Have a plan. That is my #1 tip for getting meals on the table. Just knowing what it is I’m supposed to be feeding my family at the end of the day takes a lot of the stress out of getting it on the table. Without a plan, you’ll be opening a box of pre-packaged something or other, or throw frozen pizzas in the oven every night, or find you have a steady diet of hot dogs and pork-n-beans. Or maybe you’ll be driving through the nearest fast food joint on your way home every night – that can be hard on the budget, the waistline, and your health.
So what does a woman do? Make a plan! But how? My friend Mystie has come up with a fabulously simple method for planning her meals. And she’s written it all down in a wonderful ebook. Simplified Dinners provides “plenty of options for simple but delicious home-cooked meals that require little preparation time and can be made out of a simply, frugally stocked pantry.”
“Limitations can bring freedom. The options available at any grocery store can be overwhelming and even stressful.”
Mystie’s plan is based on keeping the pantry stocked with basic ingredients and a set of recipe options that are broad and flexible. There are 16 different recipe groups which set the stage for a wide variety of meals as you plan out your menu.
Rather than a collection of recipes or a long list of how-to’s, Mystie has grouped recipes together by process – giving basic prep instructions at the top of the page and then several recipe options using different meats and/or sauces, seasonings, additions based on that one basic process. Simplicity with variety – love it!
The first things I tried after receiving Simplified Dinners were the recipes for calico beans, sausage penne and the flexible frittata. A thumbs-up for each one!
To purchase Simplified Dinners, click here to visit Simplified Pantry. While you are there you can even download a sample page of recipes!
There is also a gluten-free, dairy-free version of Simplified Dinners. While our family does not follow these dietary restrictions, we have many friends and family who do, so I am giving away one copy of Simplified Dinners: gluten free made easy. to one of my readers. Simply leave a comment below telling me your family’s favorite meal. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be announced on February 24.
Giveaway Now Closed
Congratulations to Alisa, Commenter #8!
The winner was chosen via Random.org and will receive a copy of the ebook Simplified Dinners: gluten free made easy, provided to me by the author.
{This is an ebook in pdf format and will be delivered as a download via the winner’s email address. I received a copy of Simplified Dinners from the author for my personal use- the experience and opinions shared here are 100% my own. You can read my full giveaway policy here.}
Although I’m not gluten or dairy free I love the idea of simplified meal plans! Thanks for sharing. I just found your blog through A Mama’s Story (and through your visit to my blog).
This sounds interesting! I think I would want both the gluten free and the regular. I have been eating less gluten and flour lately.
My family loves Lasagna- you’d think they were Garfield!! Here from the Grand Social and hope I win!!! BB2U
One of our favorite meals is Cream Cheese Chicken Soup. My daughter-in-law introduced it to us years ago (before she and our son were even dating!) and it is a favorite with everyone!
I agree with you that meal planning is essential. My planning is very simple, but it works for us. When I don’t have a rudimentary dinner plan (as happened a few times during our crazy autumn this year), things fall apart! I will check out the link…
P.S. I forgot to say “thank you” for your over-the-top kind comment on my blog post last week. (Taking a “selfie” is definitely out of my comfort zone!)
One of my extended family would be blessed by this so I am “throwing my hat in the ring” 🙂 Our hands-down fave is TACOS – my dad started us on them, then I made them regularly, and now this particular family is continuing the tradition – slightly modified for their new diet and still delish! 🙂 Thanks for a fun visit via the Grand Social.
Linda…I am so on board with you on the planning thing. I plan our meals out a week at a time to accommodate our weekly schedule. If I don’t, we are scrambling and eating healthy meals gets put on the backburner. Thank you for sharing info on Simplified DInners and for linking up at WJIM’s Monday’s Musings.
Quite interesting!
Thanks for sharing and dropping by me 🙂
Blessings 🙂
Just one favorite meal!? Well, as a family, I think it would be homemade pizza. Of course, we all have our personal favorites–and I don’t know that I’m actually capable of choosing one meal. 🙂
I started to plan weekly meals and have fallen behind! I need to get back on track, as this was a huge help! My brother and dad are both gluten intolerant so this would be awesome to share. As for my family our favorite meal is pork steak or fried chicken, yum!! Love the post Linda.
My daughter has to eat lactose free and her boyfriend is gluten intolerant. This book could be quite useful! We have several family favorites: Cincinnati Chili (let me know if you want the recipe this is not regular chili), enchiladas, ham and beans with cornbread, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken Caesar salads….
yes! I want the recipe! I recently heard about Cincinnati Chili, it was a new one one me. I’d love to try it on my family 🙂