This is my solution for the dinnertime rut. It is a tad time consuming at first, but once it is done, it really makes life easier.
You know what I mean by The Rut…
Four o’clock rolls around, and you realize all of your meat is frozen, and it’s too late to thaw anything. So you grab a box of Bisquick from the cabinet and make a batch of pancakes. Again.
You know you need to plan your meals better, but you’re tired of the same old, same old.
So this is what I did.
I went through all of my cookbooks and recipe boxes and found my tried-and-true recipes. I took a spiral notebook I had laying around, and on each page I wrote the name of a main dish and then a shopping list of the ingredients that go into the recipe. I did NOT rewrite the directions. I just made a note at the bottom of each page as to where to find the recipe.
I also made a note of any side dishes that typically go with the main dish. Cause sometimes that’s the hardest part, figuring out what to make with the main dish. So this way the shopping list for the entire meal is on one page.
It sounds overwhelming, but it really only took me a couple of hours one afternoon, and I realized that I have a lot of dinners in my repertoire that I just don’t think of off the top of my head when I’m making my grocery list.
Now when I go to make a grocery list, I flip through this notebook, choose six or eight meals, and put the ingredients on my list (I actually have my grocery list pre-printed and just go through and highlight what I need to purchase — this was a WFMW tip from someone else).
Then I have groceries for meals for two weeks!
Also, I usually make a list of the meals I plan to prepare and stick it on my fridge so I remember what I bought ingredients for.
Works for me!
Originally posted November 2006
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
This was a GREAT post!!! We have pancakes far more often than I’d like to admit. Living 20 miles from the nearest grocery store, and shopping no more than once a week, I’ll definitely be able to put it to good use. Thank you!
Great tip! I actually am going to do this.
And I’m also working on the 9 in 09 idea that I emailed you about – thanks again for the encouragement!
I’m feeling “the rut” – I guess that happens occasionally. This sounds like a great idea to try. Thanks for sharing.
I have a meal plan system that I posted about a while back, I think it is a little similar to yours and it does rock! IT saves the rock and the grocery store ??? all in one! Love it!
I feel that when I am more organized I spend less and over the month save a lot more. And in these times who doesn’t want a little extra!
Will you post some of the tried-and-true’s in your repetoire? I’m always curious to see what everyone elses’s stand-bys are. Some of mine are chicken soup, pasta w/homemade marinara, chicken piccata, and chicken marsala.
I do the same thing! I have mine all on index cards though. I did this about a couple years ago and I just add an index card whenever I add a new recipe. It works really well for me too. It makes it easier that I don’t have to write out the whole recipe, just what I need and where to find the recipe.
Kristin – On my sidebar in the categories drop down box is a category for Tried and True recipes — my best ones are in there! I used to post recipes weekly. I should get back to that.
This is a great idea, thanks!
I love that idea. Now I just need to find the time to go through some of my cookbooks and the recipes that I’ve bookmarked online.
I love this – an idea I’m actually going to try out myself! And thanks again for your encouragement about my 9 in 09 idea – I’m going for it! On the small scale, of course.
I like that idea, I will try and do a list over recipes I know everyone likes. I make a meal plan once a week so I know the night before what to take out of the freezer but sometimes I run out of good ideas when I’m writing this list and I do a repeat from the week before. If I have a list over god recipes I can glance at that instead of having to search cookbooks. I all for time saver, thanks!
That’s an excellent idea!! I’ve been thinking of a similar idea, but I like yours better. Great thinking friend!!
You are so organized. That is very impressive.
This is a good idea. I do something similar but I like the way you have done yours better.
awesome tips. i need major help in the eating and dinner department. now what i want to know is what are all the meals (or titles) of your recipes on your big list? how many do you have? i’ve got to do this! and add more ideas to my list too!
Classymommy – I just went thru my recipe box and my favorite cookbooks and compiled a list. But you can check out my recipes section (tried and true recipes in my Category list) for some fresh ideas!
I’ve been meaning to try this with index cards. I did a version of it once before kids, and it worked well. This time, I’m planning to list the main dish and sides on each card. I picked up day-of-the-week magnets and I’m planning to post the week’s menu on the fridge.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Great tip! I’ve thought of similar things. This is very doable!!!
Great idea – and seems like something that would be easy to turn into a habit. Thanks!