Meal Planning for the week. Am I alone?

[christinew]

OK I don't mean to sound like the Beave's Mom or some other lady from the 50's however I like to meal plan for my week on Sunday utilizing my cooking mags, CL and Bon Appetit. Mostly CL. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Can you fellow avid cooks give me ideas on how you do this or if I am crazy to do this?? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

And if you are like me http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif give examples of weekly plans etc. For example, I like to do chicken 2 times, fish 2 times, a pasta dish and then a few casseroles. And eat out at least one night.

Let me hear from you!

[emily]

glad i'm not the only one who does this. i usually just go through the mag or my recipe file and pick recipes i've been wanting to try. usually meaning varied vegetable dishes and a few meat dishes to satisfy my SO's cravings.

then, i write up a shopping list trying to organize the list according to areas in the grocery store so that i don't have to back track while shopping.

if i'm feeling really adventerous i may even try to make a few of the dishes on sunday and freeze them for later in the week - although that's usually wishful thinking on my part.

[Kristilyn1]

I don't think your crazy! That's how I do my grocery shopping. I go through my recipes--pick 5 (I leave two days unaccounted for to cover leftovers or the last minute pizza) and do my shopping list right from the recipes. Somehow this is supposed to save me money on unwanted items but I am always left in the grocery store saying "maybe ONE more can of chicken broth, I might be running low", and the cart fills up.

Kristi

[christinew]

Emily: Glad to know you too do your grocery list from your recipes. OK so maybe I feel better now! Sometimes I think I am from the 50's but at least I don't wear those silly hair dos!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Krislyn: Yes, those impulse items http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif, I kept throwing things into our basket at the farmer's market yesterday and telling my husband they were not on the list. He anxiously checks the items off and kept teasing me about my impulse buying, however they were cheap items, ex: extra pasta sauce, carrots, more broth like you and the best of all the chocolate bar http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Laura B]

I try to do the same thing. I have just recently started this though so we'll see how organized I can be in the long term. Yesterday I planned this week and next week. I flipped through CL and chose recipes for three nights, planned one night for an easy dish I make with no recipe, one night is eat out/delivery night and two nights I don't cook because my husband is on call. I usually just heat some leftovers or some simple pasta or have a sandwich on those nights. As I planned this week, I made a shopping list based on the ingredients I don't have on hand. I am going to strive to have just one big shop per week instead of multiple small shopping trip. It worked well this week (except for having to run back for beef consomme).

[lindrusso]

Nope, you're not alone! I just planned my meals this morning but didn't make it out to the store after all. I am only planning two meals for this week - we all seem to be going in different directions!!

Normally I'll plan a minimum of 3 meals and then allow for an easy throw-together night, an order out night and at least one night of leftovers. Whenever I try to plan more than that, it always seems like one or two nights get thrown out of whack and I don't end up being able to make what I planned.

Generally I'll plan one chicken night and maybe one other meat or seafood night. I didn't eat meat for 9 years and I still don't cook it a lot. I like to make pizza, so that's also a common dinner around here.

I cook mostly from CL and try to do at least one or two new recipes per week.

I like this method because I can usually keep my grocery store trips down to one per week - if I don't forget anything!!

[christinew]

Lindrusso: Your post brings up another question......do you make your own pizza crust? We use Boboli (?), however it is not as crisp as we'd like. Any ideas or a great pizza crust recipe..or even pizza recipe. Sorry to transgress and many thanks!

Christine

[Ohioan]

This probably sounds a little weird, but I plan my weekly menus around whatever vegetables are good at the market over the weekend. I allocate a different set of veggies for each night, and then I plan everything else around them. But then, I'm a vegetarian, so my veggies and beans and grains are my mainstays.

Phoebe

[Connie]

I too am a planner. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I usually plan about a week's worth of dinners and lunches at a time. I don't usually factor in nights out; my husband travels a lot, and gets tired of eating out. And he'll eat anything I make. But I also enjoy cooking just for me when he's gone, even though my sister gets to try a lot of the new recipes then. She reciprocates, though. Oops, now I'm rambling.
I also take left-overs all the time to work. I try to include several new recipes each week, but not too many. I make my list while I'm planning my menu for the week, but also impulse buy for fruits and veggies on sale. And at the farmers' market my eyes are usually bigger than my stomach, and refrigerator!!

