 'errand' has a minimum travel time of an hour and a half. This one was an hour and a half away - so by the time you factor in travel time, appointment time, lunch and two small stops (that meant we didn't have to come in TODAY), we spent the day out and called it a DATE! Hey - we've been married for 20 years... ANY time we can carve out together is called a date :-) I am blessed.
*****Christmas Planning*****
Okay - so the Christmas stuff is put away.. (or is it?) At least, it's mostly on its way. Except for the poinsettias.... what do we DO with those after Christmas, anyway? They live on and remind us that Jesus was born and true Christmas is NOT over :-)
You've breathed a huge sigh of relief - I mean, Christmas was fun - but intense and pretty time-consuming. Even at its best, we are ready for a rest when it is over.... for reasons that range from overeating... to crazy relatives.. to juggling schedules.. to figuring out gifts. I mean it's hard enough to find a gift for Uncle Joe without all the attendant worry of.. should I even GIVE a gift to him? Does he want a gift? Is he bringing one for me? What if he doesn't LIKE (this thing I think I am going to give)... and on and on and on....
Whew!
Well... now that the dust has settled and you are pretty much back to routine, this is a GOOD time to stop for a minute and reflect.
How could Christmas be a better experience for me and my family?
What did I (and my family) enjoy the most during the season? What did we enjoy the least? ASK your family this one, they might surprise you :-)
What do we want to make sure we repeat next year (or avoid)?
What can I put on my calendar TODAY that will make next holiday season a better experience? (I pack all my cards & Advent stuff in my Halloween decorating box so I find them early enough to do something with them!)
Two sites that I like for Christmas fun:
www.flylady.net (for simplifying and organizing)
www.christmasorganizing.com (for a million and one ideas)
and..... one more thing.... Valentines Day is a month away... How do you want to celebrate that? NOW is the time to get moving if you need some ideas on how to make sure that YOU have a good NO DRAMA day where you feel loved :-)
*****Thrive in Five Update*****
Okay...still hanging in here....
So.. today I have a day at home and will work on the program. I did crawl out of bed to walk the dog but only made it a half mile.... the wind was whipping something fierce. I have to keep reminding myself that I am still healing from the dumb kamikaze deer incident a few months ago. As long as my shoulders ache.... I have to remember to slow down. NOT make excuses, but be smart. That said - my shoulder pain is NOT what keeps me from WALKing :-) That would be an excuse. The weather is supposed to warm up a bit today so I will get more walking in later.
One of Hannah's action steps today is to plan out a month of menus.... yikes! I am not very good at this BUT am working on a personal pantry challenge anyway.. so am going to compromise. I am planning a list of potential meals and will keep track of what they are and what we eat for the month. The point (I think) is to be aware of what I am eating and stay in charge of what goes in my mouth :-) At a minimum, I will have a month of menus to add to my arsenal for another day.
Another tip that may help with menu stuff - I DO have the habit of preparing a soup/stew, a casserole and cut veggies on the weekends. Also I often THINK up a meat/veggie meal to have ready to fix.... that carries me through most of the week if you count leftovers. I did create an easy way to come up with ideas by rotating what my family likes if you are interested.... just let me know!
Man - yesterday I didn't get to all the Thrive in Five action steps.... it was a BUSY day. I had an errand with my husband - and, from where we live, any 'errand' has a minimum travel time of an hour and a half. This one was an hour and a half away - so by the time you factor in travel time, appointment time, lunch and two small stops (that meant we didn't have to come in TODAY), we spent the day out and called it a DATE! Hey - we've been married for 20 years... ANY time we can carve out together is called a date :-) I am blessed.
*****Christmas Planning*****
Okay - so the Christmas stuff is put away.. (or is it?) At least, it's mostly on its way. Except for the poinsettias.... what do we DO with those after Christmas, anyway? They live on and remind us that Jesus was born and true Christmas is NOT over :-)
You've breathed a huge sigh of relief - I mean, Christmas was fun - but intense and pretty time-consuming. Even at its best, we are ready for a rest when it is over.... for reasons that range from overeating... to crazy relatives.. to juggling schedules.. to figuring out gifts. I mean it's hard enough to find a gift for Uncle Joe without all the attendant worry of.. should I even GIVE a gift to him? Does he want a gift? Is he bringing one for me? What if he doesn't LIKE (this thing I think I am going to give)... and on and on and on....
Whew!
Well... now that the dust has settled and you are pretty much back to routine, this is a GOOD time to stop for a minute and reflect.
