Comments on: Organization in the Real Food Kitchen: Planning to Make Food Preparation Happen http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/02/organization-in-the-real-food-kitchen-planning-to-make-food-preparation-happen.html Naturally inspired living for the Christian homemaker Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:34:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rochellehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/02/organization-in-the-real-food-kitchen-planning-to-make-food-preparation-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-38333 Rochelle Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:25:36 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=3144#comment-38333 Wow! This is super helpful! I don't go into it in nearly as much detail as you do, but I really appreciate your list and tips!! :) .-= Rochelle´s last blog ..<a href="http://rochelle-learning-to-trust.blogspot.com/2010/02/eventful-saturday.html" rel="nofollow">An Eventful Saturday</a> =-. Wow! This is super helpful! I don't go into it in nearly as much detail as you do, but I really appreciate your list and tips!! :)
.-= Rochelle´s last blog ..An Eventful Saturday =-.

]]> By: Janethttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/02/organization-in-the-real-food-kitchen-planning-to-make-food-preparation-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-38312 Janet Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:43:51 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=3144#comment-38312 <a href="#comment-38114" rel="nofollow">@Molly</a>, Although I can usually be home during the day, I think the most important prep things can be done anytime, like thawing and soaking things. It's the actual cooking that is the biggest challenge when not home during the day! The two biggest things I can think of that would be helpful are the crock pot and pre-chopping. Since we try to eat a lot of veggies, I spend a lot of time chopping. If I can't be home in time to do this, I chop all the veggies I'll need and store them in bags or bowls in the fridge, then just dump them into whatever I'm cooking. I do have a similar situation for quantity, since we have teens that may unexpectedly be gone and young adults that may unexpectedly pop over. Something new I've been doing which has worked really well is to make enough for everyone who might be here. Of course that generates a lot of leftovers, but instead of just putting out leftovers more than once a week, I'm trying to do creative planning with the leftovers into a new meal, such as leftover ham being used for a baked potato bar, and leftover rice from stir-fry becoming a Spanish rice side dish. Each week, the first two meals are planned this way, which is a wonderful budget booster also! Of course, if you make enough new dish for everyone, at some point the system can break down, but I've found more often that it all comes out really well. @Molly, Although I can usually be home during the day, I think the most important prep things can be done anytime, like thawing and soaking things. It's the actual cooking that is the biggest challenge when not home during the day! The two biggest things I can think of that would be helpful are the crock pot and pre-chopping. Since we try to eat a lot of veggies, I spend a lot of time chopping. If I can't be home in time to do this, I chop all the veggies I'll need and store them in bags or bowls in the fridge, then just dump them into whatever I'm cooking.
I do have a similar situation for quantity, since we have teens that may unexpectedly be gone and young adults that may unexpectedly pop over. Something new I've been doing which has worked really well is to make enough for everyone who might be here. Of course that generates a lot of leftovers, but instead of just putting out leftovers more than once a week, I'm trying to do creative planning with the leftovers into a new meal, such as leftover ham being used for a baked potato bar, and leftover rice from stir-fry becoming a Spanish rice side dish. Each week, the first two meals are planned this way, which is a wonderful budget booster also! Of course, if you make enough new dish for everyone, at some point the system can break down, but I've found more often that it all comes out really well.

]]> By: Stephanie @ Keeper of the Homehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/02/organization-in-the-real-food-kitchen-planning-to-make-food-preparation-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-38239 Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:44:31 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=3144#comment-38239 <a href="#comment-38143" rel="nofollow">@Cara @ Health Home and Happiness</a>, Ah yes, that's a standard "mommy didn't plan well enough" or "mommy's all out of steam" dinner at our house too. Or grilled cheese with pickles. Another quick and easy favorite. Which we had for dinner tonight. Hmm... :) @Cara @ Health Home and Happiness, Ah yes, that's a standard "mommy didn't plan well enough" or "mommy's all out of steam" dinner at our house too. Or grilled cheese with pickles. Another quick and easy favorite. Which we had for dinner tonight. Hmm... :)

]]> By: alexishttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/02/organization-in-the-real-food-kitchen-planning-to-make-food-preparation-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-38171 alexis Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:58:35 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=3144#comment-38171 I love this so much, I just had to link to this post in my last blog post! thanks for some great tips! .-= alexis´s last blog ..<a href="http://happy2bahomekeeper.blogspot.com/2010/02/weekend-reading-link-love.html" rel="nofollow">Weekend Reading--Link Love!</a> =-. I love this so much, I just had to link to this post in my last blog post! thanks for some great tips!
.-= alexis´s last blog ..Weekend Reading--Link Love! =-.