[Ralph]

It appears to be unanimous: I, too, plan in advance. I'd LOVE to do it the old fashioned or European way by shopping just today for tonight's dinner, but that's way too impractical. I usually just plan for the week (always cooking enough for leftovers for lunch the next day or two); Sunday's are easiest - grilling during the summer, time consuming recipes in winter.

[Apples1996]

About 6 yo 8 months into our marriage, both my hubby and I were tired of the same dinners each day. So I started going through my cookbooks, and through the past CL mags I had.

The results were a lower grocery bill and some fabulous dinners. We've tried so many new and interesting dishes.

During the week, I am out 3 nights for martial arts training, so I rely on my crock pot or a simple dish I can make ahead of time and put in the fridge for him to heat and eat. It's been working out real well.

[lisad]

Lindrusso--
I'm hooked on making my own pizza dough. But I take the easy way out--I do it in my bread machine. Never wanted one of those things, but when I got one for a wedding present, I discovered it was a great way to make pizza dough. Actually, I remember the recipe for a small pizza: 2 1/4 c all-purpose flour, 1 tsp. yeast, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. sugar: Mix together in breadmaker and make depression in the middle, then add 3/4 c warm water and 1 tbsp. olive oil. My machine has a pizza dough setting, so I just set it and go. No mess, and I have time to chill out (or clean the house) while the dough is rising.If you don't have a bread machine, try the pizza dough from our Cooking Class ( http://cookinglight.com/special/hlcc_march.asp ).
Lisa D

[This message has been edited by lisad (edited 08-01-2000).]

[This message has been edited by lisad (edited 08-01-2000).]

[CATHIEA]

I'm another weekly planner and have been for years. I think it saves me time (no mid-week grocery store trips) and money-less food waste). It also helps me control my weight. I'm better able to plan for treats-from dinner out to a few beers with the gang, if I control the meals I'm home!

Before I go grocery shopping on Saturday I go through my CL's or other cookbooks and select the recipes I want to make (main dishes and sides). I plan for 5 lunches and and all dinners, so if I know I'm out one night but my husband will be home, I try to find something that will produce leftovers to cook a night or two before. Then I list ingredients and check the ingredients against the pantry. I do my list by grocery store (green market/butcher/fish store, then general grocery store) and by aisle (Don't you HATE when they move things around in the store!). If I see something on special, and it's not on my list, I will buy it and try to either work it in as a substitute that week, or, if freezable, have a start on the next week's menu planning!

I make a menu plan and post it on the refridgerator. I am not real rigid, I may not make the Java Chicken & Rice with Broccoli on Monday, but I will try to make the meal sometime in the 7-day period and if the opportunity to go out comes up, I'm good to go. Because my husband and I are both on WW, I also post the points for each meal. That helps my husband, who eats out for most lunches, and it helps me focus when work treats or the opportunity for a drink after work comes my way.

During farmer's market season I do plan for a spin through for sides or vegetarian pasta/stew meals that can be substituted for another planned meal.

CathieA-I hate to grocery shop when I could be spending my time trying on shoes!

[MaryB]

The only way I know how to shop is by planning the meals for the week. I credit(blame) my mother for this! I normally plan at least four dinners from which I make sure I have enough leftovers for at least another meal or two. This makes week night cooking easier since their will be less prep to do. I also figure out what I am going to have for lunch (usually soup or some kind of make ahead salad). I always have some quick dinner things on hand like frozen vegetables and frozen fancy chicken sausages (my current favorite is chicken-apple sausage).

One reason I plan ahead is it makes the late afternoon lots less stressful since I usually don't have to run to the grocery store or figure out what to make.

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by christinew:
Lindrusso: Your post brings up another question......do you make your own pizza crust? We use Boboli (?), however it is not as crisp as we'd like. Any ideas or a great pizza crust recipe..or even pizza recipe. Sorry to transgress and many thanks!

Christine

Christine,

Yes, I make my own crust. We used to use Boboli but once I took the plunge and tried it on my own, I never went back to the prepared crusts.

I use the pizza dough recipe that appeared in the March 2000 issue of CL. However there is another recipe that I used for a long time successfully, but it contains oil. On the plus side, it only requires 45 minutes rising time and requires only the slightest bit of kneading. I decided to switch to the CL recipe to cut down on the fat. If you want the other recipe I'd be glad to post it.