How could Christmas be a better experience for me and my family?
What did I (and my family) enjoy the most during the season? What did we enjoy the least? ASK your family this one, they might surprise you :-)
What do we want to make sure we repeat next year (or avoid)?
What can I put on my calendar TODAY that will make next holiday season a better experience? (I pack all my cards & Advent stuff in my Halloween decorating box so I find them early enough to do something with them!)
Two sites that I like for Christmas fun:
www.flylady.net (for simplifying and organizing)
www.christmasorganizing.com (for a million and one ideas)
and..... one more thing.... Valentines Day is a month away... How do you want to celebrate that? NOW is the time to get moving if you need some ideas on how to make sure that YOU have a good NO DRAMA day where you feel loved :-)
*****Thrive in Five Update*****
Okay...still hanging in here....
So.. today I have a day at home and will work on the program. I did crawl out of bed to walk the dog but only made it a half mile.... the wind was whipping something fierce. I have to keep reminding myself that I am still healing from the dumb kamikaze deer incident a few months ago. As long as my shoulders ache.... I have to remember to slow down. NOT make excuses, but be smart. That said - my shoulder pain is NOT what keeps me from WALKing :-) That would be an excuse. The weather is supposed to warm up a bit today so I will get more walking in later.
One of Hannah's action steps today is to plan out a month of menus.... yikes! I am not very good at this BUT am working on a personal pantry challenge anyway.. so am going to compromise. I am planning a list of potential meals and will keep track of what they are and what we eat for the month. The point (I think) is to be aware of what I am eating and stay in charge of what goes in my mouth :-) At a minimum, I will have a month of menus to add to my arsenal for another day.
Another tip that may help with menu stuff - I DO have the habit of preparing a soup/stew, a casserole and cut veggies on the weekends. Also I often THINK up a meat/veggie meal to have ready to fix.... that carries me through most of the week if you count leftovers. I did create an easy way to come up with ideas by rotating what my family likes if you are interested.... just let me know!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Pantry Clean-OUT :-) & Thrive in Five Day 3
Still rooting through the pantry & freezer and saving a few grocery coins this month..... what treasures are you finding?
Pantry Menus Week 2:
*rolls in fridge left from larger family gathering - add ham = ham biscuits & cut veggies - super fodder for movie night!
*Marinated chicken & stir fry veggies in the freezer plus brown rice
* frozen sour cream & cottage cheese - thawed & combined with whole wheat pasta, shredded cheese, marinara & a can of rinsed kidney beans = mexi-talian kind of casserole.. added a salad and was all set! (Leftovers from this can be frozen for another day :-)
*Ground beef from freezer (also frozen hamburgers) for a hamburger night.. didn't use them last week.... but cooked all of it up so the boys would have plenty for grazing! I added oven fries to it.... I found white potatoes as a BOGO yesterday so that was a good addition :-) Half price is always a BONUS and oven fries are just too easy!
******Thrive in Five****** Day 3
Well... found the measuring tape... but life interrupted this morning. I overslept (unusual) and my hubby joined me in my dog walk (a new development!) I didn't want to take the time from US to take the measurements first thing. I will do it tomorrow. Family first!
Shorter walk this morning... it is BITTER cold. So I got HALF of my walk in and a pledge to get another half mile in somewhere as the day goes on.
This is the day in the program where you figure out - for sure - that this is a Christian-based program and scripture is mentioned A LOT! I AM a pretty spiritual Christian but I usually avoid scripture-based programs because I find that OFTEN (not always) programs that use scripture references feel exclusive and judgmental. So, in general, I stay away.
BUT - and it's a BIG BUT - I am always willing to TRY. Hannah shares universal positive principles, in my opinion... and promotes a positive mindset to live a life I am supposed to live. The grand life I am designed to live. While I would not choose to get involved with a program BECAUSE of Scripture verses.... I would not throw a good thing away because of it either. If you are uncomfortable with prayers and scripture, Thrive in Five may not work for you. If you are searching for more scripture and common sense together - well.... I guess I'll see you tomorrow :-)
The real work here is NOT telling you how to lose weight. Those programs are everywhere - there is no magic to it.
The work here is MUCH more important.....HOW to live a healthy life. If you want real, lasting change... NOT the 'lose 10, gain 20' cycle we seem to be trapped in... this is DEFINITELY a program worth checking out :-)
It is critical to learn how to KEEP the weight OFF even before you LOSE it... or you will be right back on that roller coaster again.
Not to mention that Hannah spells it out up front right now and offers you your money back.... no worries!
