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!

Chickpea salad inspired vegetarian fare

Another hot weather idea. Try this during the heat wave. Lots of protein and you can substitute your favorite salad dressing. This is a simple salad I make up in a big batch for side dishes or lunches or a filling snack.


Chickpea salad


1 can of Chickpeas
1 bunch of parsley ( i like flat leaf)
1/2 cup each of vinegar and oil
1/2 cup scallions or red onions
juice and zest of one lemon


Drain can of chickpeas.


remove leaves from stalks on parsely and mince with knife


cut onions in small slices or dice. Or leave them out.


mix all together with lemon and oil and vinegar.


Best the next day when chilled. ( Never lasts so long here.)

Vegatarian Son...anything but that

It's a mother's worse nightmare. The son dates a girl whose is a vegan and becomes a vegetarian. I don't have a lot of vegetarian recipes in my repertoire and am feeling challenged. Restaurants also pose a challenge.

Last night we ate the Falafel Hut in Upper Montclair. Middle eastern food and restaurants make vegetarian choices easy. This was a great place: we got a completely veg platter for $9 , hummous, baba gannoush, two salads, falafel and white sauce with a basket of pita. It took me a while to remember what it like to be in a middle eastern shop. I asked for tea and we got a fresh brewed black tea. Cinnamon scented, it came in tall glasses with sugar on the side. My son and I had a great time mixing the platter contents in the pitas and warming our hands on the glasses of tea. The TV was tuned to a station that was possibly Lebanese and there were men sitting relaxing drinking tea. It reminded me of the falafel shops in Manhattan although cleaner and more serene. everyone there was very warm to us: this could be a new favorite place for us.

When dining out with a vegetarian, there can be tension. A Mediterranean restaurant can be a great choice especially because the veg cuisine is authentic, not pretending to be a substitute for "real food". This place has all the common grilled and marinated meats as well: the shwarma etc. I hope this is helpful; I know it can be tough to balance carnivores and vegetarians in one household, one table or one restaurant.

In my future blog entries, I'll share my few recipes from this cuisine. For me , it is time to learn more.