What about Dinner?

Are you like me? Do you dread what to make for dinner? Is a stress you feel looming over you all day long? Yah I know the feeling. I used to stress about it all of the time and would often find that I forgot to take anything out to defrost or didn't have ingredients for this or that and I made the same old boring stuff over and over again. How do you fit it all into your day? I am a stay at home mom so I cannot speak for working parents but you have to feed your family right and well if you are like me your husband will likely come home and be hungry, not that he expects you to have dinner and a cocktail waiting for him while you have a cute little dress on, heels and fresh make up...although I am sure he would love to come home to that every so often (there is a thought), but onto what I was saying-Dinner! UGH! Well I have recently started trying new easy recipes, as in 20 minutes or less of prep-time or slow cookers. I have also been trying to plan a weeks worth of dinners. It really is not that hard to do-you get a sticky note and write the days of the week down-then go online to realsimple.com or similar site and look up 5 or so new recipes. Then on the other 2 days either do a pizza night or left-overs. Go to the grocery store on Saturday or Sunday or whatever works for you and have your list ready to go. Wow this has helped me tremendously as far as my stress level goes and when I do not plan ahead I feel the stress start all over again. So as annoying or time consuming as it sounds in the long run you will thank me. Try it for at least 2 weeks and see what happens. Plus you will save money on groceries when you plan ahead. It has helped me so maybe it will help you. 

Here is an example Week for me:

Monday: Chicken w/garlic orange slices and green beens

Tuesday: Slow cooker Chili

Wednesday: Steak w/chick peas & tomatoes

Thursday: Pasta with Shrimp

Friday: Pizza

Sat: Left Overs

Sunday: Pork Chops with peaches/onions 

Now I have recipes for all of these and I try to at least get two new recipes in a week to add flare and variety. My husband loves my new adventure in cooking and loves what I am making so again, that makes me feel pretty good. 

Anyhow just a thought-I am not perfect by any means and sometimes cannot stick to the plan for this reason or that, you know kids throw things off schedule a lot! But its worth a try.