Pantry Menus Week 2:
*rolls in fridge left from larger family gathering - add ham = ham biscuits & cut veggies - super fodder for movie night!
*Marinated chicken & stir fry veggies in the freezer plus brown rice
* frozen sour cream & cottage cheese - thawed & combined with whole wheat pasta, shredded cheese, marinara & a can of rinsed kidney beans = mexi-talian kind of casserole.. added a salad and was all set! (Leftovers from this can be frozen for another day :-)
*Ground beef from freezer (also frozen hamburgers) for a hamburger night.. didn't use them last week.... but cooked all of it up so the boys would have plenty for grazing! I added oven fries to it.... I found white potatoes as a BOGO yesterday so that was a good addition :-) Half price is always a BONUS and oven fries are just too easy!
******Thrive in Five****** Day 3
Well... found the measuring tape... but life interrupted this morning. I overslept (unusual) and my hubby joined me in my dog walk (a new development!) I didn't want to take the time from US to take the measurements first thing. I will do it tomorrow. Family first!
Shorter walk this morning... it is BITTER cold. So I got HALF of my walk in and a pledge to get another half mile in somewhere as the day goes on.
This is the day in the program where you figure out - for sure - that this is a Christian-based program and scripture is mentioned A LOT! I AM a pretty spiritual Christian but I usually avoid scripture-based programs because I find that OFTEN (not always) programs that use scripture references feel exclusive and judgmental. So, in general, I stay away.
BUT - and it's a BIG BUT - I am always willing to TRY. Hannah shares universal positive principles, in my opinion... and promotes a positive mindset to live a life I am supposed to live. The grand life I am designed to live. While I would not choose to get involved with a program BECAUSE of Scripture verses.... I would not throw a good thing away because of it either. If you are uncomfortable with prayers and scripture, Thrive in Five may not work for you. If you are searching for more scripture and common sense together - well.... I guess I'll see you tomorrow :-)
The real work here is NOT telling you how to lose weight. Those programs are everywhere - there is no magic to it.
The work here is MUCH more important.....HOW to live a healthy life. If you want real, lasting change... NOT the 'lose 10, gain 20' cycle we seem to be trapped in... this is DEFINITELY a program worth checking out :-)
It is critical to learn how to KEEP the weight OFF even before you LOSE it... or you will be right back on that roller coaster again.
Not to mention that Hannah spells it out up front right now and offers you your money back.... no worries!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Pantry Clean-Out
Kitchen skills do not come easily to me but my practice in the last year have helped me tremendously! My personal family situation is this: ONE husband who likes relatively plain foods and two mostly grown sons who prefer to forage. The boys generally graze - they don't usually come to a regular dinner. They will subsist on Chef Boy-ar-dee or whatever FAST thing I have in pantry or freezer that resembles pizza.... or submarine type meats and cheeses. I am somewhat constrained (a situation of my own making, perhaps - but it is my situation nonetheless)
What this means is that NEW recipes MUST be enough for only TWO or preservable .... in case my hubby doesn't like it and I have to eat it all... So new recipes have to be really healthy too because I don't want to get stuck with something that is high calorie / marginal nutrition (in my opinion)
In 2011:
I spent a few months cleaning out my pantry... okay, I confess... WORKing on cleaning out my pantry.. which had the side benefit of teaching me how to use some items that I don't remember HOW got INTO my pantry.
I began to TRY to plan menus. (really not hard..... I usually plan a soup, a casserole and a sandwich type meal... the rest of the week is variable - usually leftovers or one eat-out night)
I eliminated a lot of chemicals and learned to make some of my own "FAST food".
I added more fruits and veggies to our life.
Sooooooo now it is 2012... and time to work on it again :-)
PANTRY Challenge for January!
How many meals can I get for us out of my pantry and freezer? THAT is my challenge for the month.... and.... I bet I can save a lot on groceries!
Below are 4 dinners for this week which will leave food for grazing and/or leftovers. All I need to pick up for them is broccoli & hamburger buns for this first week of dinners!
Week 1 meal plan:
I have hoppin' john casserole and ham left from New Years Day. I will freeze half of both in small 2-person size containers. (and make broth from the ham bone to use with beans later)
From the pantry:
Lipton Cheesy Pasta with Broccoli with or without ham.
