Only 2 weeks left in October. Although it kind of feels like November already with the weather we've been having. So far I'm doing pretty well with trying new breakfasts. And I have to say I'm enjoying some variety. Never thought that would happen (I do still love my cereal :). Last week we had cherry vanilla oatmeal one day and blueberry banana walnut bread and sliced apple another day. I had the bread and an apple yesterday as well. That makes 3 non-cereal breakfasts for me in 1 week. I think that's some kind of record :P I'm still trying to decide what to make this week/what I have time for. I have a long list of things to try. But most of them take extra work.
Last night I tried a new kind of steak (Voogt beef) - round steak. It's not really a steak, it's a roast. And it's huge! I had planned on doing "normal" steak, but decided to use one of those up since we have a few. And it kind of altered my dinner last night from something simple into quite a feast :P I made it in the crockpot. And served it with red skin mashed potatoes, gravy, baked buttercup squash and green beans. Now we have a bunch of leftovers that I hadn't figured into my meal plans. So I'm trying to decided what to do with them.
Another busy week. Today Justin collects (offering at church) so he has to go to the evening service. Tomorrow I have a nursery cmt. meeting, so dinner will have to be a little early (and easy clean up). Normally I go to Meijer on Tues. But I might hold off until Thurs. this week. The weather looks like it's supposed to be nice early in the the week but not later. So I'm hoping we can get some outdoor playtime in. Wed. is Kindermusik in the morning. Rebecca has her 18m check up in the afternoon. And Justin has worship team in the evening, so early dinner again. Thurs. will be Meijer and prepping stuff for visitors. Friday I have a MOPS playdate in the morning, and Justin's parents will be here in the afternoon/evening. Then Saturday I can start freaking out if I have to go in for jury duty on Monday :P
Not sure about extras this week. I would like to do another batch of applesauce and dry some more apples. Rebecca LOVES the dried apples. Such a great, healthy snack for her. I did some plain and some with cinnamon. She likes it both ways. I might make more granola. And possibly some kind of baked good (muffins?) for a breakfast.
Kind of a side note, but it's related to meal planning. I've realized lately that most cookbooks/recipes that are geared towards busy people/moms are for meals that can be made quickly. Like Rachael Ray. But they don't work for me. I actually do have time to cook. And I prefer things that I can prep ahead. The big thing for me is clean up! I need recipes that don't dirty 10 dishes and leave a big mess in the kitchen as you scramble around 20 min. before sitting down to dinner. That's why I tend to never make Rachael Ray recipes. It seems like they always involve so many pots and pans and ingredients and steps. Sure, you might be able to get the meal on the table in 30 min. But then you spend an hour cleaning up! So that has been a big factor for me in my meal planning lately. Especially weeks that Justin has to be gone most evenings. I don't want a big mess after dinner so that we can have some family time before Rebecca goes to bed. Anyone know of any good cookbooks that address this? I already do a lot of stuff that is prep ahead so I can do my clean up earlier in the day. But it does eliminate a lot of popular cookbooks.
Anyway, on to the meals.
S - (early workout, prep dinner, church, family time) - chicken, potatoes and veggies in the crockpot (lunch); salad (dinner)
M - (make applesauce, dry apples, nursery cmt, early dinner) - shepherd's pie or favorite casserole made w/ leftovers, squash
T - (can applesauce, meatless) - black bean burgers, sweet potato fries, peas
W - (early workout, Kindermusik, 18m check up, worship team, early dinner) - leftovers from Mon.
Th - (make muffins, Meijer, prep food for Friday, just me) - muffins, frozen fruit (breakfast); leftovers (dinner)
F - (MOPS playdate, clean, in-laws over) - visitors (menu posted later)
S - (clean, laundry, make granola, meatless) - pumpkin pasta, roasted veggies
Using REAL food to heal the mind and body. Trust in God and eat the food. Eet Smakelijk!
Maybe you can just take jury duty as an opportunity to practice all your new relaxing skills! It could be a good experience in that sense. Besides, if you tell them you have anxiety problems they might eliminate you. (Ok, that's kind of a joke, but really!) Anyway, bring a book! When Ryan had jury duty he ended up sitting in the room and then the case was settled so he went home after 4 hours!
ReplyDeleteAbout the one bowl recipes...sometimes it's a matter of just altering recipes you are using. Like, do I really need to make that in a separate pot or can I combine things or use one pot, empty it, then use it again for the next step?
The jury duty thing is not just about my own issues. It's largely about Rebecca...having to leave her all day with someone she doesn't know that well when she's used to being home with me every day. Anyway, we'll get through it. I don't doubt that. And I'll give them plenty of reasons not to pick me :)
ReplyDeleteI do alter plenty of recipes (like mix a casserole right in the dish instead of in a bowl and then poor in a dish, things like that). And I do a lot more prep ahead stuff than most recipes call for. But sometimes it's nice to not have to think about it :P Maybe I'll start writing my own cookbook :)