Fresh Friday: Meal Planning Edition

This is a quick post, by request, on my meal plans and easy dinner ideas.

Every two weeks I grab a scrap piece of paper and write down fourteen meals to cook - a few easy, a few veggie, a few manly, a salad or two, something new and a personal favorite for someone. Then I write a list based on the items I need to refill my pantry and fridge and whatever else is needed to complete the fourteen meals.

(see, I need five cans of chicken broth, three jars of spaghetti, four cans of corn and a lot of pretzels)

On the pantry wall I have a white erase board - on one side I write the fourteen meals to cook, on the other side I keep track of things as they are getting low and need to be replenished. White flour, pancake syrup, dishwasher soap etc. Taye usually adds "rifle airsoft gun" or something of that sort. As if I'll actually buy it on a grocery shopping trip.

After my groceries are purchased and put away then I'm home free. Each morning I look at my list and pick one to make that evening. I try to cook the meals with lots of fresh veggies first so they don't go bad. If it's a crazy day I'll pick something really easy. If it's first thing in the morning and I've got time I'll pick one of the more complicated dinners. I always cross the meal off once I've cooked it. 

Most of the recipes I cook are from my mom, my friends, my little collection of cookbooks and web sites. If it has ginger or cilantro I'll try it in a heartbeat.

I'm interviewing my family to find out their favorite meals, but here are few that I think are the easiest. If it's a soccer/cubs/swim day - these will work great!

• 7 layer supper
• Taco soup
• Calzones
• Shredded chicken tacos
• Honey curry chicken
• Homemade chicken nuggets