So I’m now five days into my first week of trying to plan dinners ahead of time so as to avoid the dinnertime crazies. I’d had enough of trying to watch two young kids while trying to figure out what to make for dinner and then trying to actually make that dinner (I work so I don’t get to start dinner until it’s actually dinnertime; there’s no chance for me to do any prep earlier in the day since I’m not home at naptime (my oldest gave up napping a long, long time ago anyway!)).
I posted my first meal plan this past Sunday and, besides forgetting a few things at the grocery store, everything went really well. I followed through with my plan and made…
…Tortilla soup on Sunday…
…Pasta Florentine on Monday (no picture, but it was a very good meal and took MAYBE 20 minutes to make)…
…and burritos on Tuesday. I had a lot of fun making the tortillas for the burritos. I rolled them out on our dining room table while the girls played with playdoh. “J” kept asking if she could add some playdoh to the tortilla dough and “I” just ate the playdoh as if it was tortilla dough. Blech. These burritos (from The 30-Minute Vegan) were awesome. The cilantro is really what tied it all together; I wish I would have realized that years ago so I could have had awesome burritos all along! Live and learn? Also, when Columbus’ first Whole Foods opened 5 or so years ago, they had a fabulous burrito bar that my husband and I went to quite often. For reasons still unknown, they got rid of that burrito bar and replaced it with a grill-type food counter that my husband and I never eat at. The burritos I made reminded us instantly of those Whole Foods burritos and I am so glad to have been reminded. 
My meal-planning strategy also includes planning 3 days at a time rather than the whole week. I shop on either Saturday or Sunday for meals to be made on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. I shop on Tuesday for meals to be made on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Saturday meals will either be eaten out (or more likely taken out) or will be planned that day since I have a lot more wiggle room on Saturday for getting meals prepared. I did follow through with my Tuesday grocery trip and planned these meals for yesterday, today, and tomorrow:
Wednesday – Mom’s Veggie Chili from La Vida Veggie with this no yeast bread recipe from Veg Bon Vivant
Thursday – Meditteranean Hummus Wraps from The 30-Minute Vegan
Friday – Seeded Edamame Burgers from Veggie Burgers Every Which Way and Spicy Frites from 500 Vegan Recipes
I had a great time making Sarah’s Mom’s Veggie Chili last night.
Loads of delicious, chunky veggies!
It is definitely the most veg-packed chili I’ve ever made and it was delicious – in fact, I just finished another bowl for lunch! The no yeast bread could not have been any easier and it has this salty quality that is so satisfying. This bread was reminiscent of focaccia, but was as close to zero effort as any bread recipe I’ve ever made.
I’m really glad that my meal-planning is going well; my dinnertime stress-level is significantly less this week. I like, too, knowing ahead of time what I’m going to make because I like having good food to look forward to. For instance, I can’t wait to get home tonight both to see my kids AND to get started on making the hummus wraps!
If you feel like sharing, what is your favorite chili recipe? I usually don’t make chili from a recipe, so making Sarah’s Mom’s recipe was a happy departure from the normal for me. Do you use a recipe or just make it up as you go along?
cilantro makes mexi-eats soooooo much yummier. i never liked cilantro and always thought it tasted soapy, but then i just kinda sucked it up and started to like it by putting it in everything. i’m glad i did, ’cause i loooove it the most. cilantro and lime juice make so many of the soups we make yummier, too.
huzzah for sticking to the meal plan. 20 minute pasta florentine, you say?! w00t! that IS a crazy veggie packed chili! soooo yum! one of our favorite chilis is one we kinda made up ourselves BUT our second favorite is this cold summer chili: http://haymarket8.blogspot.com/search/label/summer%20chili (we reduce the oil to 1 tbsp, use only white beans, and leave out the nooch).
All your meals look so awesome! When I used to do our meal planning– back when I actually made dinner– I would plan some nights as leftover nights. Have you thought of doing that to give yourself a night off? It also saves some money on groceries since you don’t have so many separate ingredients to buy. You could also make a big batch of something on the weekend when you have more time to enjoy later in the week. I’ve never been a working mom, but I bet dinnertime is chaotic since you haven’t seen your kids all day and you need to make dinner.
To answer your question, I generally just wing it when I make chili. I like to make it in my slow cooker since it’s so convenient to cook in.
I’m so glad you liked the chili!! It is one of my favorite meals not only because it’s super yummy, but it reminds me of home
This is the only chili that I’ve followed a recipe for and after making it a zillion times, I do mix it up by using whatever is left over in the fridge.
I agree with your choice to meal plan for only a few days in advance. Life throws too much at ya and it’s a shame to have good food go to waste because you couldn’t use it in time.
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That all sounds delicious… My favorite sort of chili is one loaded with veggies, too! Man, I wish I could come over to your place for dinner.
weeeellll, if it’s not from the box (Fantastic Foods), then I make it up as I go along. Not too spicy for the kids. And if I want my middle child to eat it, it can’t have chunky tomatoes. He will pick them out, though. I like chili best when it has an assortment of beans.
It’s really hard to get to a place of loving to cook when you’re having to take care of all of your children’s and house’s other needs – at least, it is for me. Good job with the food plan.
Jenny – I think that Fantastic Foods chili is actually quite good! I hear you on the chunky tomatoes, though. Kids and eating – oy vey!
Hannah – You’re always welcome, but you have to bring dessert!