tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17755533.post532794747226425051..comments2023-10-23T07:09:52.853-06:00Comments on Learning to Cook After 40: TWFDS Challenge: Day 1, Menu PlanningJulie Donahuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12736101986516101017noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17755533.post-52641824953441299632012-01-25T05:56:27.948-07:002012-01-25T05:56:27.948-07:00Good to see you 'back'.
I have a tip tha...Good to see you 'back'. <br /><br />I have a tip that will help in the long run. In addition to the menu planning on paper, which as you have found is the most important piece of the puzzle, write what you ate on your calendar. If it is a new meal ... Rate it (4 of 5 stars, do again or it was a flop etc) and where to find the recipe. This will help in later weeks to flip back through what you ate and when for menu ideas.<br /><br />Have fun cooking!!!<br /><br />HP AmberAmberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05518332984072528824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17755533.post-18420562891588090932012-01-25T05:55:17.741-07:002012-01-25T05:55:17.741-07:00Good to see you 'back'.
I have a tip tha...Good to see you 'back'. <br /><br />I have a tip that will help in the long run. In addition to the menu planning on paper, which as you have found is the most important piece of the puzzle, write what you ate on your calendar. If it is a new meal ... Rate it (4 of 5 stars, do again or it was a flop etc) and where to find the recipe. This will help in later weeks to flip back through what you ate and when for menu ideas.<br /><br />Have fun cooking!!!<br /><br />HP AmberAmberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05518332984072528824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17755533.post-20838604925676118942012-01-24T20:03:08.510-07:002012-01-24T20:03:08.510-07:00I forgot to say bring the sauce to a boil then sim...I forgot to say bring the sauce to a boil then simmer until it thickens to your liking. There is so much spices, meats, cheeses you can experiment with!Successful Secretshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14857359596328864383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17755533.post-33669923244344728192012-01-24T19:59:55.420-07:002012-01-24T19:59:55.420-07:00O.K. so I started following your blog when it 1st ...O.K. so I started following your blog when it 1st started(learning to cook after 40) and it wasn't showing up on my blog, then I realized I wasn't following so I read it last night and decided to share a very easy but flexible recipe.<br /><br />As you know Jared is Italian so we eat Italian 1-2 times a week and I have to find different ways to make the foods to keep from getting bored (although Jared wouldn't)<br /><br />One of my favorites is spaghetti cassarole because there is so much you can do with it (do you think you can)?<br /><br />heat 2 tsp. of extra-virgin olive oil in a good size pan add 1 chopped onion cook a couple of minutes and add 2 cloves of chopped garlic. Add either sausage, hamburger meat, or chicken (cook till brown) then add 2 chopped bell peppers and sliced mushrooms until soft. Then add 28-oz can of crushed tomatoes and 3/4 cup of water with 1 cup of torn fresh basil. I also like to season with season salt and Italian seasoning. (While doing all this boil angel hair pasta) When done blend shredded cheese, pasta, and sauce together and put cheese on top. Put in a cassarole dish with foil over it until cheese melts.<br /><br />Sorry so long hope you enjoy your journey to cooking :)Successful Secretshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14857359596328864383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17755533.post-24171071402111929032012-01-24T14:22:54.669-07:002012-01-24T14:22:54.669-07:00Hi Julie! I'm new to your blog thanks to my f...Hi Julie! I'm new to your blog thanks to my following Kathi. I really enjoy your light hearted approach and look forward to reading more. I too am over 40 and still trying to work out this meal planning thing. Thanks for the inspiration! Oh yes, and I wouldn't mind at all if you picked me. :o)nicolemchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09202133502362082910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17755533.post-65516565147837007082012-01-24T14:00:23.471-07:002012-01-24T14:00:23.471-07:00Okay, I'm back. I took the challenge and made ...Okay, I'm back. I took the challenge and made a menu for the rest of the week. you can check it out here: http://jessie-ordinarydays.blogspot.com/2012/01/menu-challenge.html<br />When I reread your contest/giveaway rules, I wasn't sure whether I needed to take the challenge or not, so I did just in case.Jessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18335016054909231396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17755533.post-21077059956712797302012-01-23T11:09:43.865-07:002012-01-23T11:09:43.865-07:00Julie, I'm thrilled with you blogging again. I...Julie, I'm thrilled with you blogging again. I have gotten out of the habit of menu planning and our eating and budget have suffered from this. One thing I try to do is plan meals that will use the same fresh ingredient. If I buy fresh herbs or a vegetable that I might not necessarily always buy, I try to make sure it will get used up by having recipes that use up that ingredient. I also find that It's easier to make a big batch of certain things and freeze. Last time I made spaghetti, We ate it one night, had left overs the next day, but I still had sauce left. Rather than ditching it ( wasn't very much left) I froze it and it became a noon meal at the end of a week where the fridge was bare. It sure beat peanut butter and jelly again! Keep up the good work, both cooking and blogging! Oh, and PICK ME!Jessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18335016054909231396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17755533.post-34219440470176836662012-01-23T11:02:01.828-07:002012-01-23T11:02:01.828-07:00Ha! I love that you're "Last born and you...Ha! I love that you're "Last born and your primary ll is woa!" So proud of you for diving in and doing the cooking thing - After 40 or not it's an accomplishment!!!Kathi Lipphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04964126818389833005noreply@blogger.com