Cooking Confessions

First of all, I'm just posting this pic first because (a) all three people are looking at the camera and that is a major accomplishment around here and (b) I love these cute freshly bathed kids.

So, here goes my first goal/domestic/confessions post. Until about 2 months ago, our nightly dinner strategy had turned into a disaster. Basically, I bought a bunch of random stuff at the grocery store (every few weeks) and then I got home about with William (before Hazel was born) and tried to decide what to make. If you have ever tried to plan a meal and then actually cook a meal with a tired and starving almost 2 year old, you know this was a disaster waiting to happen. Usually, it ended in crying (mostly on William's part but I won't say I did understand how he felt). So, when Hazel was born, I decided we needed a plan.

I started planning all the meals for the week on Sunday and then actually buying the food that I needed to make those meals...I know, genius. And, I started using my crockpot regularly on the days that I work later. I really did not think this would make that big of a difference, but it has. I am less stressed because I know what's for dinner, I am cooking at home more, we are actually using the groceries we buy and therefore saving money. I put all the meals on our google calendar, so HJ can see what we're having, too. We have also instituted Pizza Night on Thursdays because a certain little someone LOVES his pizza, and he especially loves taking a walk to the pizza place in our neighborhood.

I know everyone elso probably already did this, but if you don't, I would recommend trying it for a while. Here are a few new recipes that we have tried and liked:

Baked Penne with Chicken and Sundried Tomatoes

Spinach and Brie Chicken

Curry in the Crockpot

Autumn Sausage Casserole

If you have any favorite (and relatively easy) recipes...please share!