Who would imagine that a cute little chalkboard like this could change my habits? That a mirror turned chalkboard could land on the wall and get me more organized in the kitchen. It really has!
About the time I finished this sweet thing and hung it up in the kitchen, my hubby had hinted strongly suggested that I should really start meal planning. If you missed this little chalkboard project, go here to take a peek at how it started as an old mirror found at a yardsale.
I have always flown by the seat of my pants when it came to planning our meals for the week and that’s not particularly a good thing. Going to the grocery store meant that whatever struck me at the moment was what landed in my cart for the week and then I would put meals together with whatever I had at home and had purchased in my grocery store run. I can’t tell you how many times I had to stop back by the store for a missing ingredient or 2 that I was going to need for meal time prep.
So, when this went on the wall, right in plain view, it seemed like a pretty good idea to start adding the menu every week, at least Monday through Friday meals. And I have to say, it’s made my life much easier when it comes to kitchen prep and meal planning.
Now, at the beginning of the week, usually Sunday evening, I’ll sit down and go through my list of tried and true recipes that we tend to rotate on a regular basis. You know the ones. Those that you rely on for ease of prep and you just know that they will work and taste good. I think I have about 25 or 30 main dishes on my list now, but I’m always looking to add more. And the good thing is, hubby can read it too and know what’s for dinner!
I only put the main dish on the menu board and then I can add to that fairly easy, since I always have rice, pasta, and potatoes around to supplement. And I keep a good supply of frozen veggies in the freezer for quick meals too. Add in fresh salad fixin’s and I’m ready to go. My trio consists of a meat, carb, and veggie. Or pasta or soup or sandwich and veggie. Any of those combos work for me.
Now, here’s a strong case for never leaving a pot boiling on the stove. Especially if you’re over 50. I really think something happens to the chemicals in the brain after you turn 50 and you can’t keep things inside your short-term memory for more than about 30 seconds at a time. Do you know what I’m talkin’ about?? I told my sister it’s like everything is just ricocheting around in there trying to find a coherent thought. 🙂
So, I left this pot to boil, intending to come right back and turn it down to LOW and do you think I managed to do that? Of course not! I heard my hubby rushing down the stairs telling me to check the kitchen, as he ran around opening the windows and doors to LET THE SMOKE OUT! As I ran to the kitchen, the bottom of my stainless steel pot had melted all over the glasstop stove and left this horrid burn mark and gouges in the glass. I didn’t even know that was possible with these glass top stoves. The final straw was the hairline crack that started on this eye in the glass and traveled crookedly back to the other burner on that side. So now I’m cooking on the left side of the stove for awhile.
So, word to the wise. Don’t walk away and leave a pot boiling! I learned that very expensive lesson. Not sure how much it’s going to cost, but early estimates are $400 just for the new glass top. OUCH!
Do you do meal planning every week? I’d love to hear from all of you on that subject. How do you do it and is it working for you?
All of that to say this! How about we do a recipe party? I don’t know about you, but I can always use more recipes to add to my repertoire, can’t you? I thought this would be a fun time of year to drag out your tried and trues and share them with everyone. From meat dishes, to soups, salads, and whatever else you love. Including desserts. My personal fave. Let’s have a recipe party!
Spread the word! Don’t we all need new recipes to add to the menu?
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Rhoda, I about lost my continence over leaving a pot boiling if we’re over 50. Were you ever reading my mail. Thank goodness I’ve never done more than almost burn a pot bottom or whatever was cooking in it at the time. Can’t imagine having damage done to my stove! Bless your heart!
And, I too, have taken shots at meal planning. These days my husband is the grocery shopper and if it isn’t on the list that he takes with him, it’s not going to get bought. And bless his heart, he tends to stick with the same thing over and over. So I have made it a point to start meal planning and making my list out very specifically so we aren’t stuck having the same boring meals over and over.
Now, if I can just not let that pot boil over. lol! Today though, I forgot to go turn my pot of beans ON!!! It’s a little late here to start them, but I guess we can have them tomorrow night. Thanks for the belly laughs over that. Helped me remember that I didn’t turn the pot on!!!
~ Victoria in Texas
Hi Rhoda!
I’m gonna try to jump in on your recipe fun later this month.
Not a whole lot of meal planning right now – I’m hit and miss with it. But I always have food in pantry or freezer ready to go, for when I don’t plan! 🙂
Happy Monday!
i do meal plan, but i do it for the whole month m-f, with not repeat meals. helps not to get too tired of the same old recipe. my family loves it.
Ooooh, I will be over for dinner on Thursday!
It isn’t an over fifty thing. 🙁 I am 46, and my memory is terrible. My last kitchen disaster would make you feel a lot better about yours. It always could be worse probably won’t make you feel any better, but trust me, you would want to have an eye on me if you left me in your kitchen.
Hi Rhoda!
If a chalkboard will help me to plan better meals then I absolutely need to get myself one. I have a fetish for collecting recipes but seldom get the chance to try them out. I just love to try out a new recipe when we invite guests over for dinner. I guess you could say I am tempting fate but so far I’ve been lucky and never had a meal backfire on me.
