September 30, 2010

Queen of the Castle: Week 39

For those of you playing along...(if you've just joined us you can get caught up a bit here) we are on week 39 of the book Queen of the Castle: 52 weeks of encouragement for the uninspired, domestically challenged or just plain tired homemaker.

This week's chapter is titled "How Can I Make Dinner When I'm Always in the Car?  Dinnertime Solutions".  In my opinion if you are asking yourself that question then the first thing you need to do is re-read chapter 38 and prioritize family activities!  Then think on the following ideas.

"If I'm not making the effort to provide a family dinnertime whenever possible -- even if it's frozen pizza and bag salad -- my family misses out on that connection of sharing the day's ups and downs.  We miss out on the habit (not to mention good manners) of learning to eat what's in front of us, rather than thinking life always includes menu options.  We miss out on the benefits of working together to clean up after a meal.  Mealtime is family time, plain and simple, and it's something I've realized I'm willing to be inconvenienced for."

"When meal planning think of which dishes you can prepare early in the day and reheat later; look for recipes with quick-cooking fish fillets, chicken that's already boned, vegetables that are precut.  Accept that you may have to put aside the Julia Child for now and go for 101 Ways to Make Magic with Cream of Chicken Soup."

"Break food prep into fifteen minute bursts...make dessert the night before."

"Make extra food on weekends and freeze if for the week ahead, or even the month."

My tips:

Make a meal plan!  It helps... A LOT!

Put a one dish meal in the crock pot the night before and stick it in the fridge.  The next morning let it sit for about 20 minutes and then turn it on slow for the day. 

- - -

"There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good.  This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?"  Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

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