For more discussion on pizza crust (freezing, recipes, etc.), check out this thread: http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/000447.html

As for pizza recipes, I just throw anything on. Some of our favorites are: alfredo sauce with cheese (and spinach too if I can sneak it in past the kids!); pesto sauce with artichokes, feta cheese and mozzarella cheese (or those Italian cheese blends); fresh tomatoes, sliced garlic, Parm. and mozz. cheese, and fresh basil; caramelized onions with feta and fontina cheeses.

I actually have a "real" recipe for the caramelized onion pizza if you're interested.

Hope this helps.

[Beth H]

I've started meal planning since the first of this year. I try to plan four or five dinners, since we usually eat out/carry in on Friday and Saturday nights. I usually spend Sunday afternoon reviewing Cooking Light and some other favorite cookbooks, and then go off to the store with the ingredients list. Planning has really reduced the number of times I stand in front of the fridge/pantry door wondering what to make (after which I usually would end up getting Chinese carryout)! And, I think it's helped in the variety of meals which I cook.

[Kathy]

I am embarrassed to admit, I am a meal planner wanna-be! I could use major help in this department. I find I am doing so much running around I find it hard to get organized. (A reason for the extra 70 pounds I have managed to accumulate with 3 young kids) I would welcome any suggestions you may have!(Especially meals that can be prepared in advance!)Thanks!

[MrsReber]

Kathy, I can totally relate. I would like to plan my meals better, but I just can't think that far ahead. Will I want pasta on Tuesday night? Will I really want to eat a meatloaf on Wednesday? My husband usually doesn't care what we eat, so the planning is left to me. I do like to be spontaneous sometimes, though. That way if I develop a craving during the day, I can always make it for dinner. I used to have a crazy job in Manhattan where I'd leave at 6:15am and not get home until after 8:00 at night. We just ate whatever we could find! (very thankful those days are over) So now I am having lots of fun with the CL recipes. I will look through them and sort of "plan" to make them that week, but usually not for a set day. But then, organization at home was never one of my strong points.

As far as pizza crust, I love to make my own. My husband says that take-out pizza is just not the same since I got my bread machine! I make the dough and then just throw stuff on top- whatever I happen to have. My husband's favorite is artichoke hearts. I like to put onions and peppers and at least 2 kinds of cheese. I also put herbs and romano cheese in the pizza crust while the dough is being kneaded. I will use Boboli in a pinch, though. Mmmm. Might just have to make one tonight!

I believe I posted my crust recipe on that thread that Lindrusso mentioned. Good luck!

[Shelly]

Christinew, I too use Boboli, but I much prefer Platina. Platina is yummy all by itself or with soup or stew. Just warm it in the oven for a few minutes. However, I can't find it since I moved http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif. You might try cooking your pizza directly on the oven rack. This helps with the crispness, but it can be quite messy when it's time to take it out of the oven. I don't have a peel, so I take my biggest spatula and slide the pizza onto a cookie sheet rather than trying to pick it up with the spatula. This works most of the time.
Maybe I'll try one of the crust recipes and freeze a few so that i can pull one out whenever I need it. I just usually throw together a pizza at the last minute, so it saves lots of time to use Boboli. Never hurts to be adventurous (sp?) though, does it? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Natasha]

Do I plan ahead? Welllll...yes, kind of!
We do our big shopping trip on Saturdays and pick up lots of produce, fresh bakery items, etc. I also might already have a couple of recipes in mind and buy items accordingly.

Then during the week I end up going to the grocery store a couple of times to pick up this and that. This is mostly due to the fact that I think of something on a particular day (often due to what I read on this board!) and decide that I MUST make it for dinner. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I don't mind this at all, because it's worth it to me to pop by the store to have what we feel like on a particular day. I just can't predict what we'll want too far down the road...I also use that opportunity to replenish the fruit&veggie supply. I also try to go to the farmers' market mid-week.

(Of course, if I had children, I probably wouldn't have time to do all this and would have to be more seriously organized about cooking...am I right?) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by Natasha (edited 08-01-2000).]

[Kathy]

Thanks for your response! Is there any chance you might deliver those pizzas to the Red Bank vicinity?

[JJ40]

Oh, I feel so much better knowing that I am not alone in my weekly meal planning!

For me it started because I really wanted to eat more healthily, plus I was getting bored with my very limited repertoire. On the weekend, I go through my CL and recipes I've printed from this BB, and plan 3-4 different meals/dishes I can make for the week. Then I go out and get all the ingredients I need. It's really made a difference--I'm eating much better, and am excited about coming home and trying new recipes.

