4.06.2011

Happy Tomatoes.

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I have this tomato print {found on Etsy} hanging above my sink. It has become the perfect place for me to organize mealtime.

I don't like making the same thing for dinner over and over. I get bored easily and I want my family to eat good food, so I try new things a lot. Dinner time can be hectic, so I have a system.
The Happy Tomatoes.

I have a great collection of cookbooks (I love them), a binder with recipes I've ripped out of Food Network Magazine, a nice array of online recipe boxes from various websites, and food blogs bookmarked like crazy. These are my resources...plenty of them.

Every two weeks I make a new menu. I pick just one resource...one cookbook, or my binder, or a website, etc. This way I know where to find each recipe and I don't confuse myself.

Then I spend an hour or so picking out around 10 good recipes. I write them down (with a dry erase marker) on the happy tomatoes, and then right down all the ingredients I need on my grocery list. I try to find recipes with similar ingredients, to save money and not waste anything.

Then I pick 3-4 "flex" recipes from my head. You know, the easy quick ones you always remember. The ones you can whip together at the last minute.

I put a little circle by the recipes with the ingredients that will go bad quickly, so I remember to make those first (not pictured. I was lazy this week). There's nothing worse than buying green peppers just to throw them away a week later. ugh.

In the top right hand corner I write down some side dish ideas.

The bottom right is dessert, snack ideas.

So while I'm standing over the sink snarfing down a brownie after breakfast, I can choose what to make for dinner and I know I have the ingredients for it. I have a variety of recipes to choose from (which is good, I like choices...I might not feel like having Italian on Tuesday, or Pizza on Friday. Sometimes I want Rigatoni on Mexican Monday...you know? variety.), I know exactly where to find the recipe, and I can prep anything I know I'll need for the 5:00 dinner rush.

I'm happy.
My family's happy.

We have Happy Tomatoes.

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11 comments:

  1. chrisApril 6, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    I'd love to know some of your go-to cookbooks. I'm in a bit of a recipe slump. Your tomatoes are awesome.

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  2. amyApril 6, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    Fabulous idea!!! Your system is awesome and the tomato print is so adorable! :)
    I think I'm stealing your idea and I second the source request!! ;)

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  3. Yo MamaApril 6, 2011 at 9:19 PM

    We have the same brain. I kept reading and thinking, "yes, yes, yes, I do that. I love that. We're awesome." It must have been all those years of observing you before I got married that rubbed off on me. And, i love costco. That's all.

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  4. wendyApril 6, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    I love you Happy Tomatoes.
    I should incorporate the idea of circling the meal's that need to be eaten first so the produce doesn't go bad....I end up throwing so much away,
    cause I FORGET it was there and what I was going to do with it.

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  5. SarahieApril 7, 2011 at 12:10 AM

    I have a recipe obsession too. It does my heart good to hear that someone else gets bored quickly when it comes to cooking!

    I love this idea! The happy tomatoes are so cute! I'm so obsessive though that I usually plan my menu a month at a time.

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  6. AmandaApril 7, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    Your menu looks wonderful....your should so share some of those recipes.

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  7. AnonymousApril 8, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    Ehem. Does this mean I should give up on the waiting to get a cookbook from you idea? :) I am definitely tired of the same ole stuff. Maybe I will implement your system. I am certainly intrigued by your menu! Yum! You are so on the ball!

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  8. callyApril 9, 2011 at 12:01 AM

    the cookbook...who the?...huh?...

    yeah. It's still on my list.

    the long list.

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  9. mandiApril 9, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    this is great. i don't like meal planning, but i like the results of meal planning. and this is way more relaxed, more my speed. thanks for sharing ms. cally!

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  10. AnonymousApril 10, 2011 at 12:02 AM

    You're awesome. Just so long as I know it's still on the list. Maybe you will finish it when I finish the afghan...after all the grandkids have graduated from college. I will still be waiting. :)

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  11. SherriApril 16, 2011 at 6:49 AM

    Love this post!
    I love variety too! I seldom cook the same thing twice...I love to try new things!
    Your system is awesome!!!

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