Here it is again... Dinner Time! This happens every day at the same time. Why does this daily event so often catch us unprepared?
Enter meal planning... But where to start?
I have several areas in the home that we keep our "stockpile". I organize my food by placing frequently used foods in the kitchen cabinets and small pantry that we have. We have a normal refrigerator up stairs, in the kitchen. The extra food is placed on storage shelves in our basement
... our stockpile.
Also in the stockpile are all my canning successes! There is also a chest freezer in the basement we use mostly for meats, frozen fruits and vegetables.
When the cabinets and freezer are looking full, I thank God for all the rich blessings he has given us! But I have to admit, it is hard to see past all those bags and boxes in the freezer which can get a little overwhelming. Hence the need to organize.
I will make a simple food list of what we have on hand. Your list can be handwritten, or if you are a organization geek like me... consider creating a sortable spreadsheet on the computer. I simply list the locations of where the food is kept as the header of each column and then fill in the food below. I add an area to mark off the food as I use it up.
When I am done, I am always surprised that there is enough food for several meals right here at home! We just needed to know where it was at.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31
I also keep a running list of frequently enjoyed meals to gather inspiration from. Here are some meal suggestions that we love to make:
- Balsamic Pot Roast
- Tater Tot Casserole
- Chicken Parmigiana
- Crock Pot Whole Chicken with Mashed Potatoes
- Spaghetti with Sweet Spaghetti Sauce
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Marinara Pasta Bake
- Broccoli and Cheese Soup
- Tacos made with Taco Seasoning
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
