Day 2 of 365 - Thanksgiving, Food and Grocery Shopping
This is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. As such, food and grocery shopping gets planned around that big celebration meal. For us, that shopping was today.
Several years ago, when finances were tight either due to unemployment or, in my case, being on strike twice, I got into the habit of meal planning and making a shopping list. Meals and shopping were planned in large part around items on sale as we had to be very frugal. Flyers were perused for the stores of choice not too far from our home and I went from there into my list making.
Obviously, things have changed quite a bit from the years when we had three boys at home to now when there are just two of us. However, I still scan the flyers and choose recipes mostly based upon items on sale. Although it takes more time up front, the shopping itself is pretty efficient as there is little standing around in store aisles wondering what to get. Also, it is less likely that things are forgotten and an extra trip to the store is required.
Because I will be cooking a traditional Thanksgiving meal for Monday, this shopping is easier in a way. I already know there will be leftovers for other meals and for making soup. So that simplifies the weekly dinner planning.
We ordered our fresh turkey in advance to get the size I wanted. My husband picked that up this morning in the part of the shopping he does while I am out at my Saturday morning fitness class; (more on that in future posts). At that nearby store he picks up items he likes to have for his breakfasts and lunches as we do not eat those meals together on weekdays. There may be a few other items on his list but it is a more expensive grocery store and does not get the bulk of our grocery money.
Later, I do the rest of the shopping in a couple of other stores where the prices and choices are generally better. This is a form of team work that works for us.
Cooking this big meal is going to be spread out over two days. I used to do everything on the same day, except maybe for dessert, but was exhausted at the end of the day. It has taken me many years to make the shift but it definitely is beneficial. I now choose side dishes that can be prepared ahead and reheated. Tomorrow I will roast all the side vegetables and make the mashed potatoes. They will go into casseroles for reheating. Monday I will make the stuffing, roast the turkey and make the gravy. Dessert is already taken care of, thanks to a purchased pumpkin pie and a lovely zucchini loaf made for me by a good friend. (I'm feeding her cats this weekend while she is away.)
On Monday, when some of our family comes to visit and to share this meal of bounty, I will have more time for visiting and spend less time in the kitchen. I enjoy cooking but I want to visit too. We have a small galley kitchen so when I'm in there I don't get to be a part of the living room conversation. Different home layouts would work differently for other people.
We have a lot to be thankful for - having a nice, safe place to live in a country that is abundant and at peace; having the means and the choice to buy and prepare good and healthy food; having family to celebrate with, whether at this time or another date that works better for some family members.
Planning my dinner menus and making shopping lists contributes a lot to my health and vitality. In future posts I'll be sharing more about how my nutritional choices have changed over time in relation to this ongoing search.
Several years ago, when finances were tight either due to unemployment or, in my case, being on strike twice, I got into the habit of meal planning and making a shopping list. Meals and shopping were planned in large part around items on sale as we had to be very frugal. Flyers were perused for the stores of choice not too far from our home and I went from there into my list making.
Obviously, things have changed quite a bit from the years when we had three boys at home to now when there are just two of us. However, I still scan the flyers and choose recipes mostly based upon items on sale. Although it takes more time up front, the shopping itself is pretty efficient as there is little standing around in store aisles wondering what to get. Also, it is less likely that things are forgotten and an extra trip to the store is required.
Because I will be cooking a traditional Thanksgiving meal for Monday, this shopping is easier in a way. I already know there will be leftovers for other meals and for making soup. So that simplifies the weekly dinner planning.
We ordered our fresh turkey in advance to get the size I wanted. My husband picked that up this morning in the part of the shopping he does while I am out at my Saturday morning fitness class; (more on that in future posts). At that nearby store he picks up items he likes to have for his breakfasts and lunches as we do not eat those meals together on weekdays. There may be a few other items on his list but it is a more expensive grocery store and does not get the bulk of our grocery money.
Later, I do the rest of the shopping in a couple of other stores where the prices and choices are generally better. This is a form of team work that works for us.
Cooking this big meal is going to be spread out over two days. I used to do everything on the same day, except maybe for dessert, but was exhausted at the end of the day. It has taken me many years to make the shift but it definitely is beneficial. I now choose side dishes that can be prepared ahead and reheated. Tomorrow I will roast all the side vegetables and make the mashed potatoes. They will go into casseroles for reheating. Monday I will make the stuffing, roast the turkey and make the gravy. Dessert is already taken care of, thanks to a purchased pumpkin pie and a lovely zucchini loaf made for me by a good friend. (I'm feeding her cats this weekend while she is away.)
On Monday, when some of our family comes to visit and to share this meal of bounty, I will have more time for visiting and spend less time in the kitchen. I enjoy cooking but I want to visit too. We have a small galley kitchen so when I'm in there I don't get to be a part of the living room conversation. Different home layouts would work differently for other people.
We have a lot to be thankful for - having a nice, safe place to live in a country that is abundant and at peace; having the means and the choice to buy and prepare good and healthy food; having family to celebrate with, whether at this time or another date that works better for some family members.
Planning my dinner menus and making shopping lists contributes a lot to my health and vitality. In future posts I'll be sharing more about how my nutritional choices have changed over time in relation to this ongoing search.
I've had to step back from this type of preparation for a while, although I did experiment in the spring when we weren't so busy moving with some of my new heart-healthy recipes. Thankfully I have an incredible son-in-law who is a superb cook and who I can rely on to bring everything to the finish line. I don't mind prepping over a number of days, but I dislike the last-minute rush/stress around getting things on the table. Our new home will have a more "open concept" kitchen that will--I think--completely change how I work in the kitchen. Hoping it doesn't drive me crazy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gift your son-in-law is to you Susan! I hope you love your new kitchen.
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