meal planning progress--yes!

wow guys! thanks so much to all the delurkers who came out to say hello! (and to my regular commenters, xo.) that was super. some of you emailed me privately too--that was nice. i really did enjoy learning a tiny bit about your lives, so thank you for sharing. i believe i got back to each one you--after all, i did ask you to say hi so it would be kind of rude if i didn't respond, eh? a couple of email addresses weren't working, but i tried!

O.K. girls, i'm into this now. i'm quickly back on the road to recovering my meal planning capabilities and it feels really good.

i made a really simple template on the computer using tables--in each table i made 3 lables: meal, cookbook/pg.#, and need. i started first with the meals that i make regularly and don't really need a cookbook for. they are just in my head. tell me, does this happen to you--i sit down to first write out these meals i've been making forever and all i can come up with is like, two. two! i've been cooking for my family for 22+ years and i can only think of 2??!! major brain lock going on. that happens more then i care to admit....ahem.

anyway...it's pretty self explanatory. the 'need' part is where i jot down everything i will need to make that particular meal. this is so i don't have to go look up the recipe in the cookbook when i'm making my grocery list, it saves lots of time. i also have a master grocery list that i print out with all the things we buy. that way i'm not re-writing a list each time i go shopping, i just circle what we need on the master.

now, i just need to three-hole-punch the sheets and put them in my very cute binder i bought just for this purpose (please note: if you plan to do this a cute binder is VERY necessary ) my plan is to eventually make categories for meals, side dishes, desserts and breads. i also want to keep the recipes i print off the internet in here too---instead of plastered all over the fridge.

my goal with this system is not to just make another cookbook of sorts, but to only add recipes that are really liked by us--or that i want to try and feel positive that we all will like it. a book of favorites i guess. by the way, i love martha stewart's food magazine. most of the food is simple, easy to prepare and healthy, and that is exactly how i like to cook.

i think i'm due for a blogging break. when i come back i hope to show you some crafty goodness. if not, well...i'll think of something to say, i usually always do :)

see you in a few days!

Comments

[Melissa]

You're absolutely right, you have to have an eye catching 3 ring binder to keep your favorites in. I also recommend picking up a 3 hole punch that actually fits in the front through the 3 binder rings, it's come in very handy for me.

I always have a hard time making new recipes from cookbooks because my family just doesn't like them most of the time. Right now I've received a few recipes from my sister that her family enjoys as well as favorites from my childhood from my mom. So basically now I only make a new recipe if I receive it from someone I know or have tried it myself and asked for the recipe. I've got a few of those favorites on my blog if you want to check them out yourself.

I don't think you mentioned a freezer master list, I have one of those as well since our big freezer is outside in the garage and hubby does alot of grocery shopping I tend to forget what's out there. I get my freezer master list from two places...one that's free is organizedhome.com and I also own the first book "30day gourmet" as well for Once a Month Cooking that also has reproducible sheets in it. They have a website as well, they may have some templates available now but not sure.

I also break down my recipes in the area of Main Dishes, by type of meat (chicken, beef, turkey, fish, meatless) so when hubby comes home and he tells me he's in the mood for a chicken meal I just go to that section and find a favorite recipe. Another section I use often is titled Kids lunches - I basically just keep a running list of menu ideas for the kids that they have liked (not really recipes) but helps on those days when I can't think of one thing to feed them....there's always tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches with fresh fruit cut up. :0)

Happy meal planning!

[Jackie]

I think this system is great and makes tons of sense - I'm definitely going to borrow your template and give it a try. We're in the middle of a remodel, so the whole meal thing is going to be challenging (with no kitchen), but being organized will help a lot. Thanks for some great ideas!

[Rachel]

I'm so with you. I've really been working on the meal planning. I like your idea of table of meals. It would make grocery shopping so much easier. Everyday Food mag helps. I love the shopping lists. I also have a notebook of favorite meals. My goals is to have a notebook that will basically become "The family cookbook".

[Kathe]

I love to cook, but his whole dinner every night thing is a challenge!I would love some mention of WHAT everyone is cooking every night..just looking for some new ideas, simple tried and true family meals. I have been doing this for 32!! years and would have a hard time putting together a weeks worth of favorites. Tonight was going to be the Silver Palate pot roast...but by the time i did the shopping there is'nt the four hours left before dinner time to cook it! Thanks for an inspiring AND calming site.

[Mama Urchin]

You've inspired me to plan again too. After we try a new recipe we decide if we liked it enough to put on a recipe card in the recipe box. Only things we really like go in there.

[Gina]

Great ideas!

When you come back, share more of what you fix that keeps you so wonderful slim..LOL I need that recipe.

