Our week is going to be extremely busy, and while I don’t usually plan our menu for the week, I thought it may help keep me on track for the week.
The Menu:
- Meatloaf, Couscous, and Broccoli
- Roast, Potatoes, Carrots, and Onions
- Quiche Lorraine
- Beans and Cornbread
- Enchiladas, Beans, and Rice
Steps For Preparation:
- I’ve started thawing some of the meat we’ll be using in the refrigerator. I recently read an article in Cook’s Illustrated that stated thawing in the refrigerator is the safest way to defrost frozen meats. Thawing in cold water and in the microwave are acceptable as well, but require more attention to detail. I decided that my attention to detail won’t be as sharp this week, so will stick with the refrigerator.
- I’ve made a menu. I based the menu off of the meat we had in the freezer, and the ingredients we have on hand in our pantry and refrigerator so that we don’t have any additional grocery trips.
While I don’t usually plan a menu for the week, and don’t plan a menu while grocery shopping, we never seem to be out of the key ingredients we need to plan a weeks worth of menus. We accomplish this by purchasing the staples to keep a well-stocked pantry, as well as the meats that we enjoy cooking with, and of course eating. I purchase the meat for our freezer based on what is on sale that week, or what I find marked down in the meat department. Our freezer almost always has chicken breast (flash frozen in the bag), ground turkey (Honeysuckle White Turkey), and some kind of pork like pork chops or pork tenderloin.
Making a menu is one of the best ways to get you started in the right direction. It gives direction, and while it can certainly be changed, it provides a definite plan. I planned a main course of beans earlier in the week than the Enchiladas because my plan is to use the beans from the main meal as a side dish with the Enchiladas.
Cook items that you are familiar with. I’ve made these dishes dozens of times and don’t have to question myself on what the next step is. I am always up for trying new things, but I know it’s not a good idea when I’m short on time.