This is me, every Thursday night at our house.
We finish eating dinner, and having just seen the contents of the near-empty fridges, I am reminded that in a mere 24-48 hours, it will be time to plan the meals and write the lists and hit the grocery store(s) and do the prep and get us pointed in the right direction for another week of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks and treats!
So I say to my family: “Hey, guys, guess what!? It’s time to play, “What Do You Feel Like Eating Next Week?!?!” Yes, I seriously say it like that. I metaphorically call each of them to the contestant stand and drum up the suspense. (They have to put up with a lot in exchange for all of this made-to-order food, you know.)
And then, like clockwork, the big one says, “Well, I don’t know–what are we doing next week–let me look at the calendar–short ribs are always good.” And the bigger one says, “RED SAUCE. Broccoli with red sauce, pasta with red sauce, quiche with red sauce… you know, any kind of food, covered in red sauce.” (I don’t know who let them on this show.)
Tonight, we collectively came up with baked chicken with wild mushroom risotto (which, invariably, will happen on Tuesday night, ’cause that’s always risotto night around here), and some type of protein with polenta. And red sauce. I have some more work to do with this menu.
Do you guys have any ideas?? Some great Springtime inspiration?? We are stuck in the food doldrums and need something snazzy to pull us out of stagnation… What’s on your menu for next week?? What brightens up your day and heats up your appetites when you are tired of stews and soups and the weather is still too tiresomely cold and dreary to grill outside? Big prizes are at stake here! Submit your entries for a winning meal today!