tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post6873955223256699741..comments2023-11-28T04:49:21.046-06:00Comments on We Are THAT Family: I Need a Kitchen AidKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02608199440254905212noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-45719106074814868532009-02-06T06:36:00.000-06:002009-02-06T06:36:00.000-06:00Yes,We meal plan and I plan to write about this on...Yes,<BR/>We meal plan and I plan to write about this on my blog. With links and resources of course. <BR/><BR/>I have two daughters whom I spent many years training and since they still live with us, and will until they get married, and no "prince charming's" in site, they help me cook. <BR/><BR/>We plan meals once a month and have done it this way for a long time. We each have different nights we are responsible to cook. I cook Sunday and Monday, dd Rachel, age 22, cooks Tuesday and Saturday, dd Jessica,age 19, cooks Wednesday and Friday and ds Nathan, age 14, is in training on Thursday. If he is cooking a new recipe Rachel helps him. If he is cooking something he has cooked before he is on his own unless he needs help then he can ask Rachel or me.<BR/><BR/>So I only cook two nights a week... nope... I only cook one night a week. I always make something that can be frozen and I save it until two weeks later for that Sunday. <BR/><BR/>We meal plan so we can know what each person is making and do not do two similar things the same week. We also meal plan so we can shop. I try to shop two weeks at a time for most things except things that would spoil or that we run out of. We buy milk, bread, fresh fruit and vegetables and sometimes other ingredients, each week but try to do the big shopping of canned goods and paper products and other things that will last like sour cream... etc. on the weekend that my dh gets paid, every two weeks. Most ingredients will keep in the fridge for two weeks if they are not opened.<BR/><BR/>well this was longer than I thought it would be and the rest you can find, hopefully this weekend, on my blog.<BR/><BR/>So train those children and one day you will have less days to cook, until they get married, then you will have to do it again but for less people. And I hope to have my other son cooking by then he is 12. When they are all gone I will do more freezer meals or go eat at their houses!!! LOLDebbie Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03164548520559233996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-91346281726472265862009-02-05T13:21:00.000-06:002009-02-05T13:21:00.000-06:00I plan our dinners out one, sometimes two weeks ah...I plan our dinners out one, sometimes two weeks ahead. I generally grocery shop every other week, with a monthly budget of about $300. If you're having a hard time thinking of things to make, ask your family for suggestions. Another good resource is recipezaar.com. You can search all kinds of recipes and find something you can make with what you have on hand, or plan out a menu with recipes you want to try.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-31773907067886274912009-02-05T12:31:00.000-06:002009-02-05T12:31:00.000-06:00I have about 75 meals in an excel spreadsheet, com...I have about 75 meals in an excel spreadsheet, complete with ingredient lists. I added them slowly, as I tried recipes from RecipeZaar, magazines and food blogs. They are broken down by time, method (oven, crockpot, stove-top, etc). I also have the actual recipes in a binder. Every Thursday, I check my freezer to see what I have, then plan the next week's meals and shopping list on the second and third sheets of the spreadsheet. <BR/><BR/>I never realized how anal that sounds until I just typed it out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-52515017452217588112009-02-05T10:16:00.000-06:002009-02-05T10:16:00.000-06:00I'm a little behind checking my favorit-o blogs (y...I'm a little behind checking my favorit-o blogs (yours of course)! I am an OCD meal planner. I have done the monthly meal plan and now find the 2 week plan is my best bet. It allows me to go to Walmart twice a month for about an hour and a half with my 10 month old throwing things out of the cart instead of a three hour H E double hockey sticks trip where people line up and clap as we exit the store.<BR/>With the 2 week-er I can get fresh produce and therefore cook healthier. I plan to cook one big "pot o something" a month to put up in the freezer. We also eat Hamburger Helper with at least one healthy green veggie once a week. That leaves Chicken Helper and Tuna Helper as well. (kidding...sometimes). This allows me to shop based on what we will be using for 2 weeks and if we missed any of the planned meals then that makes the next trip even cheaper. I have saved a good bit of money meal planning this way. Plus I can throw things in the Crock at 10 am when I actually feel like cooking. Hope this helps. Sorry so long.