Now that I have a child and am working part time, ordering pizza at 7:30 at night is no longer an option. I needed a plan. Enter weekly meal planning. I had attempted doing this before (and failed miserably) but, I think it's safe to say, I have successfully nailed a routine. Every Monday I scour my recipes, make a list and head to the grocery store. Complete sanity saver, I tell ya.
My lists were starting to show up on random pieces of paper or the back of a colouring page so I decided to whip up a fancy printable, which of course I'm going to share with you.
Click here to download the weekly meal plan pdf.
I've also created a board on Pinterest called 'weekly meal plan' where I've started saving tried, tested and yummy weekday friendly recipes. I'll keep cooking away and posting on my board as I go.
So now it's your turn, what are some of your go-to recipes? How do you manage dinners in your home? Please share your knowledge, I can use all the help I can get!
Christine
I have a similar system as you except I meal plan on Saturdays and shop on Sundays/Mondays. I even organize my list based on my 'route' at the grocery store (ie; produce, then bread, then meats). My go to book is America's Test Kitchen Quick Favourites. Nothings takes more than 45 min and every recipe is no fail (no jokes!). Here's the link on Amazon.ca: http://www.amazon.ca/Americas-Kitchen-Quick-Family-Cookbook/dp/B00BFQMPE2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376953554&sr=8-1&keywords=america%27s+test+kitchen+quick.
ReplyDeleteI knew I could count on you, Carolyn! I will definitely check out that book, thank you. I have another weeknight cookbook I like, William Sonoma Weeknight Cook: http://amzn.to/14ek6tH
DeleteYou know me - a nerd in all facets of my life. :) Thanks for sharing! I'll definitely check out that cookbook!
DeleteYou know me - a nerd in all facets of my life. :) Thanks for sharing! I'll definitely check out that cookbook!
DeleteUgh, I hate that conversation! Have you ever checked out the blog "Dinner: A Love Story"? I'm pretty sure you'd love it! I read their book cover to cover before I even attempted a recipe. Their approach to family dinner is really refreshing, and both their site and book are filled with achievable recipes and wonderful stories about growing into a family. Okay, this is sounding a lot like a book review, but just wanted to share. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued, I will be checking that out that blog for sure, thanks, Heather!
DeleteI always have great intentions to be so organized and after a month, it is last minute! But now that I am heading back to the classroom this fall, hubs is back at work I NEED to get organized! I am going to make my two remaining teenagers who live at home take over a meal (insert evil laugh) and I love your printable to help us stay organized!
ReplyDeleteMy go-to are crock pot recipes - most recent fave is:http://www.canadianliving.com/food/slow_cooker_pulled_pork.php
I am heading to your board!
I'm all about crockpot recipes too, Barbara. I try and make them on Wednesday (my first work day of the week) and stretch out leftovers as long as I can! Such a smart idea to get your teenagers involved, can't wait till I can put Alice to work! ;) haha.
DeleteWhat a great idea! And what a gorgeous printable. Love how you just whipped that up. Next time I'm at my parents, I'm printing off a stash ;)
ReplyDeleteMy go to meals often involve quinoa. It's super fast, so versatile and it always tastes great (except those first two times I tried cooking it...hint: don't let it burn!).
Mmm, I love quinoa, Amy. You'll have to send me some of your recipes. I only have a salad recipe that I make with it so far.
DeleteYour handwriting is gorgeous! Where do you get most of your recipes from? Mostly online/pinterest or physical cookbooks? I have my "go-to" recipes (mostly from cookbooks), but every once in a while, I like to try something new. I write in all my cookbooks so I can remember what I tried, what I liked/loved, what the hubby liked/loved and any substitutions that I made.
ReplyDeleteI go thru meal planning spurts. Some months I'm better than others. Such is life. My go-to meals are soup, quinoa salad with tofu (which is great for lunches/leftovers because it tastes great warm or cold), chilli, and salsa chicken.
You've motivated me to get more organized about meal planning though! :)
Lately it's been mostly from online, but I love this cookbook too: William Sonoma Weeknight Cook: http://amzn.to/14ek6tH
DeleteI wish I'd utilize my cookbooks more, but I've just found it easier to corral online for some reason. I love that you write in them, what a good idea!
Thanks for sharing your printable, Christine! I actually just shared our one of our favorite fast meals today: http://enjoyerofgrace.blogspot.com/2013/08/copycat-palios-jimmy.html
ReplyDeleteIt involves pizza though...:D
mmm, I love pizza, Weiya. Will have to check that out!
DeleteLove your planner - thank you for sharing it! With a 2.5 year old literally underfoot I started cooking 2 weeks worth of lunches (for DH) and dinners twice monthly and freezing - and I love it! Not only do I now have to deal with cooking at the end of the day when both DD and I are tired, but it helps keep us on budget too! Harder in the summer when we don't want something hot, but I still try.
ReplyDeleteSome of our fav go-to meals are: Mango Chicken + Quinoa, Chicken Quesadillas, Adobo Pulled Pork, Sausage pasta.
Wow, that is some seriously awesome motivation, Nicole! I wish I was that organized! Nice job, lady :)
DeleteMy meal plan? I'm having dinner at your house.
ReplyDeleteYou are a lifesaver!!! I'm printing out a bunch of these right now. My system of meal planning on post-its just isn't cutting it. And trying to come up w/ meals on the fly whilst Quinn tears around the grocery store....well, I'm convinced they're going to ban us soon ;-) Seriously, cooking dinner is such a stressful time of the day for me--the whole toddler wrangling thing, as you know--so any planning helps.
My tried & true dish is a marinated flank steak recipe. Throw it on the grill w/ some veggies & yay. Leftovers are great on salad greens the next day, too. I also always have shrimp frozen in the freezer that I can defrost for shrimp scampi or shrimp tacos. Will be checking out your Pinterest board!
Hey, teach me some of that elegant handwriting!!
Dinner time is seriously the most stressful time of the day! Somebody (not mentioning any names, ha!) seems to need major attention at that time of day. arg.
DeleteI'm with you on the frozen shrimp, it's so fast to thaw. Tilapia is a go to last minute thing too around here.
Christine, sometimes I wonder if you're a mind reader. I was just thinking a few days ago that I really have to get my butt in gear with meal planning because Katie is starting school in a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteThis meal planner is awesome, and so are you!
Ha! Totally a mind reader, Nicole ;) That coconut curry recipe you shared with me is seriously one of my absolute favs! THANK YOU. It's been in heavy rotation in quite a few of my friends' kitchens too.
DeleteKeep them coming!
Such a pretty printable!! And I totally need this... I'm terrible at planning meals.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a hard thing to get into the habit of, took me years!
DeleteAh it is really pretty. I totally need one of these...I'm always tearing off pieces of post-its or something. Haha.
ReplyDeleteI hate cooking. Mostly, I hate doing it all the time, but we end up either eating out or cereal! I love the idea of meal planning. I wish I was more committed. Good for you!
ReplyDelete