Day 12 ~ Making Dinner Easy (or Easier)

Planning for dinner is an important time saver and helps me to serve my family better. On Day 8 I discussed the fact that sometimes I just don't wanna make meals for my family. Planning takes some of the work out of making meals. I also suggested on Day 10 that family meals together are important. Family meals are only possible in this house if I plan.


Monday (Boy Scouts) - Oven Roasted Chicken, Red Potatoes and Carrots 

All the prep was done the night before when I attended a 10 Meal Workshop in which we prepared meals for the freezer. I kept this one out so that we could have it Monday night. I put it in the oven at 4:45 pm and it was ready at 5:30. Out the door at 6:20!

Tuesday (Bible Study) - Creamy Chicken and Noodles 
After lunch clean up I cleaned the meat off of three pieces of chicken that were left over from Monday night's meal and cut up some broccoli. At 5:20 pm, with one daycare kiddo left, I put the broccoli in a pan to steam, put a pot of water on to boil for the noodles and started the cream sauce. At 5:30 the kids set the table and I finished dinner. Out the door at 6:15 pm

Wednesday (Church) - Pork Roast with Carrots and Potatoes
As I made lunch (left over chicken and noodles) I washed potatoes and carrots. Put the veggies in the crock pot and added a pork roast. Turned the crock pot on. Done. Dinner ready at 5:30 pm and out the door at 6 pm.

Thursday (Home!) - Stew (from Wednesday Leftovers)
Although this would typically be a night that I could spend more time in the kitchen, I'd rather use up the leftovers. Shred up remaining pork, chop up remaining carrots and potatoes. Make a white sauce/gravy (basically my white sauce with the pork juice collected from yesterday's roast) while stew is warming up. Add gravy and serve with bread (because buttered bread dipped into stew is so yummy!)

Fridays and weekends vary. Sometimes we have a special dinner on Friday night but once in awhile we'll head down to the local grill for dinner. Sunday dinner is usually on the lighter side as we have a big family lunch at The Farm (my parent's home).