[capello]

i'm notorious for coming up with recipes on little pieces of paper and then losing them for two years. ahem.

that's one of the reasons why i began the my gluten-free recipe site. i've got to organize *somewhere*

[jen]

What a great idea. Thank you for sharing it. This is one area I too need to improve on. I may just be able to do with all the tools you talked about.

[June]

I love the whole meal planning idea. I periodically try to do this and then I forget which is a shame as it really is more economical, less frenzied and certainly tastier when things are planned. Thanks for reminding me that I really ought to be more mindful in doing this.

[Jessica]

I think a new binder might be just the inspiration I need! I like the idea of having the ingredient list. That is always were I get stuck - actually having the right ingredients at the right time.

[kathryn]

Good heavens, never mind the meal planning--I saw in your last post that you had 72 delurkers to whom you personally responded and said "hi"! You are amazing!

No really, you have some great meal planning ideas that I'm going to try myself. I so want to be inspired to cook simple, healthy meals for my family, but I always seem to fall back on prepackaged convenience foods. I'm horribly disorganized with my menus and grocery shopping, so keeping a "master" ingredient list may be just what I needed. Thank you for sharing.

Enjoy your blogging break!

[Tracee]

The picture on your latest post looks just like my desk did last week! I finally found?made the time to go thru all the Everyday Foods that I have on a very cute shelf by my stove, but I figured that it was time they had another purpose than to add color to things. It seemed like a good time to do it, I find that if I'm not cooking up rather fancy "company" food, I tend to serve the same old things to the most important people.Time for a change, I said! I love your template idea, as soon as I can find a cute binder{I'll have to ask my sister,she's a teacher and always finds good things like that}, I must adapt it.

[Alicia P.]

Oh, that's brilliant. I have got to get on the stick about this too. Thanks for the motivation. xo

[Tracy]

A 3-ring binder (especially a pretty one!) is a MUST for all those recipe mags, clippings & menu ideas. Even though it's just hubby & I here, I make up weekly menus & shopping list for it. I like knowing what's on the menu for each day, and that the food's in the fridge for it. Saves the hanging on the fridge door each day 5pm and wondering "What's for dinner?" You've got some super ideas there--thanks! Oh, and enjoy your break! Happy Days! :o)

[Sue]

Seriously, the first step is finding the perfect binder.
I'm on a mission today!

[Sue]

Seriously, the first step is finding the perfect binder.
I'm on a mission today!

[Sue]

whoops.
i guess i am serious.

[VanessaAnn87]

just wanted to say hi. your blog is so cute. i saw the pic of the sweater purse that got lost in the mail. it was so cute, sad day!!!
xoxo

[VanessaAnn87]

just wanted to say hi. your blog is so cute. i saw the pic of the sweater purse that got lost in the mail. it was so cute, sad day!!!
xoxo

[Carrie]

What an excellent idea! I love to "try" to plan our meals in advance but have never approached it like this. what an incredible time saver for the immediate and long term future.
I missed out on delurking the other day because I don't look at craft blogs every day (although I sure do wish I could), so I am delurking today.... umm, Howdy! I'm Carrie and live in central Pennsylvania. I have two kiddos - five year old daughter and 9 month old son, and enjoy crafting when i can, hiking, and exploring the outdoors with my kids. I am a population ecologist/entomologist by training and hope to move away from academic research and into science writing for kids in the next year or two (hey, one can dream!).
I love to come and look at your blog. your creations and comments on life/ family are a treasure.
cheers!
carrie

[Suzie Sews]

What a great system, Mmmm maybe I could give it a try...OK I am not that clever or organised. Suzie Sews

[molly]

great idea, toni. there's nothing worse than hitting 4pm and realizing i haven't planned dinner! i hate that feeling.
your master grocery lists is a great idea too. why haven't i done this??!!

[Jo]

what a great way to get organised, one of my New Year goals is to cook more meals from scratch but I find it hard to think of what to cook!

[lindsey clare]

hello, my first visit to your blog and my first comment too (of course).

i'm really interested in all sorts of home planning/cooking/etc as i recently got married and am living with just my husband and i for the first time. it's actually a lot of fun doing our planning/shopping/cooking for the week and so i hope we can continue this habit once we have a bigger family!

at the moment we sit down on sunday nights and think of four-five meals for the coming weekdays. (we don't include weekends because we're usually out and about!). then we write up a shopping list and then grocery shop on monday nights so that we have everything ready and fresh for the next five days. your master list is a great idea though, i might have to try that, as it does get a bit annoying re-writing the same staples (milk, eggs, fruit, vegetables) every week!

thanks for creating such a lovely blog and i'm sure i'll be back!