I am so glad to hear this. I really want to work on my planning even if it is really someone else’s.
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What a great attitude. Mine definitely needs some adjustment.
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I read the Weekly Menu Planning and What’s For Dinner to get new ideas for my meals. Also the Dish of the Month and Cookbook of the Month are good for this too.
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You should be a writer yourself!!
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I get a CSA bin weekly, which actually helps me with planning since it narrows the options out there to ingredients we are going to have on hand and need to use up. Weeks when I am starting with a complete blank slate, it is a lot more overwhelming. Knowing what meat/protein is on sale or in excess in the freezer helps too. Plus a spreadsheet of "meals we like " and “meals to try” helps.
Takeout and delegating a meal also helps 
I’m no expert, but this works for us.
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Ok, I’m going to try to report again… still with family who doesn’t plan ahead, so actuals for now, till I’m back to my own planning!
By way of update, it’s been quite a year so far. My visit home got lengthened by a massive move (out of an ancestral home that’s been continuously lived in for almost a century), COVID for all as soon as my parents’ isolation bubble was opened to let the packers in, stalling to recover, moving, starting to unpack, moving to their second home for the rest of the family coming in for a flying visit over spring break — the first time we were all together in almost 2.5 years, mom turned 80, nephew turned 16… phew!
This week was with the nephews, so meals were all their favorites from home and out.
Sat - My brother’s last night in town. Mom made her signature mutton roast for sandwiches (family travel tradition) with my grandmother’s pan-roasted potatoes. We also had cutlets (like lightly spiced burger patties), and the vegetarians had North Indian takeout from the club (mainly so they could eat butter naan.)
Sun - Cheesetoast (grilled cheese in a pie iron) for some, my mom’s cauliflower cheese for the rest. There’s magic in her hand…
Mon - We ate at the club after tennis — most had North Indian food (again mainly as a butter naan vehicle), I had mushrooms on toast (and fresh sugarcane juice, the real star of the show).
Tues - Pizza! Nephews were craving it, everyone was happy to eat it.
Wed - Big lunch out for the kids’ penultimate day — dim sum at their favorite (fancy) spot. Dinner was Mac & Cheese — intended to be takeout, but that version was awful so I made some quickly using mom’s shortcut recipe.
Thurs - Kids’ last day. Everyone ate what they would miss most till the next visit, which was an interesting spread 
. My mom made khichdi (rice and lentil “risotto”) plus we ordered in sweet corn soup, spring rolls, and egg fried rice (from the same chinese place as the day before) for one kid, the other wanted chilli cheese toast with the local cheese, which I made for him. The adults ate pea pulao also made by my mom at my SIL’s request.
Fri - Food coma after they left. We finished the pea pulao with assorted bits and bobs from the fridge.
Sat - More leftover clearing — I made pan-fried noodles topped with a doctored version of three different dishes, plus black mushrooms and shrimp. Very tasty for an odd amalgam.
Sun - Mom’s signature lamb trotter soup, which is amazing (and I had not eaten in several years).
I’m so glad this community regrouped here – I hope as everyone settles in you’ll explore more of the site and get to know more people!
(Also, it’s so great to be able to easily cross-link discussions, tag folks so they see it, bookmark things, upload pics and galleries, use emojis, and so on – I think you’ll all be glad for the tech improvement!)
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It sure sounds like it! Thanks for the update, I am sure I wasn’t the only one who was curious. 
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I get a weekly CSA box as well. I love the surprise aspect of it and figuring out ways to use what’s included. Unfortunately, we still have at least 2 months to wait for our first box.
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Hi, friends. I returned a few hours ago from my weekend away with my girlfriends, which was great for Friday night (beach at sunset, followed by drinks and dinner in an igloo!) and Saturday morning (amazing breakfast burritos). However, as we were getting organized to leave for a walk on the beach Saturday afternoon, I tripped on the track for the sliding door to the porch, and went flying through the air… I landed on my twice-repaired knee - which is fortunately okay - but broke the big toe on my other foot. So now I’ve got a fancy boot and a referral to ortho for this coming week. We revised our plans for the rest of yesterday and had a Cards Against Humanity marathon instead, while we grazed on pastries and mimosas. It was nice to get away, aside from the flying leap.
In other completely unexpected news, DS came home from school on Weds and announced that he was going to audition for the middle school’s upcoming one-act plays. He’s actually fairly excited about auditioning, and I have NO IDEA where this came from. Fingers crossed for him! (The “parent contract” asks whether the kid wants a big, medium, or small part, so he’s not worried about getting a bigger role than what he wants. That’s if he even gets cast.)
Plans for this week, which I might need to rearrange a bit, are as follows: (feeding two adults and an 11yo in the Boston burbs)
Sun: lasagna, garlic bread, salad. DH and DS are going to the movies (DS’s friend’s birthday party, parents rented the theater so DH gets to go too) so dinner will be a little late.
Mon: turkey burgers, fries, green beans
Tues: Korean steak/rice bowls - someone shared this on CH and we got asparagus in the produce box last week. https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/korean-rice-bowl-with-steak-asparagus-and-fried-egg-358210
Weds: chicken and broccoli pot pies (based on a Giada recipe)
Thurs: lasagna 2.0
Fri: tbd
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Oh no! So sorry about your toe. Aside from that your weekend sounds like so much fun. And good luck to DS with the audition.
