For so many years, I’ve created a menu plan for almost every day of every week of every month! Lately, I’ve been more of an “open the freezer and decide what to cook” each day kind of cook.
Over a week ago, I cooked a lot of food and we’ve been eating on it for well over 10 days. Some of the food I froze but kept it in the kitchen freezer because I wanted us to eat it all til it was gone. We’ve had smoked ribs, chili, Mexican beef . . and I can’t even remember what else but I haven’t done any serious cooking in at least 10 days – probably closer to 2 weeks.
That food is all gone and it’s time to cook again. With no plans, I opened the freezer yesterday and grabbed a few things.
Not even sure what I’ll make. On the back row, a package of ground beef and a ham bone; on the front row, two chicken breasts and a tub of white bean chicken chili.
I’m thinking I’ll use part of the ground beef to make lentil soup. The ham bone will go into a 15 bean soup.
Not sure what I’ll do with the chicken but it was in a ziplock bag in the freezer. I never put anything in the freezer that isn’t vacuum sealed but . . there it was and it was still good so I pulled it out to use it in something!
The white bean chicken chili . . I love that stuff and we’ll probably have it with a salad or baked cheese . . something else to make it a hearty meal.
What happened to that organized cook who wouldn’t think of starting a week without a meal plan?
Joyce says
I have tried making menus off and on, but I never follow them. Either I’m too tired to mess with making something, or it just doesn’t sound good that day. I’m afraid I will always be a, “open the freezer and see what is in there” kind of cook. I’m in awe of people that make (and follow) menus.
cassews says
I understand that one – boy do I ever .. Menus were what I lived by no deviation at all. Now its the same : what is leftover or in the freezer I can defrost and cook for a few meals. Something easy and less time consuming I think.
Susan Nixon says
Is there some kind of cauliflower pasta you could eat with chicken and a low-sugar sauce of one sort or another? That pre-planning cook has given way to the experienced cook who doesn’t need a plan. LOL