Eight Mouths

   It was gradual, and I can't say that no one warned me but all of a sudden I noticed that can't keep enough food in the fridge. It must be the fact that everyone has been running outside the first chance they get to run their little legs off. Well, poor dears, they know if they stick around Mama they'll get chores and orders written up quick. Spring is here and there is lots to do outside. But my kid's appetite has doubled this year it seems!
   Going to the grocery store is something I look forward to once every two weeks or so. Friday I about panicked thinking I might have to start going out once a week! I'm going to have to start couponing, I need to get that garden going! I can't be messing my week up going out!
   Change against my will might prove me wrong-husband right. He reminded me that morning of panic how smoothly meal prep went when I had a plan, a menu. I actually am a real loser when it comes to all this . My sister knows every meal she is going to make for the week. A blog that I follow, the lady knows a month in advance what she is going to cook each day- I should listen to her, she had eight children! Not me, somehow it crimps my style, inhibits my artistic form, causes me to sabotage order and scorn premeditation. What if I don't feel like making tuna noodle casserole on Tuesday like my list so dogmatically informs me. Ok, tuna noodle is going to far, and true if I didn't have that presupper panic every day it would free me up for more fun things, like folding laundry or cleaning the basement. Now I wouldn't want to miss out on that!
   Good ideas are just good ideas, they should be followed, but why do I resist so? Every now and then I try and reform, Make a menu, shopping list etc. Then I pick my favoritely priced grocery store: #1 plan wrecker- Aldi, BECAUSE  I can get through that store in 15 min. no price comparison, same stuff most of the time, and not much selection. I have it down, if I get the same'ol same'ol I know about how much I've spent. Then out in the truck I think, I don't feel like going into another store for special ingredients. "Lets make do." I never thought I would quote Scarlet O'Hara saying, " I'll worry about that tomorrow!"
  Of course, I don't have to do it that way, it's my bad habit. So I diligently sat down and wrote out a menu-Jessica style. It is true, with the cooking planned out I should have some of the stress removed from my day. Shop accordingly (now twice as much as before), plan meals where there isn't any waste with  veggies going bad.
  So Bryon, here is my plan, this gives me freedom to cook according to my moods-with as few pots as possible in as little time as I can possibly manage. By the way, I won you over by how quick I could put a lasagna together with 5 min. warning. You didn't say it was the taste or the looks (of the lasagna) that impressed you, but I know, with men and food, time matters. 
                 Chow Schedule                                   
Monday:    
Breakfast- millet
Lunch- left-overs from Sunday
Supper-  An egg dish
Tuesday:    
B.- breakfast burritos
L: - sandwiches
S.- soup and salad 
Wednesday:
B.- cream of wheat
L.- wing it
S.- bean burgers or sietan patties w/ steamed veggies 
Thursday:   
B.- rice                                                                  
L.-sandwiches                                                        
S.-Mexican
Friday:    
B.-oatmeal
L.-leftovers
S.- homemade Pizza night
Saturday  
B.-waffles or pancakes
L. hashbrowns and veggies
S.- skip! popcorn?
Sunday 
B. cold cereal or cobbler
L. Mashed potatoes, salad, the works
S. skip if no one notices.

   If I plan ahead, I will be able to have my beans and grains for breakfast and bread on to soak the night before with-out last minute thinking. I'll stick to it as long as I can, sweetie, I promise. Hold me to it.