Ok, I really want to start cooking a lot now that I'm in my new house. Question is, I'm a real beginner in this area, have relied on standbys and take out way too much. I go the supermarket, buy stuff, then decide I want to make something and then have to go to the supermarket to buy the ingredients! Do you guys plan out the meals for the week and shop with a list of everything you need? I think that's scary and I'm not that organized. And I don't have time to go to the store everyday! What do you guys do?
MaryK
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Re: Planning Meals for a Week
I was trying to do that - but since we've been back and forth b/w the apt and new house I haven't done any shopping or cooked a meal!
I would plan like 5 meals. I mean I wouldn't decide which meal on what day - that I would play by ear. But I would pick 5 recipes/meals and buy the food for those if I didn't have it. The other two nights I would plan for either leftovers or pasta or something quick (Or even eating out, though those days are over now lol!)
It was starting to really work for me, but it took a little while for me to get used to. I definitely want to try to do it again once we're settled in the new house....
Julybaby
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Re: Planning Meals for a Week
I have to, otherwise I have to go shopping everyday (which I hate doing) or we just order take-out. Usually I find meals and recipes that I want to cook for the week, write down the ingredients that I will need and then go shopping. I have a whole section in my Palm Pilot of recipes, divided by chicken, beef, salads, vegetarian, pasta, etc, so I use that. I also get Cooking Light magazine which has some great, healthy, and quick recipes. I am an organized person generally, so this is easy for me. I usually do this once a week. I also buy things that I may need down the road, like chicken, diced tomatoes, rice.
Jeanene
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Re: Planning Meals for a Week
This is a habit I would love to get into! As it is now I go shopping everyday!
starhead
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Re: Planning Meals for a Week
You guys are good. I feel like I'll be spending so much $$ for all these dinners!! ANd that it's going to be too much stuff. It's a pain b/c DH's schedule is always changing and I don't want to make a whole meal if it's only going to be me. SO I don't want to buy stuff and then have it wasted. Anybody know where I can get good weekly meal plans w/ lists of ingredients?
Valenia
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Re: Planning Meals for a Week
You can pick out whatever recipes you like from http://allrecipes.com/ and then add them to a shopping list... They even sort the ingrediants by aisle type. I love that site.
flyin'bride
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Re: Planning Meals for a Week
I usually plan out meals for the week but I also keep some 'staples' on hand to give me flexibility if I change my mind. For example, frozen veggies and frozen chicken breasts, frozen tortellini, canned veggies, soups, and other non-perishables. This allows me flexibility if we decide to go out to dinner or meet up with friends after work or if we had late lunches and don't feel like having a big dinner. There are a bunch of recipes that don't require you to use 'fresh' things that you pick up at the grocery store. So if you change your mind and don't feel like making what you had planned for that night, you can make something else.