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16114703648782356955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-21564006589503505112009-02-04T18:15:00.000-06:002009-02-04T18:15:00.000-06:00I use weekly menus. Then I go to the store and ma...I use weekly menus. Then I go to the store and make sure I have all the ingredients on hand. This saves me trips to the store and money on wasted food. <BR/>The first week start with 5 of your favorite meals. You will love the ease of your week. <BR/>I try to have 1 day of crock pot meal, 1-2 days of chicken, 1-2 days of beef, and/or a meatless meal.<BR/>It usually takes me an hour to make the menu and the grocery list. <BR/>I list my menus on my blog.<BR/>the6bennetts.blogspot.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04432386198316284410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-59015839725261271672009-02-04T17:28:00.000-06:002009-02-04T17:28:00.000-06:00I am not much of a meal planner, even though I coo...I am not much of a meal planner, even though I cook sometimes 2 meals a day. Lunch and Supper. I keep the staples on hand at all time, Ingredients for Homemade pasta sauce, soups, lots of veggies,{frozen, canned and fresh}. I try not to hit the store more than once every two weeks, usually works except for milk. We eat crockpot meals a lot. Usually I make things that I can make multiple meals out of. I roast a chicken meal #1,then maybe leftovers become chicken pot pie, and then the last of the chicken may become chicken salad. Good Luck<BR/>Rene<BR/>,auntrenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04002953179096523105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-14901371378795255292009-02-04T16:05:00.000-06:002009-02-04T16:05:00.000-06:00Wow. How do you keep up with all these comments?! ...Wow. How do you keep up with all these comments?! LOL.<BR/><BR/>I have just a few hints or tips or just what I do, or whatnot. <BR/>I haven't read all your comments, so I hope I'm not posting ideas already here. *tee hee*<BR/><BR/>Well, I used to menu plan for a month at a time, but have since decided I want to utilize things on sale. SO,<BR/>When the ad comes for the next weeks sales I sit down to look for really great deals. And I plan the menu around those deals. Depending on what the sale items are (if it'll keep for a while) I plan 2 weeks at a time.<BR/><BR/>I have a big dry erase calender on the wall, that's where I write the menu. Although, I have recently been printing out a paper calender and writing it on there, that way I can <B>REUSE THEM!!!</B> less planning! YAY !<BR/><BR/>ALSO, I use a preprinted grocery sheet, then you just check off what you need. Got that from the internet somewhere! lol. . . That is very helpful. The kids could help with it, you just list everything and they do the checking.<BR/><BR/>We also have a leftover day, a pizza day, a taco (or mexican) day.<BR/>This is how we do it:<BR/><BR/>~Monday: taco's<BR/>~Tuesday: whatever is planned<BR/>~Wednesday: leftovers!<BR/>~Thursday:whatever is planned<BR/>~Friday: pizza<BR/>~Saturday: free for all <BR/>~Sunday: something special. :D<BR/><BR/>HTH.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-39226758220861120832009-02-04T12:33:00.000-06:002009-02-04T12:33:00.000-06:00I try to plan out a week of meals at a time and bu...I try to plan out a week of meals at a time and buy groceries for the full week. I do follow recipes, but mostly go for the easy healthy ones. <BR/><BR/>I try to make enough to have leftovers for another meal - I'm not usually creative enough to turn it into a new meal, but just eat the same stuff again. My family likes the meals and they don't mind eating the same stuff twice! <BR/><BR/>Also, when I can, I make extra and freeze it so I have something easy to just pull out and defrost.<BR/><BR/>On my blog sidebar is a link to lots of soup recipes which are mostly easy and my other blog www.stopeatingallthechocolates.blogspot.com has labels on the side with healthy recipes if you're looking for some new stuff.