Meal Planning

The year or so after I graduated from college and moved to North Carolina is when I learned how to cook.  I started by asking my mom to write down nearly every recipe she had made us growing up (I still call her to get clarification and tips on some recipes these days!).  Soon I began experimenting more with Food Network recipes and using produce from Farmer's Market with which I wasn't previously familiar.

Japanese and White Eggplant

In 2011, I made it my resolution to try one new recipe every week, and I reported that I made 64 new recipes that year.  (Click back to read the stats!)

The activity that allowed me to commit to trying new recipes was meal planning.  It helped me buy ingredients that would be used in a couple different recipes, and it (usually) saved me from staring into the fridge without a plan every night.  I found that much less food went to waste this way.

I still plan out meals nearly every week, leaving a bit of flexibility for the occasional spur-of-the-moment meet-up with friends or fits of extreme exhaustion/laziness.  Here is what's on the menu this week:

Tonight we're taking advantage of the lazy Sunday evening and the sunshine to grill Chili Lime Turkey Burgers inspired by Iowa Girl Eats.

I bought another vegetable-stand's worth of produce this week, too.  We'll grill up some of it tonight and use the rest to accompany our dishes through Thursday.

Grilled Vegetable Tacos via How Sweet Eats:

Penne Rosa with Shrimp--lightened up with yogurt instead of cream!

Panzanella Salad, also via IGE.  We enjoyed a similar salad at Beretta in the Mission this past weekend, and it was so refreshing!  Can't wait to make my own version:

And at the end of this yummy week, we're heading south for a family reunion!  I'm excited to report back...

Hope you have a great week ahead.