Here in the middle of wheat country, harvest is upon us. That means all hands on deck. Folks get up before dawn and go to bed long after the sun sets. It’s a crazy busy time that brings a community together, produces hungry people and puts me in my element.
Feeding folks is what I do. I love it. It must be a family tradition…
The first part of my life we lived on a ranch in the Sandhills of Nebraska, with a bunkhouse full of cowboys. Mom had three kids…bing (early 1970) bang (early 1971) boom (late 1972). Dad always said 1972 was when they got the TV. That’s funny right there. (Actually, I counted it back and I’m guessing it was Valentines Day. Who knows. I wasn’t there. Well, I was…but…oh never mind.)
Anyway, my mom had three young ‘ens (some in cloth diapers) to chase and a house full of cowboys to cook for. Dad told Mom, ”It doesn’t matter what you cook, just make sure it’s hot and you have a bunch.”
It doesn’t matter what kind of crew you’re cooking for, you still have to answer that looming question every mom loathes…What’s for dinner?
Since I hate to shop, I plan my menus two weeks at a time for the harvest crew and for my family. Here’s what the harvest crew menu looks like.
When making a menu I think about how busy my shedule is that day. If I don’t have time for a five course meal because of other commitments, it’s good day for a 30 minute meal. This is also a good time to know what’s on sale. So I keep my calendar and grocery store’s flyer handy. If I don’t have a flyer, I look it up online.
I also try to think about the basic food groups and try to plan a serving of protein, a starch, a veggie, and fruit for every meal. It’s been said I spoil the guys with homemade bread and desserts throughout the week. I don’t call it spoiling. I call it job security.
From the menu, I make a grocery list. This is where I take inventory of what they already have and get out any recipes that I might be using in the next two weeks. In my world, recipes are just suggestions, not written in stone. Does that surprise you?
Then I go shopping, with a full belly, a bottle of water, a cooler and a great attitude. Or not. If I need excitement in your life, I skip the good attitude and my shopping trip will end up like this one. Did I mention I’m far from perfect?
Now that I have a plan, I know what I need to thaw out or prep for tomorrow. The extra effort it takes to plan ahead is worth it. Who wants to answer the question “What’s for dinner?” every day anyway? Not me.
Oh my little Rhoda’s…are you ready to cook? The harvest dam is fixin’ to break.
Stand by,
Sis
Tags: cooking from scratch, grocery shopping, home cooked meals, meal planning, menu planning, saving money at the grocery store, Simple Eats, what's for dinner
You’re so good at this!
I’m looking forward to not having to make meals around ball practice and games. We’re getting a break soon.
(but, not for long)
Ball games and life, the two hardest things to plan for.
Thanks for your kind words–it’s like you used to say about having kids. The more you have the less you know. I think meal planning is the same way…I guess it’s a journey and not some place you arrive.
Sis
[...] made a plan, followed it…for the most part…and even took a few pictures. Here we are at the end [...]