I Hate Planning/cooking Dinner--need Help Please

I made a list of meals that my family likes (35 at the moment) with the ingredients listed. Then I choose meals from this list. This way I have meals I know are liked and can rotate them so boredom doesn't set in. I have very simple meals like corndogs and salad and a little harder meals like clam chowder. This way I can mix it up as far as how complex the meal is and how expensive. When you list the ingredients make sure you are making enough servings for your family. My recipes usually have enough to make lunch for the next day. This helps to stretch my grocery budget as well.

I'd like to suggest a cookbook I found called "A Dinner a Day" it has a full dinner plan (main,sides,dessert)for every weeknight of the year. The best part is it has weekly shopping lists and you can easily cross things off the list that you don't plan on making. Each dinner plan has step by step instructions to complete the whole meal. They planned a variety of items each week, fish, poultry, vegetarian, etc. and chose seasonal items to cut costs. All of the salad dressings you make yourself and they are so easy. Check it out, good luck. This really takes all the thought process out of what to make for dinner, I found it to be a big time saver as well, I made a copy of the shopping list each week to take to the store. They say if you make something your family doesn't like tell them they don't have to eat it again all year!

www.flylady.net gives good direction on general maintenance of a home which will lead you to savingdinner.com. I'm not recommending purchasing her menus, but using her site as a guide.

With a 5 and 3 year old, as well as a 7 month old, I've been using Super Baby Food book to make foods for the whole family, including our newest one. It's tough because I only get down-time when they sleep and they don't always sleep at the same time--that's a challenge plus my husband comes home late and works weekends.

Couple ideas . . .

1. Write down family friendly/favorite meals (breakfast can be dinner too) and set-up a 3-week rotation. Be sure to include ALL ingredients, even items you normally have on hand - just in case you run out.

2. Make each week-night same but different. For example, Mondays are taco night, but it can be beef, chicken, fish, show up as nachos or turn into burritos. Tuesdays are pizza night (1/2 cheese for the kids) with an array of toppings depending on my mood (plain salami or Thai chicken).

3. Over cook. If making taco filling or pasta sauce or anything that will freeze well, it's just as easy to double or triple the recipe and freeze portions for later.

4. Take an afternoon to prep. It sounds daunting at first, but if you prep your food in advance, you'll be more likely to WANT to cook. I usually do it on the day I do my shopping. Divide up the chicken breasts, and cube, filet or marinate what I need for the week. I will also peel and cut up carrots and celery sticks (easy snacking and easier to chop and add to salads).

5. I keep two main recipe binders - 1 for family favorites - tried and true and another for recipes I want to try in the future. Save these for the weekends when you have more time!

K.,
Well you're in luck I love to cook and have a lot of recipes that are easy and taste good. I used to even make my son's baby food. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not the perfet type, I take short cuts as much as I can.
If you would like email me at ____@____.com and I will give you a few tips and recipes.

S. - a stay at home mom of one precious boy of 4yrs. and a stepdaughter of 11yrs.