Alfredo sauce with whole wheat spaghetti with salad
From the freezer:
Ground beef (picked up on clearance) to make hamburgers, oven fries and cur veggies
And date night out on Friday with a gift card! Not a bad plan :-)
My area cleaning is going well (okay 4 days into the month :-) But I find that I spend some of my cleaning time wanting to write about it... I am having to be strict with myself about FOCUS! I am not a person who is particularly skilled at managing her environment. We are pretty clean, but cluttered. I'm not much of a decorator.... pretty utilitarian.. looking for more ease of household cleaning.
The good news is that I am THRILLED with the progress I can make in only 15 minutes. EXCEPT for my greasy stovetop - which took 15 minutes all by itself and a learning curve about getting rid of grease! I found that all grease is not created equal. Gentle cleanser (Barkeeper's Friend) took care of some. Apparently it merely softened up some other :-( I pulled off the knobs and put them in a tub of hot sudsy water & my DISH grease cutter... and connected the dots..... and used straight Dawn on the stove face. This was brilliant! Worked like a charm - which is awesome because my shoulders and back still ache like the dickens and all that scrubbing wasn't helping!
Anyway - back for another 15 minutes in a bit because I am running errands tomorrow and don't know if I'll get to it. (the 2nd 15-minute stint took care of the rest of the outside of the stove, walls around the stove up to the ceiling and the cabinet & drawer fronts on the counter-bar.
Since I want to prepare to show (whether I sell or not), I decided to take photos for a personal file on my computer to help me see my progress & remind me what needs to be done. Share your tips and wish me luck!
What this means is that NEW recipes MUST be enough for only TWO or preservable .... in case my hubby doesn't like it and I have to eat it all... So new recipes have to be really healthy too because I don't want to get stuck with something that is high calorie / marginal nutrition (in my opinion)
In 2011:
I spent a few months cleaning out my pantry... okay, I confess... WORKing on cleaning out my pantry.. which had the side benefit of teaching me how to use some items that I don't remember HOW got INTO my pantry.
I began to TRY to plan menus. (really not hard..... I usually plan a soup, a casserole and a sandwich type meal... the rest of the week is variable - usually leftovers or one eat-out night)
I eliminated a lot of chemicals and learned to make some of my own "FAST food".
I added more fruits and veggies to our life.
Sooooooo now it is 2012... and time to work on it again :-)
PANTRY Challenge for January!
How many meals can I get for us out of my pantry and freezer? THAT is my challenge for the month.... and.... I bet I can save a lot on groceries!
Below are 4 dinners for this week which will leave food for grazing and/or leftovers. All I need to pick up for them is broccoli & hamburger buns for this first week of dinners!
Week 1 meal plan:
I have hoppin' john casserole and ham left from New Years Day. I will freeze half of both in small 2-person size containers. (and make broth from the ham bone to use with beans later)
From the pantry:
Lipton Cheesy Pasta with Broccoli with or without ham.
Alfredo sauce with whole wheat spaghetti with salad
From the freezer:
Ground beef (picked up on clearance) to make hamburgers, oven fries and cur veggies
And date night out on Friday with a gift card! Not a bad plan :-)
My area cleaning is going well (okay 4 days into the month :-) But I find that I spend some of my cleaning time wanting to write about it... I am having to be strict with myself about FOCUS! I am not a person who is particularly skilled at managing her environment. We are pretty clean, but cluttered. I'm not much of a decorator.... pretty utilitarian.. looking for more ease of household cleaning.
The good news is that I am THRILLED with the progress I can make in only 15 minutes. EXCEPT for my greasy stovetop - which took 15 minutes all by itself and a learning curve about getting rid of grease! I found that all grease is not created equal. Gentle cleanser (Barkeeper's Friend) took care of some. Apparently it merely softened up some other :-( I pulled off the knobs and put them in a tub of hot sudsy water & my DISH grease cutter... and connected the dots..... and used straight Dawn on the stove face. This was brilliant! Worked like a charm - which is awesome because my shoulders and back still ache like the dickens and all that scrubbing wasn't helping!
Anyway - back for another 15 minutes in a bit because I am running errands tomorrow and don't know if I'll get to it. (the 2nd 15-minute stint took care of the rest of the outside of the stove, walls around the stove up to the ceiling and the cabinet & drawer fronts on the counter-bar.
Since I want to prepare to show (whether I sell or not), I decided to take photos for a personal file on my computer to help me see my progress & remind me what needs to be done. Share your tips and wish me luck!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Weekly Menus
Oh my.... do I have trouble with this! I have the hardest time putting a meal on the table and I find that I harbor resentment that I have to do it. I definitely need to deal with my own feelings about this but I want to make it easier and more of a gift for my family.
