MEAL PLANS FOR THE MODERN COOK

I was eating 1 week old canned pears with a brownie for brunch today after a busy work week of 2 weekend nights and 3 early days, about 50 hours of work and 8 hours of commute, averaging 5.5 hours of sleep. It was not my worse moment, but not my finest.

So when I chatted with a friend, she offered her solution that had worked for her and her husband the last 3 months: a meal planning site called the Fresh 20. The title refers to the idea that each week you only have to shop for 20 ingredients, and they vary according to season. If you are a member, you have access to archives that date back at least 5 years. One year costs roughly $99US.

Earlier this summer, another friend had signed up for a grocery basket called évoilà5 that would feed her family of four for about $132 for 5 meals, but she was going to downgrade it to the $92 2-3 portions basket because she felt it was too much food.

Maybe I should consider these options soon. I keep working on a menu planner, but live meal to meal some days. I also see all my cookbooks and wonder what would happen if I worked my way through them. So many of us use a handful of recipes from a book and no others.

It's also been a rough summer in a hot house. Maybe the solution is a heat pump.

Lots to consider, but cobbled together a meal tonight in 20 minutes that lacked vegetables but contained vegetable protein and iron enriched pasta, with some redeeming qualities. I do miss the option of my friend's catering from home: Coeur d'amandes has gone off line. :(

If grocery shopping doesn't inspire tomorrow, I might just order pizza. Just kidding! I am gourmet girl! I can do better!