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06958936771590770427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-5523543497491886052009-02-04T10:06:00.000-06:002009-02-04T10:06:00.000-06:00We buy for 2 weeks. We have your normal items. B...We buy for 2 weeks. We have your normal items. Bread, milk, eggs... But, we like to cook casseroles. I like Mexican Casserole. Then, we make one that has shredded chicken and Cool Ranch Chips in it. These will last 2-3 nights. Depending on how hungry my heard is.Lindsey Wegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04085122442955486573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-28362232240829374162009-02-04T08:51:00.000-06:002009-02-04T08:51:00.000-06:00I hope I'm not repeating anyone, but I love the bl...I hope I'm not repeating anyone, but I love the blog moneysavingmom.com. She talks a lot about menu planning and saving money. She even does a weekly post about how she spends less then $40 a week on groceries, and where she got the best deals.Audreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00972889935626685752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-32421076987846818332009-02-04T06:37:00.000-06:002009-02-04T06:37:00.000-06:00I use www.thekitchenrevolution.co.uk - it's fab an...I use www.thekitchenrevolution.co.uk - it's fab and takes all the work out of the 'what shall we eat?' conundrum...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-42648065037669753022009-02-04T03:48:00.000-06:002009-02-04T03:48:00.000-06:00'FranticallySimple' said exactly what I was going ...'FranticallySimple' said exactly what I was going to say! Leanne Ely -The DinnerDiva www.savingdinner.com! I learnt all I know about menu planning and grocery list making from her, her books and her Menu Mailers. If you want to check her out she has an archived radio show on Blog Talk Radio under the Fly Lady channel - her show is on every week. I still have my subscription but as I live in New Zealand sometimes the ingredients are a little bit on the hard side to find or substitute. Having said that all three of my kids love it when we eat one of Leanne's recipes - and I've had the picky eater thing, Leanne has an easy solution - and it works - the oldest declared her love for all leaves green last night and is eating salad with every dinner. Leanne is quite my dinner hero - certainly saved me!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-79591020467864281362009-02-03T22:57:00.000-06:002009-02-03T22:57:00.000-06:00i need to take some of the advice that i just read...i need to take some of the advice that i just read in your comments!!!<BR/><BR/>i have several recipes that when i make them i make a huge batch and then put 1/2 in the freezer so that it can go straight from the freezer to the crockpot on low and be ready for dinner.<BR/><BR/>i am trying to plan menus a month at a time. i usually plan in at least one "musgo" aka MUST GO night per week.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02498212004696635705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-8898992271507545162009-02-03T20:28:00.000-06:002009-02-03T20:28:00.000-06:00I plan a month at a time. I go through cookbooks a...I plan a month at a time. I go through cookbooks and usually try something new each week. We have homemade pizza each week, one night of some sort of fish and another night of soup..that helps when I am planning. Tacos are popular with my boys so that's on the calendar every other week.I also let my boys help by picking a meal once or twice a month.<BR/>I also keep a journal divided into sections and keep track of what everyone likes or doesn't like. Then I have something to go by when I plan for the next month.fortyb4fortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07477503960241031367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-25592011011087294662009-02-03T20:24:00.000-06:002009-02-03T20:24:00.000-06:00I'm feeling your pain. I finally resigned myself ...I'm feeling your pain. I finally resigned myself to the facts that: 1. I do not like to cook.<BR/>2. I'm not good at planning meals.<BR/>3. If I do plan meals, I don't stick to the plan.<BR/>4. I need a live-in cook.BlueCastlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05422630196094368374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-56085230737701443022009-02-03T19:47:00.000-06:002009-02-03T19:47:00.000-06:00I just wing it! I am a fly by the seat of my pants...I just wing it! I am a fly by the seat of my pants kind of cook. I sometimes make a list, clip coupon, plan a weeks worth of menus. But then, Monday's meal was suppose to be meatloaf, darn it, I blogged too long and forgot to put it on, so kids and hubby, it is now sandwich night! Also, I am famous for throwing a bunch of stuff in a pan and calling it dinner. Tonight we had my version of swiss steak. Cube steaks in the electric skillet with canned diced tomatoes and peppers on top, boxed taters, and frozen whole green beans. Tomorrow night....depends on if I get off here and put the stuff in the crockpot for Mexican Stew.....or there's always frozen burritos...Barefoot Studios Ok, LLChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05878643480020021342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-47778754581557446262009-02-03T17:57:00.000-06:002009-02-03T17:57:00.000-06:00I try to be good and "menu plan". Basically I go t...I try to be good and "menu plan". Basically I go through my favorite cookbooks and write down all the recipes I want to make for a few weeks. And then try to organize them on a calendar so we don't eat chicken every night for two weeks. So, in theory, yes, I plan. But the reality is I forget my grocery list more often than not, which means I forget to buy the things I actually need more often than not. And we have some pretty diverse tastes in our family, so all that planning is really just to make me look good! :P <BR/><BR/>Like tonight, I had planned pork chops with some fancy apricot sauce.