Comments on: Meal Planning: Short and Sweet http://lifeasmom.com/2010/07/meal-planning-short-and-sweet.html On the Road to Joyful Motherhood Fri, 25 May 2012 10:11:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: cindy http://lifeasmom.com/2010/07/meal-planning-short-and-sweet.html#comment-30515 cindy Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:19:50 +0000 http://lifeasmom.com/?p=7527#comment-30515 <a href="#comment-27448" rel="nofollow">@Catherine</a>, Yes the dough cycle includes the first rise of the dough. You should be fine using your kitchenaid. Good luck. @Catherine, Yes the dough cycle includes the first rise of the dough. You should be fine using your kitchenaid. Good luck.

]]> By: Annette http://lifeasmom.com/2010/07/meal-planning-short-and-sweet.html#comment-27506 Annette Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:39:13 +0000 http://lifeasmom.com/?p=7527#comment-27506 Do all your children eat green salad? We have tried to serve it to our 2 year old, who is a pretty good eater, but he refuses. I love having salads as a side dish, but when he doesn't eat it (he's our only child), I feel I need to make another vegetable for him. I'd love any input or advice! Do all your children eat green salad? We have tried to serve it to our 2 year old, who is a pretty good eater, but he refuses. I love having salads as a side dish, but when he doesn’t eat it (he’s our only child), I feel I need to make another vegetable for him. I’d love any input or advice!

]]> By: Jessica Fisher http://lifeasmom.com/2010/07/meal-planning-short-and-sweet.html#comment-27479 Jessica Fisher Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:30:29 +0000 http://lifeasmom.com/?p=7527#comment-27479 Fixed! Thanks. Fixed! Thanks.

]]> By: jan http://lifeasmom.com/2010/07/meal-planning-short-and-sweet.html#comment-27469 jan Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:51:10 +0000 http://lifeasmom.com/?p=7527#comment-27469 Drats, the black beans & rice salad link isn't working for me ... can you double check as that sounds like a yummy summertime side ... thanks! Drats, the black beans & rice salad link isn’t working for me … can you double check as that sounds like a yummy summertime side … thanks!

]]> By: Jessica Fisher http://lifeasmom.com/2010/07/meal-planning-short-and-sweet.html#comment-27460 Jessica Fisher Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:13:41 +0000 http://lifeasmom.com/?p=7527#comment-27460 It's working for me. Did you get it to open? http://lifeasmom.com/2010/04/pinto-beans-taco-meat-and-roasted-garlic-mashed-potatoes.html It’s working for me. Did you get it to open? http://lifeasmom.com/2010/04/pinto-beans-taco-meat-and-roasted-garlic-mashed-potatoes.html

]]> By: finallygettingtoeven.com http://lifeasmom.com/2010/07/meal-planning-short-and-sweet.html#comment-27457 finallygettingtoeven.com Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:44:49 +0000 http://lifeasmom.com/?p=7527#comment-27457 You pic of pizza looks yummy-- so that is on the 23rd? What time should I plan to be over. My pizza never turns out looking so good, no fair! You pic of pizza looks yummy– so that is on the 23rd? What time should I plan to be over. My pizza never turns out looking so good, no fair!

]]> By: Beth http://lifeasmom.com/2010/07/meal-planning-short-and-sweet.html#comment-27453 Beth Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:27:27 +0000 http://lifeasmom.com/?p=7527#comment-27453 As much as I like the idea of it, I cannot do monthly meal planning. It just doesn't work for me for various reasons so I generally stick to 3-5 days at time. What I've been doing the past few years is to make a list of all the main dishes I have the ingredients for and stick it up on the fridge. Our family schedule stays consistent enough that I have a really good handle on what nights we need to have leftovers, when I need to cook something quick, or when I have time to make a more complicated meal. During the school year I use the crock pot a lot which is enormously helpful. I also try to make sure I have dinner mostly made or ready to go in the oven by early to mid afternoon. This spring and summer have been a little crazy due to my husband having four brain surgeries and being in the hospital at total of 32 days. (Two of the surgeries we knew were coming but then he developed a life threatening infection, had to have a chunk of skull removed, and then another reconstructive surgery two weeks ago.) What I did for those times (in addition to begging meals off friends and family which helped a lot) was to just freeze a bunch of meal components. Taco meat, sloppy joes, spaghetti sauce, marinated chicken breasts, and buy a few bags of frozen stir dry veggies. The past three weeks I haven't given a thought to what we're having for dinner until shortly before we eat. Normally living like that would stress me out but it's been a life saver during this time. For side dishes I've started keeping cut up veggies and dip in the fridge and I'll make a fruit salad a few times a week. Watermelon on the days I don't have time. So easy. And thankfully no one minds eating the same meals all the time. Just this morning I realized I only have four to six meals in the freezer so starting next week I'll have to start thinking again! And just an FYI, when you brine chicken breasts then freeze them in a soy sauce marinade, they tend to get a bit salty. :) As much as I like the idea of it, I cannot do monthly meal planning. It just doesn’t work for me for various reasons so I generally stick to 3-5 days at time. What I’ve been doing the past few years is to make a list of all the main dishes I have the ingredients for and stick it up on the fridge. Our family schedule stays consistent enough that I have a really good handle on what nights we need to have leftovers, when I need to cook something quick, or when I have time to make a more complicated meal. During the school year I use the crock pot a lot which is enormously helpful. I also try to make sure I have dinner mostly made or ready to go in the oven by early to mid afternoon.

