okay, I admit, I actually counted the number of non-fasting days between now and the start of Lent. 35. Thirty-five days to fit in all the family favorites my kids have been clamoring for me to cook. I like to have a fairly fixed menu during fasts, but in other seasons, I prefer to keep my meal planning a little more flexible. That said, I hate to have a lot of meat sitting around as Lent approaches, or spend a lot of time coming up with dinner ideas. So, last week I did a brainstorm session and created a list of favorite dishes (and a few just plain easy ones :). I came up with a list of 20 meals. Then I took my recipes and created 2 grocery lists. One listed all the meat necessary for these dishes. The other had all of the non-perishables. After checking my freezer and pantry to mark off any items already here, I went to S*
m's and got my meat, and hit the grocery store for the rest. I spent a few hours last week preparing the dishes that could be made ahead and frozen, which means I now have about 12 meals in the freezer (now that's a good feeling!). I can now take my menu planning a week at a time. I know the dishes I will serve over the next month and a half, but each week I will look at the calendar, take into account the things going on that week, and plan our meals. A much simpler grocery list can then be made, containing mostly perishable foods. There are a few other dishes I would like to add to this list - I still have way too many butternut squash in my kitchen, so I will probably add a few other dishes here and there, but for now, here is my list. Not all the recipes are linked yet, but will be added over the next week.
oh dear. This means I have even less time before Lent (on old calendar). !! (of course I am home now and on the new calendar). Thanks for the heads up! Blessings on the many meals you have planned!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteWe have so little time between now and Triodion. I believe it's the shortest possible interval. I was planning on working on our festal menu this weekend. And I need to seriously rework our fasting menu for Lent. I can't imagine repeating it so soon.
Hope you are enjoying the feast! :)
I was thinking it was about a month. Sigh. What a good idea to do some advanced planning. We got 1/2 a steer about a month before the fast and 1/4 piggy 2 days before it started! I need to start making a dent.
ReplyDeleteWow...thanks for the heads-up! Before I read your post, I was in a dreamy world of possibility... Now I have to get jumping and PLAN!
ReplyDeleteThanks for helping me organize my family!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to have to make a list of recipes as well!
ReplyDelete