It took a few months, but I finally realized that since I stopped working full-time, I haven't been planning my meals for efficiency, and that's not helping my overly full plate of things to do. So I'm going to make a greater effort to use my freezer more, and to plan for more efficient meals, instead of taking a full one to two hours to make dinner every night. I'll also go back to doing prep work ahead of time whenever possible, so that making dinner takes less time and is less work.
I've been intrigued for a while by Michael Pollan's basic tenet: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. So I want to prepare more vegetables and fruit, and move toward more of a plant-based diet for us. I'll still serve protein with every meal, but also more veggies especially, because if they're there, I'll eat them.
So here's what's on tap:
Monday - Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes (but with beef rather than turkey, since that's what I have), Artisan Brioche Rolls (using this dough), Roasted Butternut Squash with Butter & Garlic, Creamed Spinach (I have some half & half that's expiring)
Tuesday - Pizza using artisan bread dough, sauteed green beans, salad
Wednesday - Pasta with Mushrooms and Pumpkin Gorgonzola Sauce (the kids can have plain buttered pasta because they won't eat this), sauteed spinach
Thursday - Chicken Piccata, Artisan Bread, a couple of vegetables to be decided later
Friday - I have no idea! Suggestions?
Saturday & Sunday - dinner out
See more weekly menus at I'm an Organizing Junkie.
6 comments:
Your menu looks very good. That Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe would be a winner here. Thank you for sharing and you have a great week!
How about slow cooker stew? We love to have stew on cold days. nice smell in the house and an easy meal that doesn't take much prep work.
For Friday, how about some stuffed bell peppers? Those are always delicious!
I love Michael Pollan and I try to keep that same philosophy in mind when I plan my meals. My husband is a meat & potatoes guy, but I also try to have plenty of veggies at every meal because we'll eat them if they're there. I also work really hard on filling 1/2 my plate with veggies, then protein and starch 1/4 of the plate each.
One way I have of getting closer to the Pollan ideal while still getting some protein is by incorporating more beans. Why not a bean based soup on Friday? Many recipes can be done in the slow cooker. We love the Trader Joe's bean soup mix but there are so many good and easy recipes! I often sneak in either a soup bone or a piece of smoked bacon, ham or sausage for flavor. All of this assumes that your kids like soup, of course! And some artisan bread sticks on the side are quick and the kids can even help roll and/or cut them out. Enjoy!
I love these suggestions, thank you! Being sick has thrown a wrench in my cooking plans, but I will definitely keep these in mind for the future. Substituting beans for meat is a brilliant strategy for keeping in line with Pollan's motto.
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