]]> By: Cara @ Health Home and Happinesshttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/02/organization-in-the-real-food-kitchen-planning-to-make-food-preparation-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-38143 Cara @ Health Home and Happiness Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:30:40 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=3144#comment-38143 Planning is key, isn't it? I find the weeks I don't plan we have scrambled eggs and toast for dinner. A lot. ;) .-= Cara @ Health Home and Happiness´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.healthhomehappy.com/2010/02/review-omnivores-dilemma.html" rel="nofollow">Review: The Omnivore's Dilemma</a> =-. Planning is key, isn't it? I find the weeks I don't plan we have scrambled eggs and toast for dinner. A lot. ;)
.-= Cara @ Health Home and Happiness´s last blog ..Review: The Omnivore's Dilemma =-.

]]> By: Michellehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/02/organization-in-the-real-food-kitchen-planning-to-make-food-preparation-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-38141 Michelle Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:14:07 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=3144#comment-38141 I am enjoying your blog so much. There is so much to learn! I am taking baby steps in the right direction (I think!!). Thanks for the time and energy you put into these posts! .-= Michelle´s last blog ..<a href="http://simpleisasimpledoes.blogspot.com/2010/02/show-us-your-ministry-link-up.html" rel="nofollow">Show Us Your Ministry Link up!</a> =-. I am enjoying your blog so much. There is so much to learn! I am taking baby steps in the right direction (I think!!). Thanks for the time and energy you put into these posts!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Show Us Your Ministry Link up! =-.

]]> By: Nolahttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/02/organization-in-the-real-food-kitchen-planning-to-make-food-preparation-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-38134 Nola Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:35:51 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=3144#comment-38134 Great tips! I have an "after supper routine" that includes a checklist of all the possibilities...soak beans, get out meat, etc along with sweep the floor, do dishes, etc. etc. and that really helps. Great tips!

I have an "after supper routine" that includes a checklist of all the possibilities...soak beans, get out meat, etc along with sweep the floor, do dishes, etc. etc. and that really helps.

]]> By: Melissa Wingohttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/02/organization-in-the-real-food-kitchen-planning-to-make-food-preparation-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-38122 Melissa Wingo Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:43:49 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=3144#comment-38122 I recently changed my weekly meal planning from scribbling it on a piece of scratch paper (that was very hard to read) to writing it out nicely/legibly on a pretty piece of stationary. I place it on the fridge & it does not make me have anxiety just looking at it. I also date it & plan on keeping them for this time next year to have ideas ready. Melissa www.wingofam.blogspot.com I recently changed my weekly meal planning from scribbling it on a piece of scratch paper (that was very hard to read) to writing it out nicely/legibly on a pretty piece of stationary. I place it on the fridge & it does not make me have anxiety just looking at it. I also date it & plan on keeping them for this time next year to have ideas ready. Melissa

http://www.wingofam.blogspot.com

]]> By: Mollyhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/02/organization-in-the-real-food-kitchen-planning-to-make-food-preparation-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-38114 Molly Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:55:11 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=3144#comment-38114 You've inspired me to buy a whiteboard. Or maybe a chalkboard! :) One of my biggest issues is that my husband's work will often take him away unexpectedly in the evenings so I'm never quite sure who will be home (either to eat, and/or to help while I cook) for dinner. I work outside of the home all day, too, so that really shortens the amount of time I have in the kitchen. I guess the solution to that would be to make sure most everything I make can be frozen or saved as leftovers, I suppose....any suggestions? You've inspired me to buy a whiteboard. Or maybe a chalkboard! :)

One of my biggest issues is that my husband's work will often take him away unexpectedly in the evenings so I'm never quite sure who will be home (either to eat, and/or to help while I cook) for dinner. I work outside of the home all day, too, so that really shortens the amount of time I have in the kitchen. I guess the solution to that would be to make sure most everything I make can be frozen or saved as leftovers, I suppose....any suggestions?

]]> By: Wendy (The Local Cook)http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/02/organization-in-the-real-food-kitchen-planning-to-make-food-preparation-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-38106 Wendy (The Local Cook) Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:52:15 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=3144#comment-38106 I'm a big fan of my Living Cookbook program - it makes meal planning a breeze, prints grocery lists, and calculates nutrition info. .-= Wendy (The Local Cook)´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheLocalCook/~3/A1qPpSESlzQ/" rel="nofollow">Fit Jerk Friday: Quinoa with Spinach</a> =-. I'm a big fan of my Living Cookbook program - it makes meal planning a breeze, prints grocery lists, and calculates nutrition info.
.-= Wendy (The Local Cook)´s last blog ..Fit Jerk Friday: Quinoa with Spinach =-.

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