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Email a FriendWhile I appreaciate the fact that you are reeling from my supposed “awesomeness”, it really isn’t all that grand. It’s not even about getting good buys, so much as I am ADD and would not know where to begin without a plan. It was great fun, and maybe next time we could have the party at my house. Thanks for a great time. And the wine too. Love you!
Menu Planning Success
and I've got food in the crock-pot to prove it!
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Homemaking on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 3:30 PM
Last night, I invited a group of friends over for a menu planning party, something I’ve thought about doing for a while but have always talked myself out of.
Why would a bunch of women want to get together for something so taxing, I’d muse, even if it does involve red wine. And then I realized, because! It’s getting together! And sharing some wine!
So I went ahead with my plans and I am so glad I did. We had a wonderful time and got quite a lot accomplished to boot!
Eleven women came to the party. At first, some of us stood in the kitchen and chatted while a few women got right down to business, pouring over cookbooks and recipe boxes at the dining room table. After a while, when everyone had arrived, we all gathered in the dining room. To be honest, I didn’t really have a plan for the evening other than I wanted menu ideas (which I’ve also asked for here! Thank you!), and I wanted to see how other people handled meal planning and making a menu.
One woman suggested we go around the table and share what works best for us in a pinch along with some of our tried-and-true favorites. For the next 90 minutes, we did that—each woman at the table shared what worked for her family, everything from cheap, easy and fast to less-cheap with a bit more effort to pull off. Mostly, the focus was on what each family would actually eat, and I am beginning to realize that’s key in this whole process—while I don’t run a cafeteria, I’m starting to avoid laboring over meals if none of the boys will touch them.
Our group ranged in age and family size. There was a newlywed living in a tiny apartment; because her fridge is only slightly larger than a box of cereal from Sam’s, she has a different approach to shopping and cooking entirely. There was a mother of six who now only has three at home—she’s adjusting to making smaller meals. There was a mother of seven who recently started nursing school, and she shared her tricks for quick meals that can get on the table even when she’s studying. There were several women who work and they also added an interesting perspective. And there was the woman who I am in awe of—she who has her shopping list on her Palm Pilot, including what stores have the best prices and what she likes to get where. Yeah, I’m still reeling from that awesomeness!
One other interesting tidbit—two of the ladies recently started a Dinner Co-op with one other neighbor. The three families, all about the same size, cook for each other three nights a week. On the night you cook, they explained, you triple the amount. Then you get two nights off that week. The ladies have all remarked this is working fabulously.
As for me, I did come away with an incredible list of meal ideas. I didn’t get them in the appropriate box just yet, I’ll do that tonight, but I did throw some chicken, salsa and taco seasoning in the crock-pot this morning and my house smells delicious. By 7 a.m., I had a plan for dinner. In the words of William Wallace, Frreeeeedom!!!!
Mostly it was just a wonderful time to fellowship with other women—to laugh and share and build the Church by strengthening our little church, the family.
If you try something like this, let me know how it goes! I’d love to hear all about it.
Comments
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Posted by teresa on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 4:54 PM (EDT):
Love the crockpot!!!! I have 5 kids, and when I come home to a house smelling delicious, it is like magic- I feel so ““on the ball” and like I slaved all day! Hmmmm- I made a chicken chili in the crockpot on Sunday that sounds like the ingredients you described!
I love the crock-pot! My husband and I used to eat out a LOT - so we started planning our dinners and now we know what we’re having 7 days a week, and if we want to go out, it’s planned well in advance (well, unless someone offers to take us out, which is few and far between). Our grocery bill has also gone down because we have a list (!) and we’re not randomly roaming the stores.
Posted by Mom of 6 on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 5:53 PM (EDT):
Over the summer, I hosted a luncheon and asked each mom to bring her favorite cheap, quick, family meal along with the recipe. It was such an interesting array of foods. And it was especially helpful to taste the entrees with our kids - so it was kid tested, kid approved. I can’t remember the exact count, but I think I had 15 moms and 40 + kids - kinda crazy - but in a good way. the hardest part, was convincing mom’s that I really really wanted them to bring their everyday peasant food - not the fancy company stuff. I still haven’t sent the e-cookbook yet (I’m pregnant) but hope to soon . . .
Posted by Rachel Balducci on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 8:33 PM (EDT):
Jersey Girl: I agree. I’m not ready to commit to anything like a co-op, but it’s still interesting to see it working for others. I most enjoyed just hearing the practical, seeing how other families make it work, what recipes are easy and really, just seeing what other people cook!
Posted by Kristi Carlson on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 8:50 PM (EDT):
This sounds like a great excuse to get together and drink some wine. Thanks for the idea:)
Posted by Kathryn Scheibmeir on Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 7:37 AM (EDT):
I used to get together with a group of moms and we would pool our resources and create several freezer meals. I think we usually each left with 3 or 4 meals + 1 or 2 desserts. It was a lot of fun to meet every other month and do this!
Posted by Dee on Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 10:03 AM (EDT):
Rachel, do you think this kind of forum could work with another topic: housekeeping?
I am the worst housekeeper. Disorganization, exhaustion from constant messes (like crayons and cat throw up), and plain incompetence are my biggest obstacles.
I love cooking and have no problem menu planning. It’s the darn housework that brings me to my knees.
Any advice?
Posted by Rachel Crawford on Sunday, Nov 2, 2008 3:34 PM (EDT):
To Dee: You and me, sister! I have a terrible time with the housework too. Let me suggest that you visit this website: http://www.flylady.com. It’s a free site I discovered last year that helps a LOT in this area - it focuses on developing new habits and routines that keep your house presentable without overwhelming effort - just 15 minutes at a time.
Posted by Yolanda McVicker on Wednesday, Nov 5, 2008 11:32 PM (EDT):
I love this idea - I just got an e-mail from one of my daughter’s friend’s Mom - she is doing a round robin recipe exchange. I’m sending a crockpot recipe and Lex’s Chicken (yes, it’s on the web - it’s awesome!). Love to cook, love to take care of my family, love to share. I think I’ll have a party . . .
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