General Daily Menu Planning Opinion

[mickeydownunder]

KellyMac6 wrote:
Hey all,

I love reading through everyone's menus on 'Zaar and I know that my week is less hectic when I have created one of my own. Sometimes though I struggle with creating a menu and then a just throw something together and when it gets time to pick what to make for the night I look at my choices like "what was I thinking with these pairings!?".

I am a little bit of a food snob, I love eating out and having a gourmet dining experience. I am at a point in my life right now where I have the time to spend on putting together dinner and I enjoy cooking and making different pairings. However, the menu planning process itself is overwhelming...I know when I have put together something good but I am never quite sure how I got there. Generally I plan a menu with 4 meal options not assigned to any specific day and that gives me the flexibility to choose what to make based on our schedule and things that come up.

My question for you all is how do you plan your menus? Does how you arrange your 'Zaar cookbooks make a difference? Do you worry about how foods are paired and what makes you determine how to pair things? Do you base your menu choices off of the groceries you have available/will be buying? Do you have any suggestions for me on how to develop some kind of formula to plan gourmet style menus quickly (nothing too crazy usually a main dish and a side dish and desert once a week)? Am I being too neurotic about the whole process lol??

I really look forward to hearing your feedback!

G'day and thank you for your posting (which I JUST saw!) I love your genuiness, honesty and letting us know you are a food snob (saying that affectionately lol)

I have arranged my Zaar (which food will always be known lol) cookbooks into various things that help me ie chicken, beef, lamb, pork etc...

I also have sauces, sides, desserts and have further cookbooks for parties I have done (I entertain ALOT throughout the year and always planning that next party! lol)

It is just what works for YOU!

I find something I have a craving for something ie an ingredient ie peanut paste/sauce etc

I find marinating meats in advance sometimes is Bali beef (can also use chicken) is FANTASTIC when it marinates overnight or even for two days

We are ONLY a two person household but reading and viewing some of what I cook and photograph, one would THINK we are a restaurant as I LOVE cooking a WIDE variety of colourfully exciting dishes to express my personality (OK, NOW who is being neurotic lol)

people in cooking classes used to make fun (in a good sort of way) and say "WITH Joanne aka mickeydownunder ...it is ALL about presentation" as even if I cook a dish for myself, I always make sure to take that extra time and care to plate up because I AM special too!

I KNOW alot of shortcuts on how to make healthy foods in advance too (as I don't always have the energy (based on health) at the end of the day too!

Meal planning and party planning is my forte...WISH we lived closer

There is no plan per se...but seriously, it is NOT as overwhelming as you think it might be!!

ALOT of things can be done in advance...then you have your gourmet /restaurant style quality!!

If you can give me a few specifics on what you class as gourmet and a few types of dishes, am more than happy to provide links and a menu...from me

WHOO HOO Thank you for asking...will now take a look at what others have said too!

[mickeydownunder]

BULK cooking with fresh ingredients not only saves money but is as health as can be

Can blanch veggies and freeze

as a starter

can't wait to hear back from the original poster so maybe we can help with a week's menu too!

WHOO HOO!

If would also be helpful with HOW much time (or not) a person has and always cook with what's the bottom line too...minimal wastage as wasting food is a pet peeve for me...buy fresh, not packaged ie string beans as only paying for the packaging

[brendaglover]

wow I admire your plan,your fantastc..good on you...Brenda

[brendaglover]

I still don't get it, I must be thick..I haven't looked at any menus so ill go look now.thanks Brenda

[Charmie777]

brendaglover wrote:
I still don't get it, I must be thick..I haven't looked at any menus so ill go look now.thanks Brenda

Let us know if you have any questions and we'll try to answer!

[brendaglover]

[i]
Thank you so much for being so kind..Brenda

[pb1316]

Hi sounds like what I am going through. Just wife and I now.
Well anyway, I usually check out the weekly ad's first and see whats on sale. .
Once I pick out the proteins I will buy. I gather the recipes and make sure I have the other ingredients before heading off to the store. I try to break up the menu ex. pork then maybe a pasta dish then chicken, fish etc. Kinda try to break up the week so we aren't eating chicken 3 times in a row. Beef is a once in awhile protein due to cost and health concerns so pork, chicken, fish are the main proteins. Pasta is another big item in the menu. Once I have settled on the main ingredient I move on to the side dish's. This plan has worked very well. I guess it also helps to have around 1000 recipes on file. I also like Slow cookers so if we are going out that day I can get something going early. And not worry about what to have when we get back.
Hope this helps. Need any recipes be glad to share them. I keep things simple and healthy.

[Charmie777]

pb1316 wrote:
Hi sounds like what I am going through. Just wife and I now.
Well anyway, I usually check out the weekly ad's first and see whats on sale. .
Once I pick out the proteins I will buy. I gather the recipes and make sure I have the other ingredients before heading off to the store. I try to break up the menu ex. pork then maybe a pasta dish then chicken, fish etc. Kinda try to break up the week so we aren't eating chicken 3 times in a row. Beef is a once in awhile protein due to cost and health concerns so pork, chicken, fish are the main proteins. Pasta is another big item in the menu. Once I have settled on the main ingredient I move on to the side dish's. This plan has worked very well. I guess it also helps to have around 1000 recipes on file. I also like Slow cookers so if we are going out that day I can get something going early. And not worry about what to have when we get back.
Hope this helps. Need any recipes be glad to share them. I keep things simple and healthy.

Sounds like a great system! Thanks for sharing.