Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Rut

It seems I am in a bit of a cooking slump.

This happens to me a couple times a year. I get stuck in the grilled chicken, rice and green vegetable rut. Or more accurately, the bean burrito, turkey taco, scrambled egg, grilled chicken, rice and green vegetable rut. Oh yeah, and that same tired salad, with the same tired dressing.

The Boy gently told me last week that he couldn't remember the last time he had red meat, and "How come we always eat chicken all the time?"

Well, sweet Boy, frozen chicken comes in big, convenient, bags at the Costco, and red meat can be expensive, and eating it all the time isn't all that healthy, but I get what your saying...you are feeling my rut.

I think The Girl may be feeling it to. When she asked me 15 minutes ago what we were eating for dinner I told her Turkey Tacos. To which she sweetly replied (without skipping a beat), "Have I ever told you that I am taco intolerant?"

OK, I think I will pull myself out of that river in Egypt: Denial.

I am in a rut. I do like cooking but I have gotten out of my "Schedule-a-Two-Week-Meal-Plan". Doing this is both a time and money saver. But planning takes quite a bit of organization. Organization os always something I have to be intentional about doing. I think I need to make some time for meal planning.

So here's my goal, Dear Internets, I am going to take a chunk of time on Friday and plan.

Meanwhile, what do you do when you are in a cooking rut? This inquiring mind really wants to know!

7 comments:

June Cutoff Cash said...

You are talking to someone who eats Lean Cuisine five nights a week. What do I know? Your current menu sounds delish.

But let's talk about your daughter. Taco intolerant. Who do I love? She totally needs her own blog.

Do you like salmon? I know one good salmon recipe.

Lara said...

What to do in a rut? Go out to dinner!
What about homemade pizzas?

Megan O. said...

Have you ever gotten on allrecipes.com? It's fantastic! You go through a million recipes (which are categorized a million different ways (boy I'm obsessed with "a million"!)) and you can choose the recipes you want to put in your own "recipe box" and then you can ask it to create your shopping list for you. I love it. With just a few clicks of the mouse I can plan all the meals for the week and then print out the grocery list. Ta-dahhh!

Unknown said...

June, I love salmon, and the fam does too. I think I get blinded by the chicken...send your recipe over!

Lara, even the homemade pizza is getting tired. I was making it every Saturday night...although I am the only here at the La Vida household that is tired of it...of course nobody int he La Vida Household has to make it, so I think that makes a huge difference!

Megan,
I love allrecipes.com, but I had no idea it would make a grocery list for me! I am going to check that out TODAY!

All right y'all I know you are out there...talk to me.

meh said...

Dear Kellie,

I wish I could help but I just can't relate.
So just kidding!!
Jog on over to stewardshipliving.wordpress.com and check out some of the options on her menu's from the last few weeks.
And for heavens sake, feed the kids some red meat but not in the form of taco's!
Oh, and you might try the "global theme" night menu's...Italian, French, Canadian...wait, what cuisine is uniquely Canadian? Canadian Goose? Ok, I need help! I am starting to crack! Anyways,
Good Luck!

Blue Skies said...

I'm not in a rut but I'm trying to relearn how to make a balanced meal without any gluten. What has helped me out so far is allrecipes.com (and foodnetwork too but they aren't as user friendly). Planning menu's is a lifesaver for keeping us well fed and me un-stressed. Last night for us was honey-line Tilapia and roasted potatoes and squash. Yummy. I also really like to find shrimp on sale and have it steamed (or boil at home) and eat with a large salad and loaf of fresh Albertson's french bread.

June Cutoff Cash said...

Okay, sister, here it is. It is the only recipe I know by heart.

Mix dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar and brown suger to taste (I usually add more brown sugar than the other two). Slap your salmon in the mixture and broil it for however long you like to broil your salmon (I usually do it for 10 minutes). That mixture can smoke and get burny, so I use tin foil to place the salmon on.

I serve this with new potatoes and maybe some tomatoes cut up, but whatever. It's delish! And if you eat salmon you won't ever die, apparently.