As for the pizza crust--I tried the one from the cooking class (March 2000?) and really liked it.

Also--it sounds like a lot of people buy canned chicken broth for recipes. I always use the bouillon (sp?) powder. I have a feeling that probably makes a difference in the flavour. Any thoughts?

[RunnerKim]

I also do a weekly menu and post it on the fridge. I do it Friday night or Sat. mornign and then do my shopping on Sat. as the weekend tends to be when we have the most time/energy to do cook. I generally go for a balance of protein sources, so a couple days will be chicken, a beef or pork, fish, and 2-3 non-meat meals. I'm anal enough to have made up an Access database with all my keeper recipes listed by the above categories and cross-listed by pasta, rice, sandwich and pizza. I set this up when we were eating the same things almost every week. Now we try 3-4 new recipes each week and certainly aren't getting bored of our favorites anymore.

We make pizza every Friday night(I make my own crust in my bread machine). If you're looking for pizza recipe inspiration I definetly recommend California Pizza Kitchen's cookbook.

It's just my husband and I so we make about 3 servings and then divide the leftover for lunch the next day. I also tend to pick a salad "type" for the week and will have that same salad 2-3 times. For example this week is Mushroom-Gouda spinach salad. Otherwise we end up with too many lettuces/veggies and can't eat them before they go bad.

Planning our menus has certainly helped us control what we eat and enjoy our food a lot more - if we don't have to get home and "think up" what we're going to have for dinner that seems to be half the effort. And we don't waste food anymore - veggies don't die a slow death in the crisper and I keep in mind things I have extra of that need to get used up when planning the menu.

Whew, I certainly rattled on. Great topic Christinew!

Kim

[BarbaraL]

Hi, Mrs. Reber and Kathy, I'm from New Jersey too! Live in Verona, work in Nutley -- can see Manhattan from my company's taller buildings. My planning usually involves 2 trips per week to the store. I love fresh stuff, including meat (I try to freeze meat only occasionally; just don't think it tastes the same). Sometimes, I'm really good and plan everything out (including a second recipe using an unusual ingredient called for in CL) and try new recipes. Other times, everything goes on the grill! I'm really impressed by those of you who make 3 or 4 new CL recipes a week. I'd love to, but too ambitious for me!

[MrsReber]

Hey, Barbara, I work in Newark (23rd floor), facing Nutley. I'll wave to you from my building!

[Jen]

Wow, so many kindred spirits! I've always been made to feel like kind of a freak because of my meal planning habits, which (like MaryB) I learned from my Mom. I usually plan a week's worth of meals (Mon-Fri) on the weekend with my cookbooks (although these days, almost exclusively CL!) and make up a really precise grocery list...even to the point of "4 tomatoes, 1 carrot"...this is the only way I know I won't have icky vegetables in my fridge at the end of the week! I post the list on the fridge and stick to it pretty religiously. It does take organization to make sure I know what both myself and my husband have planned for the week. And it's true that sometimes I don't feel like eating what I've planned, but I usually make it anyway - as someone else mentioned, much of the battle is coming up with WHAT to make, and if that isn't done I end up not bothering and we order pizza or something! I'm also not much of a wizard cook - I can't just look at what's in the fridge and make a dinner out of it! I don't plan for the weekends, because we're often out - those are the days I have more time to run to the store anyways, so if we're eating in we just make a quick trip.

Glad to know there are so many other "freaks" out there!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[This message has been edited by Jen (edited 08-01-2000).]

[Kathy]

Nice to meet you all!Mrs. R could you just drop off a pizza on your way to work? I wouldn't mind heating it up for dinner! (Nice of me, huh?) I am at home, spending much too much time eating those monster cookies.."Hello thighs!" Such a small world! Should we meet at the beach, Delicious Orchards or the Mall?LOL http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Susann]

Jen, I,too, am a freak. I make out a list on the weekend and go to the store on Sundays, usually, with list in hand. If I do not do this, we end up eating junk and actually spending more money. I agree though that a lot of people are not this, well, anal. Scratch that-ORGANIZED sounds better! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Beth Y]

I too have started weekly planning, based on my files of CL and other recipes I want to try, along with the stand-bys, and make a weekly list.

