We have a busy couple weeks coming up. One of the great things about investing in teaching your children to cook and contribute to the family meal is that when a busy weeks comes, the team is ready! We started on this journey of team cooking a bit over three years ago when our sons were 5 (Micah), 12 (Grant) , 15 (Dean) and 18 (Drew). It didn't happen overnight but the three oldest are all now confident cooks and the youngest is gaining fast!
Last week we got caught unprepared and it was chaotic. We had a death in the family, my coworker left and tennis season was in full swing. (My husband coaches and son plays.) We ended up eating out way too much because we had no plan and no time to shop and no ingredients on hand. So last weekend, I went through the cookbook and a few other recipes, picked the menu, assigned the family member to the day, wrote the shopping list and my wonderful husband headed to the grocery store. The shopping list included enough to make two of several things, one for that night and one for the freezer.
The thought of implementing this plan by myself would completely overwhelm me and would make for some late dinners. But by sharing it among five of us, it feels totally doable. Assignments are based on who is home when and how early they are expected to arrive. Here's what it looks like:
Monday - Grant - Lasagna (x2). Grant didn't have school today so he was on. His friend Lucas was over so now Lucas knows how to make Lasagna too! It was delicious!
Tuesday - Eat at Wendy's - Grant has a tennis tournament 30 miles away so we will run through Wendy's drive-through tomorrow night. I am still sad that Wendy's discontinued their Baja salad though!
Wednesday - Drew (He only works til 2:30pm on Wednesdays) - He'll make Uglies but he's also going to mix up two meat loaves, one for Thursday and one for the freezer.
Thursday - Mom - I'll just be scrubbing some potatoes to add to the meatloaf and putting both in an hour before we eat.
Friday - Drew (He's off at 2:30p again.) - Hamburger Pie (x2 - one for the freezer)
Saturday - Grant has tennis all day and we all will be there so I'm thinking Chipotle might be on the menu!
Sunday - Mom - Mexican Corn Bread - It's a new recipe I'll be trying.
Monday - Drew again (his day off) - Chinese Chicken Casserole (x2).
Tuesday - Eat at Subway - Grant has another tennis tournament.
Wednesday - - Drew, Micah and Mom - Homemade Pizza - Drew and Micah will brown the hamburger but Micah and I will put it together when I get home.
Thursday - Mom - Ham and Scalloped Potatoes - this is a crockpot dish I will likely put together Wednesday night and have ready to start in the morning.
Friday - Mark and Micah - Crockpot Brocolli Soup - They may put this together Thursday night.
Saturday - Mark - Grilled chicken wings
Sunday - Mom and Grant - Polynesian Dinner - Grant has gotten off the hook because he has practice right after school but he can get in on the action on the weekends.
So that's our plan. The groceries are purchased. The recipes ready. If all goes well, there will be several things in the freezer to help us get through until I get someone hired and tennis season is over. And plenty of leftovers for lunches. I'm so glad I took the time to lay the foundation necessary for this to happen. I encourage you to begin today as well!
Last week we got caught unprepared and it was chaotic. We had a death in the family, my coworker left and tennis season was in full swing. (My husband coaches and son plays.) We ended up eating out way too much because we had no plan and no time to shop and no ingredients on hand. So last weekend, I went through the cookbook and a few other recipes, picked the menu, assigned the family member to the day, wrote the shopping list and my wonderful husband headed to the grocery store. The shopping list included enough to make two of several things, one for that night and one for the freezer.
The thought of implementing this plan by myself would completely overwhelm me and would make for some late dinners. But by sharing it among five of us, it feels totally doable. Assignments are based on who is home when and how early they are expected to arrive. Here's what it looks like:
Monday - Grant - Lasagna (x2). Grant didn't have school today so he was on. His friend Lucas was over so now Lucas knows how to make Lasagna too! It was delicious!
Tuesday - Eat at Wendy's - Grant has a tennis tournament 30 miles away so we will run through Wendy's drive-through tomorrow night. I am still sad that Wendy's discontinued their Baja salad though!
Wednesday - Drew (He only works til 2:30pm on Wednesdays) - He'll make Uglies but he's also going to mix up two meat loaves, one for Thursday and one for the freezer.
Thursday - Mom - I'll just be scrubbing some potatoes to add to the meatloaf and putting both in an hour before we eat.
Friday - Drew (He's off at 2:30p again.) - Hamburger Pie (x2 - one for the freezer)
Saturday - Grant has tennis all day and we all will be there so I'm thinking Chipotle might be on the menu!
Sunday - Mom - Mexican Corn Bread - It's a new recipe I'll be trying.
Monday - Drew again (his day off) - Chinese Chicken Casserole (x2).
Tuesday - Eat at Subway - Grant has another tennis tournament.
Wednesday - - Drew, Micah and Mom - Homemade Pizza - Drew and Micah will brown the hamburger but Micah and I will put it together when I get home.
Thursday - Mom - Ham and Scalloped Potatoes - this is a crockpot dish I will likely put together Wednesday night and have ready to start in the morning.
Friday - Mark and Micah - Crockpot Brocolli Soup - They may put this together Thursday night.
Saturday - Mark - Grilled chicken wings
Sunday - Mom and Grant - Polynesian Dinner - Grant has gotten off the hook because he has practice right after school but he can get in on the action on the weekends.
So that's our plan. The groceries are purchased. The recipes ready. If all goes well, there will be several things in the freezer to help us get through until I get someone hired and tennis season is over. And plenty of leftovers for lunches. I'm so glad I took the time to lay the foundation necessary for this to happen. I encourage you to begin today as well!
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