At the wives conference I went to last month for our ministry I was asked to present a little something on healthy, family cooking and menu planning during the “share the wealth time”. I thought it might be fun to share it with you too. Here are my notes.
3 types of cooks:
- love to cook, enjoy thinking of new recipes, menu planning
- enjoy cooking but not the planning part of it
- just don’t like it
But… no matter where we fall we still have to do it so here are some helpful hints.
menu plan and shop accordingly
plan to cook 4 meals, use left overs 2 nights and then take out/go out one night
think of 3-4 go-to meals that have few ingredients that you often have in stock when you get in a pinch
represent food groups each meal, hint make it colorful
make extra and freeze
plan ahead-set out food in morning to defrost. Am I using the crockpot?
use crockpot- nice to have one pot meal
try a new recipe every couple weeks to shake it up
Have your go to meals for when Dad is gone- easy, fun
puree veggies when can and be sneaky
- Deceptively Delicious by Seinfeld’s wife
- Cauliflower in enchilada sauce, marina, meatloaf
- Broccoli in pizza sauce, meatloaf
- Butternut squash in mac-n-cheese, French toast
Kid friendly suggestions
- Make it fun- picnic in or out side
- Breakfast- waffles, French toast, smoothies wife flax seed and honey
- Serve meals in muffin tins
- Quiet time for kids ½ hour before for final dinner prep and for your sanity
All.recipes.com
Rachel Ray
Everything crockpots
Trade recipes with friends
I’d love to hear your ideas as well Please share the wealth!
I love this! I guess I never really put it down on paper but this is pretty much what I try to do every week as well. It was fun to find out that I’m not alone. Our go-to meal when daddy is gone (on average once/wk. is mac & cheese with steamed broccoli). it’s funny now, the girls know exactly what they’re having if it’s just the 3 of us. I usually end up eating a lean cuisine that night.
Easy is key!
Catherine-
mac-n-cheese is a go to meal for us too when Daddy is gone. Have you tried adding pureed butternut squash to it. It works well and actually tastes good!