I have a question, though, about buying meat weekly. We have one of those new fridges with a meat bin that is supposed to keep meat extra cold, it it appears to work, but I am still nervous buying meat for dishes too far ahead of time. But not doing so defeats to purpose of making a game plan and shopping once a week. I guess I could freeze it, but freezer space is limited and I am not very good at defrosting (any T&T methods?). What sage advice do ya'll have in this area?

[MrsReber]

Kathy, my vote is for Delicious Orchards! Pickling season is approaching and I get all my kirby cukes there. My husband loves their strawberry rhubarb pie. Besides, the beach is way too crowded anymore!

[CLustik]

Yes, I also plan ahead. I sit down with any magazines on the table and my binder of favorite recipes, my coupons and the sale flyer for the store I prefer. Oh, and don't forget the calendar, so I know what nights we have meetings. Then I can pick meats and vegetables that are on sale or that I have in the freezer and find recipes for them.

I also try to do 1-2 nights chicken, 1 pork or fish, and one vegetarian. Weekends I am usually entertaining or out of town.

I mostly work from a home office, so it is much easier, to only go to the store once in the week. I also make my own pizza dough using the bread machine. We love it!

Yet another, Christine

[Danielle]

I grew up with a mom that planned meals out a week in advance, so I can't imagine doing it any other way. It would take me forever to shop at the grocery store if I didn't have some sort of list to go buy. I usually flip through my CL magazines to find recipes I want to try, and go from there. And I always plan meals large enough so that I have some leftovers for lunch the next day. I still pick up a few random odds and ends that aren't on my list, but I've discovered it really does help to save money.

[lorilei]

WOW!
You guys are just too organized for me. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I can't even pick out my clothes the night before, let alone know what I'm going to cook for an entire week.

I'll admit that I shop once a week and I base all of my meals on whatever I have on hand. If I buy asparagus on Sunday, then I'll find some way to use it up by the end of the week. If I buy cauliflower, we'll have that.

Of course this means that there are certain things that I always have on hand -- eggs, milk, coconut milk, mushrooms, onions, garlic, spices, canned tomatoes and artichokes, pasta, rice etc. Since I always have eggs and mushrooms around, I have fall-back recipes (like quiche) for when I'm feeling uninspired.

I suppose I'm a fly by night cook -- I like the excitement of planning a spur-of-the moment masterpiece on a Wednesday night. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[ElinorC]

Planning is the only way to go. I usually plan at least 3-4 meals for a week and leave the other days for leftovers, eat out days, and unexpected happenings. ( It always seems to occur!) Otherwise I'd end up with a lot of odds and ends in my refrigerator and grocery basket and nothing to cook. I try to use the fresh produce of the season (CL is helpful in using seasonal items) and bargains in the stores. I also like to include some food item I've never cooked in my plan. I'm amazed at how many new things I've tried in the past few months. Fortunately my husband thinks it's great.

[christinew]

Originally posted by lorilei:
WOW!
You guys are just too organized for me. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I can't even pick out my clothes the night before, let alone know what I'm going to cook for an entire week.

I'll admit that I shop once a week and I base all of my meals on whatever I have on hand. If I buy asparagus on Sunday, then I'll find some way to use it up by the end of the week. If I buy cauliflower, we'll have that.

Of course this means that there are certain things that I always have on hand -- eggs, milk, coconut milk, mushrooms, onions, garlic, spices, canned tomatoes and artichokes, pasta, rice etc. Since I always have eggs and mushrooms around, I have fall-back recipes (like quiche) for when I'm feeling uninspired.

I suppose I'm a fly by night cook -- I like the excitement of planning a spur-of-the moment masterpiece on a Wednesday night. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif



Lorilei...you live your cooking life on the edge http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

I think what you mentioned was so interesting, the items that you keep on hand, that a similar post should be started for that!

Cheers, Christine

ps. Thank you all for making me feel less like my Mother! Glad others are organized http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif




[This message has been edited by christinew (edited 08-01-2000).]

[MaryB]

You know, it occurs to me that there is another reason why I plan my meals for the week. Our first house had a tiny kitchen with very little storage and a fairly small refrigerator. Since I didn't have space for a pantry, I kept very few items on hand. I only bought enough food for the week and I needed to know ahead of time what I was making. Of course, there are always time's when planning fails miserably ... coming home late from work, getting sick, etc. However it really does make my life easier.

