Add me to the list of those who would like to improve their skills in this area
. Like Harmony, it is just dh & I so, with the exception of fish, I usually make enough for 4 servings & we have the leftovers a day or two later.
Some random thoughts:
Pam & Peggy's kitchen book was full of great ideas. While I never wrote every recipe down on a 3x5 like they did, years ago I sat & made a random list of every meal I make that I could think of, to have a reference list. It was a great memory jogger; I would pull it out periodically & see meals I had forgotten about & hadn't made in a while. Every few months I would add more meals to the list, only now I am more organized & have separate sheets for chicken, fish, ground beef, etc. I also added one for side dishes.
Another helpful tip from their book was to divide meal ideas into Spring/Summer, and Fall/Winter.
I tend to freeze 3 things the most: soups, chili, & lasagna. I still freeze leftover grilled meat & chicken to use in another dish like enchiladas, casseroles or stroganoff, but they often get freezer burn because I forget to use them
. Need a better system for that.
I always keep boxed veggies in the freezer & the ingredients on hand for several quick meals, like spaghetti & meatballs. Chicken tenders & fish filets thaw quickly in a ziploc bag placed in cold water. With lemon juice, a few spices, and some rice or noodles on the side -- walla! Dinner!
I try to make out a weekly plan to keep track of what we are having on what day. This helps me remember what to thaw in the morning. This is very flexible -- if our plans change at the last minute & I'll just move whatever was planned for dinner that night to the next.
I need a better system to keep track of freezer items. I label & date everything, but need to have a list of some sort outside of the freezer & close to it. I try to rotate old items to the front as best I can. I tend to forget what's in there though, & every few weeks I pull on a pair of gloves & do a quick inventory of everything. A list would work so much better.
I have clipped & printed drawerfuls of recipes to try but don't do that on a regular basis & would like to.
I keep a running grocery list inside one of my kitchen cupboards. When I open the last of an item, it goes on the list. If I'm not sure the item is the last but don't want to run down to the basement pantry to check, I'll write the item down anyway with a question mark in front of it. Then before going to the store I'll check to see if I need or aready have all the question mark items.
I love learning about everyone else's ideas! (And I really love when dh suggest we go out to dinner or order in our favorite pizza!
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