Meal-planning

Clara has been attacking my computer at every opportunity lately and the "F" key is sticking now such that I have to hammer on it in order for that consonant to show up.  So if this post has loads of typos (particularly ones where there is an "f" missing from a word"), please forgive. 

Lately, I've had a lot of people ask me what I am going to do with all my time now that I have joined the ranks of the stay-at-home-mom's.  This question always made me snort a little when I got it at the office.  Honestly ... I am going to play with Clara, feed her lunches, take her to the park or on walks, make sure she gets good naps, etc.  But since she IS a good napper, I anticipate having a little extra time on my hands during the day.  With that time I plan to weed the garden and yard, clean our house (which is filthy after months of neglect), make sure the dishes are wished and the bed is made every day, blog, develop photos, exercise, magnify my church calling with the Beehives, etc.  You know - homemaking kind of stuff. 

In the near future, we have visitors coming from out of town to stay with us, all sorts of stuff that has to be done to be approved for our next adoption profile, house projects to work on or plan for, Clara's 1st birthday to plan, and so on. 

In the spirit of homemaking and all, I sat down and planned out all of our dinner meals for the next six weeks.  We probably won't stick to the plan rigidly, but it helps me to know what I am going to make in advance and not have to come up with something last minute.  I eat healthier that way and do better with grocery shopping and budgeting too, since I can revamp our meal-plan based on the grocery circulars with whatever meat or produce is on sale.  My intention is for us to eat vegetarian at least once a week (V), eat fish once a week (F), and eat red meat no more than twice a week.  I also want to expand my repetoire of dishes so it doesn't feel like we are eating the same old thing all the time.  Here is the plan to get us through the first week in May:

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	Coconut Chicken Satays with pan-seared brussel sprouts	Pan-fried trout with bok choy and orange-coconut salad (F)	Tacos	Black Bean Quesidillas (V)	Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Ceasar salad	Eat Out
Chicken Pot Pie (Pioneer Woman recipe) with salad and broccolini	Noodle Stir Fry (V) (Our Best Bites)	Spicy Honey Chicken Thighs with Mango salad (Out Best Bites)	Leftover spicy honey chicken with coconut rice and brussel sprouts	BLT’s	Morrocan Fish with cauliflower and carrots (100 days of real food website)	Hamburgers
Fajitas	Apricot Pork Chops	Breakfast for dinner	Salmon with fruit salad and homemade garlic breadsticks (F)	Chicken enchiladas	Caprese Panini (V) (100 days of real food website)	Eat Out
Grilled pork tenderloin with applesauce and grilled asparagus	Corn chowder with fruit	Black beans and rice with brussel sprouts and a side salad (V)	Grilled Cajun chicken sandwiches	Meatloaf with twice-baked potatoes & Caesar salad	Pasta with fresh spring peas and asparagus (V)	Arroz con Pollo (tica-style)
Steak with broccolini and red jello with bananas	Grilled shrimp with wild rice and green beans (F)	Homemade mac & cheese (V)	Taco Salad	Leftovers	Chicken stir-fry with Thai peanut sauce	Eat Out
Lasagna (Our Best Bites) with side-salad and garlic bread	Leftovers	Chili with cornbread	Stuffed zucchini	Fried chicken	Order Pizza	Southern chicken salad sandwiches

I made the Coconut Chicken Satays with pan-seared brussel sprouts last night and it turned out delicious.  Paul was raving and told me that it was one of his favorite things I have ever made, which is saying something for somebody who previously thought he hated brussel sprouts. 

Other things that happened on my first official day of work back on the job as a SAHM included bringing in garbage cans, running just one mile at the gym (I knew Clara would freak out going to the daycare there since we haven't been since she was 6 months old so I kept my run short so I was only gone for 10 minutes - I think right now she panics when I leave her because she thinks that I will be gone for the rest of the day and I am hoping that she catches on that I might leave for a short bit but that I will come back soon), walking to the bank to deposit a check then walking to the supermarket to pick up some dinner items, trip to Costco, laundry, baked bread (in a bread machine), and made fresh strawberry jam. 

And I loved every minute of it.