[Kristilyn1]

Not that we should have to explain our freaky habits....but I plan ahead, not because I am anal but because I have two small children and we don't get home until a little after 6 each night and I like to put something from scratch on the table. I plan the meals but will shift it around night to night or if I feel like something else, I will substitute (I also keep endless staples on hand for last minute substitutions. It is too hard to do last minute grocery stops, though occassionally I will. As it is, my children are trained that dinner is at 7:15 at our house.

Kristi

[MrsReber]

Hey Kathy, are you really in Red Bank? I'm right in Howell. I'll send you over a pizza tonight! Don't see too many NJ folks on here. Surprising after the report from the census (apparently our population density is greater than that of India and Japan. Yikes!!)

As for canned chicken broth, I used to use the bouillon cubes, too, but I think they add too much salt and tend to be a little strong. Since I switched to the canned stuff, I can taste more of the other flavors in the dish.

Natahsa, I shop like you do- I love to pick up fresh fruits and veggies on the way home in order to make something special for dinner when the urge strikes. But alas, we don't have children either. I can only imagine how that would change things!

[Fan]

I'm a meal planner wannabee!
I have even tried using the Weekly Meal Planner (see www.mymenus.com). (http://www.mymenus.com).) I sit down w/ CL, but I just can't seem to choose & put the shopping list together on a Sunday. I know this sounds crazy - I guess I get caught up in reading articles, or my baby wakes up, or... before I get finished.

Any suggestions?
How long does it take you to do the menu planning?
Do you keep track of your menu plans?

What do you do about entrees w/ fish? I like to have really fresh fish, so like to go & see what looks good at the health food butcher/grocer.

[christinew]

Fan,

I am just learning how to meal plan! I too am not always able to get it done http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif I find that if I have a list with 4-5 recipes in mind for the week that I do much better with money and time management. And I agree with the fish entrees it means another go round to the market on that particular day, however at least you have the items to go with it! Thanks for the post.
Cheers,
Christine http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Gail]

Another oddball here.

Often, my child wanders into the office at 4:30 in the afternoon, finds me seated at the computer and asks, "What are we having for dinner?" "I dunno--" I tell him. And I really don't. Sometimes I don't decide until after six. (We eat eight-ish)

Some meals have to be planned ahead (things DO need defrosting, plantains have to ripen-- certain dishes take hours to prepare) but I do a lot of cooking on impulse. What am I in the mood for? Is it a hot day? What have we been eating all week (so as not to become repetitious.) And though I keep pretty well stocked, invariably I need something at the market. When it comes to meal planning, I am probably the picture of inefficiency. But you know what? I like it that way. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I tried planning meals for a week or two, but I guess it just doesn't suit my personality...

[Cyn]

Lorilei, thanks for commenting. I was feeling like I had three heads. I can't figure out what I'd like for dinner before breakfast and sometime after lunch.

I just look longingly at my magazines in the morning and wish I had time to make this or that, marking a few of the pages for the coming weekend. Sometimes I even have the time to make the evening's grocery list so that I can stop on my home from work.

Sigh. Are you ladies who plan a week ahead also the ones who have figured out how to work, cook and go to the gym/exercise. I really have to get more organizaed. You all are an inspiration.

[valeriek]

Kathy, Mrs. Reber - I love Delicious Orchards! I actually live in Washington, DC but my boyfriend is from Red Bank and we go there for long weekends a lot. We always stop at Delicious Orchards whenever we go. I'm addicted to that place. That and those great Italian subs. I want to move to NJ just for those subs!

By the way, I am a big planner. I'm on a budget so I usually go through the grocery ads for what is on sale that week, then go through my cookbooks and cooking light to find out what I can afford to try that week! It sounds good but I always blow my budget. I don't eat meat at home so I do cook by what vegetables are in season and what is on sale at the grocery store. It feels so good to admit this, because I always thought I was a little crazy for reading cookbooks before going to the grocery store! Thanks for confirming that I'm not the only one out there!

[This message has been edited by valeriek (edited 08-23-2000).]

[This message has been edited by valeriek (edited 08-23-2000).]

[This message has been edited by valeriek (edited 08-23-2000).]

[MrsReber]

It's 3:30 and I am still not sure what we're having for dinner. I didn't decide last night until I was actually making it. All I knew was that I had a pork tenderloin to cook. Turns out, I made it like a stir fry and added pineapple. I found a recipe, but didn't have all the ingredients so I improvised. It must've been good since it was all gone. Tonight it's something with chicken legs.

