Sensual Service

by Freya

I remember when I was a little girl my mother writing in her binder every morning from the weather that day, to chores that needed focused on and most of all updating a meal plan for the week on Sundays. She would start off with a cup of coffee sitting at the table and a stack of cookbooks. She also made sure that she asked my brother and I if we had any “suggestions”, which we always did.

This little secret was mostly to keep from being stressed around meal time and to make sure that everything was always on hand. Throughout my adult life I’ve taken this approach to find, it really does cut down on eating on the run, eating poorly (Hamberger Helper is NOT a good choice people), or giving up and calling the “Pizza Shack” around the corner (although I’m sure that “Pizza Shack” thanks you for your contribution to their mortgage payment).

I know my house is always in comfortable chaos so planning is essential. By the time I get home, yes, I do work outside of the home, the very last thing I want to do is stand in front of the ‘fridge like a deer stuck in headlights I’m hungery!!!” ringing throughout this house. And what kind of wife would I be if my dear husband had to sit and wait from a long day on the road to have a hot meal in his belly?

Take a calendar and list every meal you cook for a month. At the end of a month you will have a journal of what to fix. From this journal you can make out menu cards and a grocery list. Don’t forget to list what you ate at the restaurants, too; that is a menu as well. Once you have the right food in your house, you are more apt to cook it. Knowing what is planned for the day helps to keep you on track. Our biggest problem is that if we have to think aboutwhat to cook, we will probably go out.

Keep in mind your “busy days”. For example: Our Busy Day is Monday. Therefore, there is no way I would plan something like making a meatloaf from scratch on Monday after work. Monday’s are saved for Speghetti and Meatballs, or a crockpot stew!

Planning your meals also gives you a chance to blow the dust off of those cookbooks on your book shelf. Planning ahead you know what you are going to do that day which leaves out the blank stare at the cabinets and the “what am I going to fix…. let’s order pizza” scenerio.

Pizza: Our family LOVES pizza. But we do not order out. Instead Friday’s are “Pizza nite”. We make our pizzas at home with pre-made pizza shells, sauce and then I’ll put bowls of “toppings” out and let everyone get creative and make their own pizza. It makes for a great time and time to talk and be silly together. So make sure you plan a meal like this: Pizza, tacos, burritos, cheeseburgers, anything that can get “creative”!

Keep a grocery list and hi-lighter on your refrigerator. The grocery list is a list of everything you buy for the home. You can compile it in categories, alphabetically, or how your grocery store is laid out. Whatever works for you - perhaps categories such as fresh veggies and fruit, canned veggies and other, meat, milk products, etc. When you are running low just hi-light it on your list, then take the list to the grocery on your shopping day.

Another tip: Clean the refrigerator out the day before you go grocery shopping. This gives you a neat place to put your food. Besides, it’s easier to clean when the refrigerator is empty.

Also, don’t forget to put the groceries away as you bring them into the house. (This keeps the counters clear, and you do not feel overwhelmed by all those groceries that need to be put away.) It goes without saying, bring the meat and refrigerator stuff in first.

In your meal planning, make sure you also note any spices, oils or condiments needed for that meal and most of all make sure you have the proper left over items: Foil, tupperware, wax paper, cling wrap etc! Our family loves left-overs for lunch as much as they love the original meals. Also, make sure you have the proper “clean up” items as well. Lasagna on the menu? Make sure you have those brillow pads!!!