Comments on: Menu Planning Monday and a Giveaway!

By: Hélène

Hélène — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:01:51 +0000

I used to plan every week until couple years ago. Now the hardest is that I am at home full time and I just have to get up and think of what I will be cooking for dinner that night, so I don’t really need to plan for the week.

But wait, I did plan ahead for tomorrow night. It’s TGIF so I’m making homemade pizza. I love that smell in the house. I guess I should start planning for next week. You really encourage me to do so.

Hélènes last blog post..Candy Bars Recipe

By: Kristen

Kristen — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:35:54 +0000

Test

By: Lynn

Lynn — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:36:32 +0000

The hardest part about menu planning is just getting it done. I start with a blank pad of paper and stare at it. If I’m feeling adventurous I fill in the blanks with all new recipes, but inevitably at least 1/2 of those turn into hamburger or taco meals because of not having the right ingredients.

By: Cris

Cris — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:01:31 +0000

I need to learn how to plan ahead… especially because I also have a family of five and I work from home too, but we are having an easy lasagne with meat sauce that does not require layering and it turns out great…

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:01:49 +0000

I’m all about the menu planning for the week and trying to figure out when exactly I’ll run out of leftovers, what day to cook, etc. Then my wife will want to order out one night and it will throw off the entire plan, lol–unacceptable! I save so much money and so much less goes to waste…and like you said, its a great excuse to read/stare at food literature. Also, I love the photo of the tilapia dish–it sounds like a tasty one!

Mikes last blog post..Pan Fried Grouper with Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce

By: Nate

Nate — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:20:14 +0000

The hardest thing about menu planning is, we have so much raw materials to work with and it is hard to settle on one dish.

BTW, I had a hard time finding your RSS feed link. I saw your email subscription box, and the Atom link in my browser’s address bar. But the obvious place to find the RSS subscription, which is an orange RSS icon in the same general area as the email subscription box, is not there. The “Entries RSS” link on the left sidebar is not that intuitive.

Nates last blog post..Mochi Ice Cream from Bubbies (Honolulu)

By: Dani

Dani — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:28:19 +0000

i LOVE the idea of meanu planning, but with my new class/study schedule i am lucky i get two pieces of bread thrown together fast enough

maybe next semester will be better!

Danis last blog post..#12) Cocoa Peanut Butter Cookies

By: Shibooya » Blog Archive » Menu Planning, Let’s Do It!

Shibooya » Blog Archive » Menu Planning, Let’s Do It! — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:05:08 +0000

[...] foodgawking, I stumbled upon this post on Dine and Dish and decided I’d hop on the meal planning band wagon. But instead of planning meals for [...]

By: dallimomma

dallimomma — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:17:13 +0000

I can easily tell you one thing on our menu this week; this Tilapia Parmesan. I loved it, my husband not so much, preferring his fish unadorned. But I would spread this stuff on anything and broil it, it was that good.

My newest struggle with menu planning? Going from a houseful to just the two of us. That’s right, everyone is gone, married or to college and I have no idea how to cook for just 2! So we do a lot of individually frozen fish filets; kind of takes the guesswork out of it.

Thanks for the giveaway.

By: kashuma

kashuma — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:19:01 +0000

I don’t menu plan for a couple of reasons. We live 1/4 mile from the grocery is the first reason. The second is that I love to cook and am a spontaneous cook. I will either whip up a dish from whatever I have on hand, or visit my favorite blogs to find inspiration on any given day. I am super spoiled, between all the great foodie websites and my grocery and fruit stand being so close.

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:02:53 +0000

I cook from a pantry (i.e., I do not shop for meals because I live too far away from the decent grocery store although I obviously supplement my produce) so the most difficult part for me–something I should have done tonight, as a matter of fact, but did not, is pulling meat out of the freezer. I never remember. It does encourage more vegetarian meals though! I am glad I saw this–maybe I can think of something before I go to bed!