Valerie, there are actually quite a few good places for fresh produce in NJ, but none that have all the extras like Delicious Orchards. My husband loves their strawberry rhubarb pie and the packaged macaroons that they have! I can't wait to go pick apples. The first ones are out already! As for the subs, I found a great Italian place that makes vegetarian subs that are out of this world! Fresh mozzerella, basil, roasted peppers and olive oil. My husband even loves them! My sister moved to NC and she misses the pizza and the bagels up here.

[valeriek]

It's now almost six o'clock and I'm stuck at the office throwing all of my good planning askew!! If only we could plan for work disasters. Luckily I have single servings of soup in my freezer from a batch I made a few weeks ago. Looks like that's what is for dinner - If I can ever leave here that is!

Mrs.Reber, is that sub place in or around Red Bank? I had a great cheese sub at a little shop downtown the last time we were there, but I would love to try a fresh mozarella one. We are actually going to be there over Labor Day and I always insist we have Italian subs at least once while we are there. If the place you tried was close, please e-mail me the name. The sub sounds wonderful! Thanks.

[MrsReber]

Valerie, that sub shop/restaurant is in Howell off of Route 9. It's right near where we live. We went there for dinner a couple of weeks ago. It's called La Trattoria and it's small with only a few tables. The food is very good, though, the hot subs look awesome, but we haven't tried them yet. The owner gave us free lemon ices after dinner. He's a really nice Italian guy. Their ingredients are all so fresh and wonderful. I just picked up a couple of subs to go to Wall Stadium one Saturday (my husband races a street stock there). I got the Garden State sub (the mozzerella one I was talking about) and one with ham and cheese for my husband since I didn't think he'd like mine. He ended up eating half my sub and asked me to get him one a couple of weeks later. It's a tiny place in a shopping center. I hope he stays around for a while.

[skylarc]

Originally posted by lorilei:
I can't even pick out my clothes the night before, let alone know what I'm going to cook for an entire week.
[/B]

Wait a minute, here... who said anything about picking clothes out the night before?? That is a whole different matter.

I've always planned & shopped for a week's worth of meals. It's mostly a matter of flipping through magazines & cookbooks until I find 5 or 6 recipes that strike my fancy. I try to pick one or two that can be done really quickly. We don't eat a lot of red meat, but if I buy fresh meat (& certainly fish), I'll cook that early in the week.

The bad part is when I lose track of what I was planning to make -- then I try to figure out what I had in mind by the ingredients I bought (I got this trait from my mom -- she called a couple of weeks ago to tell me she had slivered almonds & couldn't remember what she bought them for -- did I remember seeing anything recently that called for almonds).

My daughter had to write a story for school describing her mom. The title was "The Something Different Every Night Mom". I loved that.

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by skylarc:

The bad part is when I lose track of what I was planning to make -- then I try to figure out what I had in mind by the ingredients I bought

Ack - I do this sometimes too!!!! We have a calendar that hangs on the fridge, so now I write the recipes that I'm planning to try that week in Sunday's box (I write in the Sunday box because it usually doesn't have anything written there). That way I don't have to wonder why the heck I bought that container of less-fat sour cream!!! I also keep the recipes (magazines, index cards, cookbooks, whatever)I'll be making that week in a certain spot on my cookbook shelf so that I can find everything pretty quickly.

[josiebell]

I also am a planner, just bought myself the Cooking Light program. Loving it, especially the meal planning section.
Anyone else have it?

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by josiebell:
I also am a planner, just bought myself the Cooking Light program. Loving it, especially the meal planning section.
Anyone else have it?

Many members on this board do have Mastercook and all seem to be very happy with it. I have Mastercook but have never used the meal planning - I don't know why, but I never looked at it but will now that you mentioned it. However, I love it for organizing my recipes and shopping lists.

If you want to read more comments on Mastercook from this site, you can try clicking on "search" at the top of the page and typing in Mastercook.

[lengels]

I'm glad to see there are a lot of us out there that plan our meals. I collect cookbooks and I usually go through those and my current CL issue. I like to try something new all the time.

I try to make a lot of variations for the week. I'll make chicken, pasta, pork, fish, meat, and vegeatarian. My family are good sports, they eat it all!

I couldn't survive without my meal plans.