A big lasagna sounds just perfect.
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OH NO!!! Truman! I’m so sorry!!!
(I’m glad that you had a fun weekend regardless - and feel better!)
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I’m so happy to hear your report but holy crap, what a year. At least you’re eating well!
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Nice to see everyone!
This plan may change depending on what’s available at the market. Cooking for two adults in San Francisco.
Sunday: 4 cheese tortellini and spinach soup / steamed asparagus with prosciutto, aged balsamic and olive oil
Monday: harissa roasted cauliflower steaks / falafel with tahini sauce / cucumber and tomato salad
Tuesday: mussels with chorizo / crusty bread / red leaf salad with fried chickpeas and homemade Catalina dressing
Wednesday: braised rabbit with morels and pearl onions / spring vegetable medley of asparagus, fiddleheads, favas and peas– this will be my first time cooking rabbit at home.
Thursday: fried fish sandwich with tartar sauce – I will attempt a good version of the filet-o-fish sandwich with all homemade ingredients except for the cheese.
Friday: char siu bao / green beans with black bean and garlic sauce
Saturday: seafood gumbo
On this first day of Spring 2022, I wish you all peace and good health!
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Watching the fresh asparagus references come in from those in warmer climes has me salivating. I can hardly wait for our turn!
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Reporting actuals for Mar 14 week, cooking for 2 in MN. Happy Spring! Walks outside in light jackets today, snow forecast for later this week. Restaurant meals out are happening much more often now - lunch Monday with friends not seen in more than a year, Saturday date-night with husband, and we’re both looking forward to tomorrow’s visit and restaurant meal with a friend who moved out of state.
Mon -Reheat slow cooker BBQ ribs, cheesy grits, pear half w/ cottage cheese, strawberries, Shared Pie slices – Key Lime and French Silk
Tues noon - Chicken & white bean chili (half recipe), (Schwan’s frozen) biscuits. Dessert – shared pie slices. The fresh lime to finish the chili is essential for us
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/white-bean-chili-0
Tues evening - Reheat Sirloin, green beans and penne pasta in a balsamic & dijon mustard sauce. Crackers. Fresh fruit – grapes, strawberries, cara cara orange
Wed - Salmon, parm rissoto (box), peas
Thurs - Chicken Marsala (refrigerated packaged meal) over bow-tie pasta, fresh orange
Fri - reheat Chicken Marsala & bow ties
Sat -OUT - used a generous gift card from Christmas and have enough left on it for a weekday lunch (or just desserts, since those always look good but we seldom have appetite left to order…). Breaded mushrooms, grilled shrimp, loaded baked potato, broccoli. Beer. We split the appetizer and a single meal and still brought home half of each and enjoyed that for Sunday lunch.
Sun (today) - Chicken Livers & mushrooms in white wine sauce over rice. (Dinner a Day cookbook) Steamed broccoli. Wine.
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Hello to all from the Boston area! We’re getting ready for MCAS at school this week, really it’s one of the least pleasant times of the school year for both the kids and adults. Planning yummy meals to get through it though! Here are actuals and projected for 2 adults and 1 small black cat:
Fri. (3/18) - I spent the afternoon out in Worcester getting my mom to appointments. BF had delivery pizza waiting for me on my return. Absolutely hit the spot and provided leftovers for breakfast the next day.
Sat. (3/19) - Out to dinner at our favorite bar. Short rib tacos, cheesy bacon fries, and lots of popcorn and adult beverages. I was in bed by 9:30!
Sun. (3/20) - Feeling ambitious on this first day of Spring, I made the Pescatarian Feast for Two from the Darjeeling Express cookbook, by Asma Khan. This consists of Macher Malaikari (coconut based fish curry), Phali Ki Sabzi (green beans with garlic and cumin), Chingri Bhaaja (stir fried shrimp with ghee - I used oil and unsalted butter), and Basmati Rice. I am so very, very full right now!
Mon (3/21) - Leftovers from the Pescatarian Feast!
Tuesday (3/22) - Rao’s Grilled Pork Chops with Hot and Sweet Cherry Peppers, mashed potatoes, and roasted green beans
Wed. (3/23) - Freezer find, probably Spaghetti Pie
Thurs. (3/24) - Freezer find, probably pasta e fagioli from Lidia Bastianich
Fri. (3/25) - I am hoping for sushi.
Sat. (3/26) - TBD, probably going out.
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I love all the life in this!
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I don’t usually plan a whole week in advance, but I’m going to give it a try.
Monday :
more of the vegetarian borscht with ginger that I made Sunday
Olia Hercules’ Papushka’s Borscht with Ginger
Chinese-braised lamb shanks inspired byThe Woks of Life HK -style Chinese braised lamb
Fruit salad
Tuesday
Angel hair with tuna, capers, herbs, basically a tuna niçoise pasta
sautéed spinach with garlic on the side
Wed
Roast lemon and oregano chicken, potatoes, maroulosalata
Thu
FarmBoy purchased pork spiedini (skewers)
Some sort of Italian braised beans
Friday
Just One Cookbook’s Miso Salmon
I usually wait to see which fish looks best on Friday.
Sides to be determined.
Saturday
Ribeye
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