Leaca's Philosophy
3:365 menu planning
January 3, 2010
Yesterday a few of you asked about my #10, I always make a menu and stick to it. You wanted to know if I really did it and if I ever changed my mind.
Sometimes I do have a change of heart and each time I do I make note of it...on the menu. I save all the old menus and so I can look to them when I make the next menu. I thought I would share my tips for sticking to a menu.
Leaca's Menu Planning Tips =]
1. Make the menu before you go shopping. I do mine the week before I shop.
2. Have your calender/planner close by when you do this so that you can see your schedule and what days are busy and will need quick fixes. On the nights my daughter has basketball it is always a crockpot meal. The meals that take more time are on the other days.
3. I always have my grocery list right next to me and I fill it out as I plan.
4. I only place on the menu plan meals that we love or I think we will love, as I usually do something new each week. I used to menu plan and never stick to it and finally I looked at our menu and some of the meals did not excite me very much. I try to keep it fresh and fun. Cooking should be fun and delicious.
5. Print the menu off and place it on the fridge or somewhere you will see it a lot. I also put one in my planner and in our office area. I am never too far from the menu. NO EXCUSES!
6. Keep notes on the menu. Sometimes foods do not work or you need to change something. Sometimes the idea of making that certain meal just made you want to shoot yourself....keep notes. When you go to plan again you will be glad you did.
7. Keep all the old menus. I keep mine on a clip board so I can rifle through them with ease.
Additional tips: Take out ingredients and place them on the counter the night before. I take any meat out and defrost it in the sink overnight and then place it in the fridge in the morning. I mostly take out the cans and then the spices and items like that and place them on the counter. When I am using a crockpot meal I make sure the crockpot is out and ready. I prepare crockpot meals and casseroles first thing in the morning.
My friend and I are working together on a food blog but we are in the very early stages. She is a mother of three young boys and I have two teens at home. We wanted to do a blog that helped busy women in any stage of their life. So I will keep you posted. We are pretty excited about it. We will share recipes and tips like this .
Pictured above is Sunday Beef Stew from this blog. The recipe is one of my favorites and it is so easy to make.
3:365 menu planning
January 3, 2010
Yesterday a few of you asked about my #10, I always make a menu and stick to it. You wanted to know if I really did it and if I ever changed my mind.
Sometimes I do have a change of heart and each time I do I make note of it...on the menu. I save all the old menus and so I can look to them when I make the next menu. I thought I would share my tips for sticking to a menu.
Leaca's Menu Planning Tips =]
1. Make the menu before you go shopping. I do mine the week before I shop.
2. Have your calender/planner close by when you do this so that you can see your schedule and what days are busy and will need quick fixes. On the nights my daughter has basketball it is always a crockpot meal. The meals that take more time are on the other days.
3. I always have my grocery list right next to me and I fill it out as I plan.
4. I only place on the menu plan meals that we love or I think we will love, as I usually do something new each week. I used to menu plan and never stick to it and finally I looked at our menu and some of the meals did not excite me very much. I try to keep it fresh and fun. Cooking should be fun and delicious.
5. Print the menu off and place it on the fridge or somewhere you will see it a lot. I also put one in my planner and in our office area. I am never too far from the menu. NO EXCUSES!
6. Keep notes on the menu. Sometimes foods do not work or you need to change something. Sometimes the idea of making that certain meal just made you want to shoot yourself....keep notes. When you go to plan again you will be glad you did.
7. Keep all the old menus. I keep mine on a clip board so I can rifle through them with ease.
Additional tips: Take out ingredients and place them on the counter the night before. I take any meat out and defrost it in the sink overnight and then place it in the fridge in the morning. I mostly take out the cans and then the spices and items like that and place them on the counter. When I am using a crockpot meal I make sure the crockpot is out and ready. I prepare crockpot meals and casseroles first thing in the morning.
My friend and I are working together on a food blog but we are in the very early stages. She is a mother of three young boys and I have two teens at home. We wanted to do a blog that helped busy women in any stage of their life. So I will keep you posted. We are pretty excited about it. We will share recipes and tips like this .
Pictured above is Sunday Beef Stew from this blog. The recipe is one of my favorites and it is so easy to make.