It seems like everyone else has it under control..... women like to cook and put dinner on the table, right?
Wrong here :-( When in doubt... there's always hot dogs... My men are fine with that but I know that I am not doing a good job nutritionally for anybody!
Anyway - what I DO like is being a homemaker... which includes the dreaded 'dinner on the table'!
So, in the interest of simplicity and frugality, I have been looking for some kind of system that will work for us.
Per conventional advice, I tried to figure out our activities for the week... like which night could I make what.... but that started getting complicated... because it varies. Seriously, maybe it is my perfectionism... but ONE schedule change and the train went off the rails. And, around here, a change in schedule is the RULE, not the exception!
With the parameters that SOMETIMES the two teens join my husband and me for dinner... but I still need to think up, purchase and prepare a meal anyway.. here is my current attempt...
First I gathered information... what do we actually eat?
I asked the family for their favorites.... of COURSE the boys opted for burgers and dogs, pizza and mac 'n;cheese. My husband mentioned his favorite chicken and rice soup, taco bake and chicken stir fry. I love lasagna, Mexican chicken and chili.
I found that we repeat a lot of our meals - over and over. We usually have a burger / dog sort of night during the week and sometimes a pizza night. I usually make a soup of some sort each week and a one pot meal (but it's usually an ordeal finding recipes!). We usually have at least one night of eating out of the refrigerator - and sometimes we can't get together so some are eating out and others are culling from the larder. If we are not running a lot, or if there are not a lot of leftovers, I might try something different.
I think a rotating schedule would be good... like a rice soup one week and a bean soup the next.... lasagna one week, chicken pot pie the next...
So I tried a different approach..made a worksheet with 3 columns.... soup, one pot entree, sandwich, and alternate entree. That's 4 options plus leftovers. For 7 nights, that is a great head start for us.
For each entree, we will add 2 veggies and/or a salad.... sometimes a bread...and we will be good to go!
I did make an excel spreadsheet. I will cross off the different meals as we eat them, ensuring greater variety in what I serve my family. I can also do a better job of using what is in the pantry and freezer... and should have plenty of inspiration!
Let me know if you would like a copy of my worksheet... it is personalized to my family.. but may help you. Also - if you have EASY, quick meals, I'd love some ideas!
It seems like everyone else has it under control..... women like to cook and put dinner on the table, right?
Wrong here :-( When in doubt... there's always hot dogs... My men are fine with that but I know that I am not doing a good job nutritionally for anybody!
Anyway - what I DO like is being a homemaker... which includes the dreaded 'dinner on the table'!
So, in the interest of simplicity and frugality, I have been looking for some kind of system that will work for us.
Per conventional advice, I tried to figure out our activities for the week... like which night could I make what.... but that started getting complicated... because it varies. Seriously, maybe it is my perfectionism... but ONE schedule change and the train went off the rails. And, around here, a change in schedule is the RULE, not the exception!
With the parameters that SOMETIMES the two teens join my husband and me for dinner... but I still need to think up, purchase and prepare a meal anyway.. here is my current attempt...
First I gathered information... what do we actually eat?
I asked the family for their favorites.... of COURSE the boys opted for burgers and dogs, pizza and mac 'n;cheese. My husband mentioned his favorite chicken and rice soup, taco bake and chicken stir fry. I love lasagna, Mexican chicken and chili.
I found that we repeat a lot of our meals - over and over. We usually have a burger / dog sort of night during the week and sometimes a pizza night. I usually make a soup of some sort each week and a one pot meal (but it's usually an ordeal finding recipes!). We usually have at least one night of eating out of the refrigerator - and sometimes we can't get together so some are eating out and others are culling from the larder. If we are not running a lot, or if there are not a lot of leftovers, I might try something different.
I think a rotating schedule would be good... like a rice soup one week and a bean soup the next.... lasagna one week, chicken pot pie the next...
So I tried a different approach..made a worksheet with 3 columns.... soup, one pot entree, sandwich, and alternate entree. That's 4 options plus leftovers. For 7 nights, that is a great head start for us.
For each entree, we will add 2 veggies and/or a salad.... sometimes a bread...and we will be good to go!
I did make an excel spreadsheet. I will cross off the different meals as we eat them, ensuring greater variety in what I serve my family. I can also do a better job of using what is in the pantry and freezer... and should have plenty of inspiration!
Let me know if you would like a copy of my worksheet... it is personalized to my family.. but may help you. Also - if you have EASY, quick meals, I'd love some ideas!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)