I saw this clip on saving money on food/eating during the holiday season. ‘use an app to save money’...REALLY???? Brainless.

HERE IS THE TRUTH. MAKE A PLAN. BUY FOR THE PLAN.

if you have the fixings , you can get a meal together quickly.

Let me show you.

Menu

tonight salad, pasta, meatballs.

tomorrow night chicken and dumplings

next night ravioli and salad

following night chicken tortilla soup

friday...takeout!!!! you deserve it!!!!

shopping list

favorite pasta

favorite sauce in jar (2)

can of diced tomatoes

favorite ravioli

fresh chicken pieces, enough for two meals

Bisquick (recipe on box)

bag of frozen meatballs

bag of frozen corn

salad stuff, i like romaine, baby carrots, grape tomatoes, shredded cheese

carrots, celery, onion (for chicken & dump.)

cilantro

2 boxes of chicken broth

salad dressing

tortilla chips

EXECUTE

Tonight

make salad

cook pasta

heat meatballs in sauce

tomorrow

big pot:chicken,carrots onions celery

prepare Bisquick dough

add dumpling to pot (directions on box)

third night

cook ravioli

make salad

heat sauce

fourth night

leftover and remaining chicken, boil with box of broth
(if using bone in, after 45 min pull any bones etc)

make salad

add diced tomatoes corn maybe celery and onion,

serve with cilantro, cheese, tortilla chips in the soup bowls

Dinnertime stress is epic, this plan will kill it. Try it, it works!

Life hack

Hacking is usually associated with computers, the internet and software. Life hacking refers to any productivity trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method to increase productivity and efficiency, in all walks of life; in other words, anything that solves an everyday problem of a person in a clever or non-obvious way. Thanks wiki!

There are two famous sites(both called lifehack) that tally the newest hacks http://www.lifehack.org/  and  lifehack.com  I have accumulated some myself. I want to share them in this blog because DinnerSmith is really a major life hack. Having a personal chef service is not a lottery dream. We will work for any family at family sized rates. The hack is that the kitchen stays clean and dinner gets served up healthy and yummy. Like sending out the dry cleaning, Every day dinner can be done be us and enjoyed by the family. No need to iron every shirt, or chop every vegetable.

One of my favorite hacks is zip lock bags. If they get used and are still cleanable. i give a wash and set in drainer to dry. I put a few in my luggage for traveling. I put tights in them, hair clips, underwear, little white socks. always a few for the dirty laundry. In my every day handbag  I use them to keep iphone cords in one place. or pens and pencils. Zip lock baggies : one of my favorite little organizing tools.

Resolution: Make a weekly menu

Resolution: Eat better meals, eat more vegetarian

When I have a full pantry and frig, it is so much easier to make dinner. When I start the week with a rough menu, shop with the list based on that menu, it all seems easier, quicker and less stressful. Most people don't make a menu for the week or even shop with a list. There isn't a lot of support out there for that kind of organizing. Certainly no one ever reminds me about my planning and list making.

In my work at DinnerSmith, I got to see what that kind of planning does for families especially for moms. Mostly I have a conversation with the regular customers once a month where we planned the month. We try to balance favorites and proteins. It is so easy to add some vegetarian meals and some fish or seafood meals when making a list of 20 meals for the month.

Try it this week. Think of 10 meals you would might want to have. Balance the proteins by adding more. Look for synthesis: ground beef and tomatoes diced might into chili and spaghetti with meat sauce. Leave out new (I-never-tried-this-before) recipes. Make your shopping list: adjust in store for sales or unreasonable pricing. I won't pay $5 a pound for beef steak.

At home, do some prep while putting away. Cut some veg or onion and freeze chopped and ready to use. Divide the meat in to meal size. Post your possible menu on the frig. Starting from ten possibilities, there could be seven left.

I think it is easier to plan dinner in the morning if I know everything is there ready to cook. I can look at the menu, make a choice and on the way home think about cooking and prepping, Or ditch the whole thing and order Chinese. I am not forced to get Chinese because there is nothing else. I choose!

Happy New Year!