We don't plan much ahead. At least I do not. My sister might have a plan, but does not share until the day we are having it. Now Tuesdays are for pizza though. But I do plan out my Sunday cooks. That is the day I Cook. This week will be a pork shoulder for pulled pork.
-
-
weekday meals are typically easier/less prep required than weekend meals. Helps with grocery shopping tremendously.
weekend meals usually are planned at least a few days or more in advance to ensure ingredients are avail.Comment
-
Generally, we plan two weeks of meals at a time (the nearest grocery store is almost an hour away) with the thought that it will be dinner one night and a late lunch early dinner the next day. Whenever the recipe makes for than just 4 servings, I usually end up eating it for breakfast as well. We also typically have a few frozen things (pizza/assorted junk food), cereal, or sandwich meats for when the plan goes awry or we don't feel like "cooking".Comment
-
We set a menu weekly and post it weekly on the refrigerator. Find out what night and which of the kids will be around for dinner, find out what they'd like and then plan accordingly. Here is an example of our weekly menu:
Saturday: Meatloaf, Mashed Pots and Crescent Rolls
Sunday: Korean BBQ, Banchan, Kimchi & Steamed Rice
Monday: Italian Soup and Grilled Cheese Sammys
Tuesday: Leftovers, Takeout or Whatevah!
Wednesday: Teriyaki Salmon, Salad and Rice
Thursday: Cheeseburgers in Paradise & French Fries
Friday: Grilliin, Chillin & Livin!
It is a challenge to keep the menu rotating and not eat the same things all the time. Everybody has food issues (likes/dislikes, allergies, texture, etc.).Comment
-
I have a running Google Keep note where I sometimes write down my ideas. Sometimes it's a big list other times there is no list at all. Alternatively, I will discuss it with my girlfriend to get her ideas. Usually, that discussion centers around what is in the freezer that needs to be defrosted and what vegetables are in the fridge. Today I removed 4 bone-in thighs to go with the bok choy that needs to be used. She requested smoked chili so that will likely happen this week. I do 99% of the cooking. If I'm lazy, we have many options within walking distance. Typically we'll pick something up from a food cart. I also like to do successive meals meaning, for instance, I roast a chicken, make stock, pull the leftovers, and turn that into 1 or 2 other meals.Comment
-
What is this planning you speak of?
Unless I INTEND to make something specific on any given day…it’s pretty much a “wing it.”
Besides, my “schedule” is WAY too chaotic for meal planning. Perfect example, I thought I’d be at the GF’s house around 11AM today…now I’m HOPING to be there tomorrow sometime.Comment
-
I have a “white board” style magnet on the fridge. I will, at the very least, line up proteins. I improvise from there depending on csa offerings. I back fill with a grocery store run or FM depending on the day. This week is/was:
mon- TJ potstickers and green beans
tue - pacific cod and broccoli
wed - kalbi (looked really good at Costco today)
thur - salmon
fri - pizza (almost always on Friday, sometimes homemade, sometimes local joint)
sat - I’m working, so not sure
sun - beef cheeksComment
-
I wish I did more planning. But on the other hand, I'm of the personality type that tends to feel a bit constricted by planning. Planning for me mainly consists of seeing things I want to try and adding them to my "Want To Try" folder in the Paprika App, then reviewing it now and then for an idea. Now that I'm retired from the day to day of working with clients I spend a great deal of each day preparing for dinner. I am at the grocery store nearly every day of the week.Comment
-
We generally don't plan our weekday meals but have discussions about what would taste good and plan around that. When Mari Jo and I are entertaining or just having a spontaneous get together with friends, we always plan our menu ahead of time, do the grocery shopping, prep and, in some cases, SV the food ahead of time. We plan extensively, especially for multi-course meals with wine pairings.Comment
-
Hit or miss on the planning.
pulled some chicken breasts out for tonight. Not sure yet exactly what I'm going to do with them. May not know until I get home from work...lol
I have 5 or 6 different "go to" recipes, so most likely will be one of those..
last night we had smashburgers. It was a spur of the moment decision, so stopped at the market for what I needed, as I didnt have ground beef pulled from the freezer. Tomorrow will be a marinated grilled pork loin (already thawing in the fridge). We usually have buttered potatoes with that, but no idea yet what else we'll have. SWMBO is even less capable than me to plan ahead, so it kind of falls on me.
I tend to make stops at the market several times a week to pick up needed items for that night's dinner...
I used to be way better at this. When the kids were little, and money was tighter, we would shop the sales. Grocery shopping might entail going to 2 or 3 stores depending on what was on sale where...
obviously I've kind of fallen out of that habit...Comment
-
Is this a common theme for anyone else??
Comment
-
Wife called an audible tonight. She got home too late to make the planned casserole so the pizza guy came early!
Then since my daughter the culinarian was once again sitting at our table I told her to razzle dazzle me in 15 minutes or less, and I’ll be damned if she didn’t do it with ingredients from our fridge and pantry!!!!
semi sweet chocolate ganache folded with whipped cream into a heavy mousse, on crushed graham crackers with a dallop of raspberry jalapeño jelly….fan-damn-tastic!!!!!Comment
-
Now that I’m back in my office thrice a week my wife does most of the weekday cooking. She’s a good cook but will only use the Weber genesis if she wants to do anything outside. I do the weekend cooking and it’s almost always outside. Friday is usually pizza night but we find that’s we’re not around as much these Fridays whether it’s a sports game or a school function. There’s a Halloween party Friday night at the school. They’re bringing in food and a local brewery from Chicago. There’s a cowboy steak in my freezer that’s already died and excited to be reversed seared. Going to do some wings at some point.Comment
-
Wow...You are way more organized than me. Plan ahead?? I shop like they do in Europe. (Full disclosure: I'm a Carpenter for a major higher end grocery chain in the Chicago area) So I'm in many grocery stores all day for 5 days a week. I also live 1 block from s great little local grocery. I get what we're having for dinner that night. So the only time I plan ahead is if I'm have a small get together with friends. I get what's on sale, or just what ever perks my eye that day. Sometimes one of the butcher will give me a heads up on a really good deal. Tonight, we just ordered a pizza....Because we were just too tired to cook.Comment
-
Can't contribute. Its me and my wife. For the most part, she doesn't eat what I cook. Outdoor, forget smoke. I've convinced her charcoal won't kill her. I basically cook for one. So my menu planning is me thinking what do I want tomorrow? Actually, I was thinking about this earlier. Burger it is. Need to go to freezer to pull one out. Being forward thinking, some pork country style ribs for the weekend. I'll bring them up too. Unless I'm doing a hunk of meat that needs time to cure/brine it's what it is.Comment
Comment