A simple chore

I spent the day yesterday doing a simple chore, that when done leaves me wrung out and exhausted. Now you might be asking "What chore did you do that left you in such a state?...was it mopping?"...NO, "was it dusting?"...NO, "was it cooking?"...closer, but NO. I spent the day yesterday coming up with my families menu for the next 2 weeks! You're standing their scratching your head in confusion, aren't you?

This simple chore is not as simple as you might think. It requires a lot of correlating of schedules, reviewing of recipes and the families likes and dislikes, and then poring over the freezer and pantry to see which ingredients will be needed for the upcoming shopping trip.

The production of the menu begins the same every time. I write down 14 evening meal ideas that sound good to me or that I know are family favorites or that I found in the most recent cookbook that I've been perusing. I make sure that I don't put in too many hamburger or chicken recipes, and maybe sprinkle some recipes with odd ball ingredients like hot dogs or clams or pepperoni.

The second step is to use my planner and add in all of the activities planned for that week. Then I find the recipes that are the easiest to prep and prepare and put them on the days we have evening activities. The rest of the menu ideas I disperse throughout the rest of the menu, keeping in mind that I cannot have the same meat/starch back to back. Once the evening meals are set, I come up with 4 lunch ideas and 4 breakfast ideas that I put down for the 2 weekends and my menu is complete.

The third step is to make up my shopping list. I write down all ingredients needed and then I mark off those that I have around the house or are staples. I then take off that list the ingredients that will not keep for 2 weeks and put those down on the shorter list for the shopping trip next week. Throw in bread, chips and lunch meat for my Husband's lunches, and ramen, hot dogs and fries for my kid's lunches and I'm done for another 2 weeks!

Menu planning=stressful
Shopping=stressful
Not having to think about meals for the next 2 weeks=Priceless!