Lauras last blog post..Holy Moly What A Night… But What A Cookie, Too: Ginger Spice Crinkles

By: Jordan

Jordan — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:45:35 +0000

I don’t cook every single night, because I work till 10pm some nights… HOWEVER.

What I do for meal planning sounds like it might fit your needs. Pretty much what I do is pick out 10 meals [I shop for 2 weeks at a time] & make a grocery list for those ingredients. When I get the groceries home, I put all the meat, minus maybe one or two things that I’m planning on making those next two days, in the freezer. [Thaw accordingly as the weeks progress.]

Then, whenever I want to make a meal, I don’t have a strict schedule… Instead, I have the makings of 10 meals and at any given moment, I can just throw whatever meal I’m feeling like cooking together.

Of course, I also buy standby stuff, like a few frozen pizzas or Lean Cuisines on the nights I’m just not feeling it… Or nights when I’m working till 10 so the SO can have food while I’m at work.

Jordans last blog post..I’m the next Martha Stewart.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:20:03 +0000

The key for me is lots of flexibility. I used to cook for five but now I find that there are times when no one but me shows up for dinner. I have a rough idea of schedules but they are constantly in flux and it is too stressful to nail it down. So I shop for several dinners a week and plan on quick stuff or leftovers to fill in. One thing I have shopped for this week is Poached Salmon with Red Pepper Sauce. Lisas last blog post..Choux Pastry in Vevey

By: Candy

Candy — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:40:44 +0000

I’ve had to scale down with the boys not being home as often. That and have something they can heat up quick! This fish looks like a great recipe for us. Thanks,
Cnady

Candys last blog post..What’s That Smell?

By: Jamie

Jamie — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:56:45 +0000

Mmm, I want to come to your house and eat this week!

This is such great timing because today I’m trying to get back on the menu planning wagon. I find whenever my schedule changes, I abandon the plan because so many adjustments have to be made. But when we have a plan, we eat better, we save money and we are certainly less stressed.

Thanks for the inspiration. It’s back to a plan for us!

Jamies last blog post..How a music teacher rocked my world

By: Mandy

Mandy — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:59:50 +0000

Since I’ve started visiting my local Farmers Market on the weekends, I have begun to semi-menu plan. This past Saturday I found grass fed lamb ribs and I’m excited to learn how to make good ribs. Living in Texas, there is a lot of pressure to make great tasting BBQ RIBS!

By: Bellini Valli

Bellini Valli — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:46:29 +0000

I always have the best intentions when it comes to meal planning and buying groceries. I have discovered the best thing for me is to plan only 3 meals and that way when I get home from work and I don't feel like cooking my fridge doesn;t hold a lot of spoiling food:D Bellini Vallis last blog post..Golden Bruschetta with Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella and Pesto

By: Laurel

Laurel — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:23:16 +0000

Tuesday (tomorrow) is usually our busy day…so it is usually crock pot day. I already have it ready and in the fridge. I am going to slow cook some chicken thighs with some chopped onions and veggies. I seasoned the chicken with a rub and added some chicken broth instead of water. When I get home after work I’ll debone the chicken and serve it over some egg noodles and some veggies. Boring I know, but easy. BTW, I figure I’ll throw a plug in here: I started a food blog on Saturday. I have been wanting to for over a year, but was too chicken to try. I just hope it can be half as good as yours and many others…

Laurels last blog post..Light Lunch

By: savvysuzie

savvysuzie — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:07:34 +0000

I resisted Menu planning for a looong time..but it really is freeing! Hubby and I never have those nights where we sit around for an hour having the “what do YOU want for dinner” conversation. We use everything we buy. We buy smarter!

Here’s one of my favorite cheap-and-tasty recipes for Chickpea Stew, from my recipe blog

http://savvysuziefood.blogspot.com/2008/09/chickpea-stew.html

savvysuzies last blog post..Menu Plan Monday – Sept 8th

By: Renee

Renee — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:04:50 +0000

I always try to menu plan – it seems to make my week go much more smoothly.

The chicken in white wine marinade sounds wonderful!

Renees last blog post..Weekly Menu Plan