This spring and summer have been a little crazy due to my husband having four brain surgeries and being in the hospital at total of 32 days. (Two of the surgeries we knew were coming but then he developed a life threatening infection, had to have a chunk of skull removed, and then another reconstructive surgery two weeks ago.) What I did for those times (in addition to begging meals off friends and family which helped a lot) was to just freeze a bunch of meal components. Taco meat, sloppy joes, spaghetti sauce, marinated chicken breasts, and buy a few bags of frozen stir dry veggies. The past three weeks I haven’t given a thought to what we’re having for dinner until shortly before we eat. Normally living like that would stress me out but it’s been a life saver during this time. For side dishes I’ve started keeping cut up veggies and dip in the fridge and I’ll make a fruit salad a few times a week. Watermelon on the days I don’t have time. So easy. And thankfully no one minds eating the same meals all the time.

Just this morning I realized I only have four to six meals in the freezer so starting next week I’ll have to start thinking again!

And just an FYI, when you brine chicken breasts then freeze them in a soy sauce marinade, they tend to get a bit salty. :)

]]> By: FoodontheTable http://lifeasmom.com/2010/07/meal-planning-short-and-sweet.html#comment-27449 FoodontheTable Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:09:22 +0000 http://lifeasmom.com/?p=7527#comment-27449 Yummmm... meatloaf sounds great. Congrats on getting so much freezer cooking done! Enjoy the week! Yummmm… meatloaf sounds great. Congrats on getting so much freezer cooking done! Enjoy the week!

]]> By: Catherine http://lifeasmom.com/2010/07/meal-planning-short-and-sweet.html#comment-27448 Catherine Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:08:46 +0000 http://lifeasmom.com/?p=7527#comment-27448 So, I went to grab your recipe for the hot dog buns (looks great) and, as I don't have a bread machine, what does the "dough" cycle consist of? Does it include a rise? I'd assume I can just use the dough hook in my mixer and then let it rise for an hour or so like most breads but I wanted to check first. Thanks!!! So, I went to grab your recipe for the hot dog buns (looks great) and, as I don’t have a bread machine, what does the “dough” cycle consist of? Does it include a rise? I’d assume I can just use the dough hook in my mixer and then let it rise for an hour or so like most breads but I wanted to check first. Thanks!!!

]]> By: heidi http://lifeasmom.com/2010/07/meal-planning-short-and-sweet.html#comment-27447 heidi Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:28:42 +0000 http://lifeasmom.com/?p=7527#comment-27447 I shop for only what is on sale or if I have a coupon. When the store ads and Sunday's paper coupons arrive , I place them in my traveling office bag from Harrods of London. (a friend brought it back to me. It makes me feel like frugal shopper.) I find time while watching a movie with the kids on a hot afternoon, waiting at carpool duty, appts, etc to clip or circle the best buys. I've planned my shopping according to which area of town I will be at. Swimming lessons are near store xx, the library is near store zz. I'm able to get the best buys without going out of my way or spending extra gas. I have a pre-printed menu on a clip board so I can write in the meals for the week as I shop. Gets the creativity juices flowing and the kids love the game of "what will be for dinner." I shop for only what is on sale or if I have a coupon. When the store ads and Sunday’s paper coupons arrive , I place them in my traveling office bag from Harrods of London. (a friend brought it back to me. It makes me feel like frugal shopper.) I find time while watching a movie with the kids on a hot afternoon, waiting at carpool duty, appts, etc to clip or circle the best buys. I’ve planned my shopping according to which area of town I will be at. Swimming lessons are near store xx, the library is near store zz. I’m able to get the best buys without going out of my way or spending extra gas.
I have a pre-printed menu on a clip board so I can write in the meals for the week as I shop. Gets the creativity juices flowing and the kids love the game of “what will be for dinner.”

]]>