I totally agree that when we reach 50 the chemicals in our brains don’t function the way they used to. I find it a little scarey sometimes because I had such a fabulous memory and could never understand why hubby had trouble remembering most things. Now I totally understand what its been like for him all these years.
I look forward to your Recipe Party and once again, TFS!
Sheila
Hi Rhoda! Oh, what a scary situation about the kitchen disaster!
I love your chalkboard! What a great idea to post the meals for the week. Have a great evening.
Sandra
I plan my meals every week for several reasons. First of all to be organized and know what we are having when my husband asks, “What’s for dinner?” Meal planning also enables me to save money because I don’t spend so much on things I “might” make for dinner. My other goal with this is that I eat correctly and can control my weight better. I’ve learned to plan 5 meals a week because inevitably we end up eating out once or twice and improvise with cereal or grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches!
No meal planning here! I don’t complain – one of the few perks of being single! One day that will all change and I’ll have to take on your advice and plan away! I LOVE the chalkboard idea too. Super-cute. What time is dinner?! I’ll be there in a snap! I’m in the B’ham area, you know 🙂
Rhoda I am so sorry about your cooktop but so happy it wasn’t more serious..I am also very forgetful, and like your reader Beckie I also have chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia and some days it’s all I can do to remember to get out of bed.
In the 32 years we have been married and especially when our sons were at home, I tried off and on to do meal planning,i am not very good at it. I am going to give it another whirl since we are disabled and on a real fixed income! I love the chalkboard, neat! Great idea..now would that work with a glass picture frame too as opposed to a mirror..I am guessing the chalkboard paint would work on regular glass too.
Rambling, so sorry..and yes, recipe exchange. I always need ideas, easy things that can be broken down to meals for 2..
Great idea Rhoda…I would love to join your party. Who couldn’t use a new recipe 🙂
Not really into menu planning….we kind of fly by the seats of our pants. Hubby is easy to please so whatever i make is Aokay with him.
Sorry about your glasstop, that stinks !!! Check out Ikea everyone is talking about them 🙂
Have you ever walked into a room and just stood there not remembering why you were there ??? That’s always fun !!! Love this aging thing….
All the best,
Kathy 🙂
What a fun way to let everyone know what’s for dinner!
Sorry about your mishap. I left a pan of grease on the stove once and it caught fire, lot’s of smoke damage. I was only in the 7th grade. It’s so easy to get distracted and forget. Thankfully it worked out well in the end and my mom got a kitchen redo that she had been wanting anyway.
I do some meal planning, but not regularly. The budget is very tight right now so I’m trying to use what I have in the freezer and pantry. It definitely makes a difference when I have a plan and know ahead of time what we’re having for dinner. It’s one less thing to have to think about!
Eek! I have a crack in my glass stove top as well. I have no idea how it happened either. I wonder if my 15 year old daughter knows and she’s just not telling me.
And re; the meal planning, I need a serious kick in the rear on that one! haha
I am picturing a healthy handful of M&Ms squished between two slices of soft white bread for your Friday meal. Am I close?!! Can I come for dinner?
Tracey
Hi Rhoda,
Thank you so much for your sweet visit this evening. It’s always nice to hear from you. I did remember when you won the rug from Darlene as well! I just love yours with the Zebra print. It’s fabulous! She does great work.
I’m so sorry about you stove top! Yikes! That is so expensive.
I’m glad Iwas able to get to your blog this evening. I had a very hard time getting it to open lately. I’m also happy to have found a new follower button for you. ~Whew! I just can’t navigate my blog surfing without one. Thanks for putting a new one up for us.
~Many blessings, ~Melissa 🙂
I would love to start meal planning. I bet I would spend a lot less time in the kitchen and grocery store. I think I may have to try it! I think it’s cute hanging up there in your kitchen too~
Rhoda I couldn’t get you blog feed when I followed with your new follower box. Hmmm.. I’ll try it again soon. ~Melissa 🙂
Love your menu board. It is adorable and so useful. I have not been doing much cooking recently, but I’m like you, I usually just fly by the seat of my pants when deciding what to fix for dinner. I need to do more meal planning each week myself. We will be eating at home more now that winter is around the corner. I like to hibernate in when the weather is cold and eat at home. A recipe swap sounds exciting! I love getting new recipes. Love & blessings from NC!
So sorry about your stove, I’m 50 and almost did the same thing last week. My 88 yr. old neighbor called to say her dog had just passed away, so I ran out of the house with a pot of pasta cooking. When I got back, I had a very burnt pan of pasta, but fortunately no stove damage.
NOTE: I do know that if you take the lid off a hot pot and lay it on a glass stove top, the moisture can make a suction and cause the glass to crack.
Rhoda, I am very worried at the prospect of you trying to cook on the part of that cooktop that is not cracked. I don’t believe that it is safe to try to use your stove right now. You might GOOGLE “danger in cracked ceramic cooktops” and see what you get! Might be much safer to use the microwave until you replace it. I am not a fan of them anyway….when I get the chance, I am replacing mine with gas burners! Too unpredictable for my taste when it comes to cooking temps! Good luck!
I don’t think they are as hot as a more traditional stove. I wish that I could get my husband to get me a gas stove but he has an irrational fear of it (or me) blowing the house up!