<BR/><BR/>We had hot dogs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-58191528490919649182009-02-03T17:04:00.000-06:002009-02-03T17:04:00.000-06:00everything you confessed to, K. I'm a kitchen LOSE...everything you confessed to, K. <BR/><BR/>I'm a kitchen LOSER. <BR/><BR/>but I blog pretty good. woot!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-60034665427079611862009-02-03T15:49:00.000-06:002009-02-03T15:49:00.000-06:00I find that I go in cycles of really wanting to pl...I find that I go in cycles of really wanting to plan a couple weeks of meals and getting all I need for those measl versus in a cooking slump where I recycle the old standards for a week...or maybe 3 (only my kids are counting. When I do plan, I check each recipe, write down the ingredients I don't have and then make alist for the store. The I heat up something frozen in a bag from Sam's club....sorry, that wasn't much help, was it?Our life is a bowl of Barry'shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16537222594022517726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-70747708827577324522009-02-03T15:41:00.000-06:002009-02-03T15:41:00.000-06:00I plan our meals out 2 weeks in advance, I make li...I plan our meals out 2 weeks in advance, I make lists for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the two weeks and I shop it up! I may have to run to the store on or around day 10 for milk or bread.Happy Mommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01807887690118090675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-78139716634545267602009-02-03T14:51:00.000-06:002009-02-03T14:51:00.000-06:00I plan myentire month of meals and then create a g...I plan myentire month of meals and then create a grocery list that corresponds to the meals. I keep them saved on my computer and each month I print them out, cross off the items I have on hand and then off to the store. I only shop once a month. We do make a run a few times for milk and fresh veggies, but I buy the bulk of all my items at once. <BR/><BR/>Sometimes I cook several pounds of hamburger meat, divide it, and then put together meals that can be frozen. It takes the headache out of planning and cooking a meal every night. <BR/><BR/>We eat at my parents every Monday, but the rest of the week I cook every meal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-81929992357917332292009-02-03T14:49:00.002-06:002009-02-03T14:49:00.002-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kristen Bieberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08523994651132302402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-21810974353059573902009-02-03T14:49:00.001-06:002009-02-03T14:49:00.001-06:00The thing that I have been making a lot lately is ...The thing that I have been making a lot lately is stir fry. Its quick and easy, and everyone likes it because the kids can eat what they like out of it.Kristen Bieberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08523994651132302402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-50168362071315655882009-02-03T14:49:00.000-06:002009-02-03T14:49:00.000-06:00The thing that I have been making a lot lately is ...The thing that I have been making a lot lately is stir fry. Its quick and easy, and everyone likes it because the kids can eat what they like out of it.Kristen Bieberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08523994651132302402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095068418828488278.post-67618370966283014802009-02-03T14:39:00.000-06:002009-02-03T14:39:00.000-06:00I think I've heard all the ideas in the world but ...I think I've heard all the ideas in the world but they don't change the fact that I have ADD. I must. There's no way one person could be this disorganized about meals. I do the same thing at the grocery store and have the same look on my face when I try to cook. <BR/><BR/>I really do think it's more about me. I COULD sit down with coupons and a menu plan and well, plan ahead. I just don't have it in me. I'm too busy walking around in circles. :)Heather of the EOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14607422301391841377noreply@blogger.com