The plan
On Monday, I told you what I'd be eating this week. Like many of you, I have a somewhat crazy, hectic existence, juggling work, home, family, friends, blogging, admiring handbags and more.
Sometimes things don't go to plan.
In fact, that is why I plan. It makes things easier when it all goes wrong.
The hiccup
On Wednesday, I planned to go to the butcher (opening hours aren't all that open here in Perth-town) but ended up in the office instead.
Surprisingly, I couldn't find any lovely cooked crab or fresh, home-made angelhair pasta or even any beautifully hung sirloin steak in my CBD office. I did however find an overstuffed in-tray, too many emails and a meeting or two. Not that tasty. But hey - I had leftovers for dinner! Thanks, Tuesday!
The complication
By Thursday, my eyes were bulging, my nose was running and my brain was trying to chip its way out of my skull. I DO NOT HAVE SWINE FLU. My husband announced he would be going to the pub after work (sometimes he forgets about the existence of Fridays).
At about 7:30pm it occured to me I should probably find out if he intended to come home any time soon. He told me he'd be getting the 8:00 bus home. Good. Great. I continued to chat to a friend on facebook.
Photo: Bus Stop 3 by Bartek Kuzia
At 8:10 he called when he remembered that there *is* no bus at 8:00pm. So I threw some clothes on, got in the car and proceeded to drive a few blocks past where I said I'd pick him up. A roundabout or two later he was in the car, it was 8:30pm and we were hungry (and he was slightly drunk). We went to KFC and had zinger burgers (no chips!).
Photo: I'm sorry, I can't be perfect by Leeo
It wasn't that bad. I am not perfect.
The plan is dead
So, here comes Friday, my brain had pushed itself halfway out my right eye, the house was spinning and my tongue didn't know how to make sounds any more. My husband called a few times and on the 3rd time I answered it and slurred at him that he should come home early because gobbledegook. I don't know if he responded because I think I hung up then.
He got home at 4:30pm (I was still in bed), he attended to the dry cleaning and then made dinner of some sort. It resembled food and I ate it and I think I felt better because then I went to sleep.
Photo: body by wise.adam
Flexibility - adapt, change, compromise!
A menu plan is a guideline to make things easier for yourself - when grocery shopping, when you get home tired from work and don't have to think about what to cook.
It is not the be all and end all.
It must be flexible.
As Chive Talkin says - you rule your menu plan - it does not rule you!
What now?
So now it is Saturday and I'm about to head off to the friendly neighbourhood butcher to pick up some steak. The herbs and vegetables are in the fridge waiting to be turned into seared beef and noodle Thai-inspired loveliness.
I'm cooking the beef first, not the crab, because coriander and mint can be a little fragile in the fridge, whereas lemons grow on trees. I'm also still slightly delirious and feverish (if you can't tell) and it is always easier to cook something you've cooked a million times.
The angelhair and crab now gets moved onto next week's menu and my sister, her boyfriend and my grandmother can call in a dinner rain check. Easy!
How was it for you?
Did you have a crazy week? Or did things go to plan for you? Let me know in the comments.
Other posts you might be interested in reading
- Meal Plan Monday: What we’re eating this week Inspired by Amy at Feasibly Fit Mom, I decided to post this week's meal plan. I've previously mentioned how I use technology to plan my...
- Menu Plan Monday – take two After last week's I'm again publishing the week's menu. Yes. it is Wednesday today, not Monday, but remember that I promote flexibility! Unfortunately I'm getting...
- How to plan your meals (flexibly) – part 1 I wrote this in response to Sunili's comment on my risotto recipe. It might be time-consuming but I really believe that writing meal plans and...
- How to plan your meals (flexibly) – part 2 I recently posted the first in a series of I don't know how many yet, on how to plan your meals. This is the second...
- Speedy mini post: Vietnamese Prawn Salad I recently mentioned Emma Knowles' Vietnamese Prawn Salad recipe which was posted at Gourmet Traveller. I made it for dinner last night, with a few...
Tags: beef, cooking, coriander, dinner, easy, eating, fresh, fridays, hiccup, home, idea, leftovers, meal, mint, noodle, planning, recipe, simple, swine flu, vegetables, work, zinger
Beyond Beeton is a post-modern guide to household management inspired by Mrs Beeton’s 1861 Book of Household Management.
Some weeks, one meal I actually planned is a success! I had to laugh, the first couple weeks I did my menu, I tried a crockpot (slow cooker) recipe each week. Turns out, I really don't like crockpot meals. Hiccup, complication, dead.
For me, the plan is more about focus (for the grocery store) and inspiration (in the afternoons).
Enjoy your weekend! Yum.
Amy @ Feasibly Fit Mom’s last blog post..Party Girl: Project Procrastinator's Party, that is
Hi Amy - I know what you mean about the crockpot meals - sounds great in theory but just not my thing.
Life is just like that - I've decided to look on the bright side - part of next week's menu is now planned already!
I need to plan better for the week ahead ... it's really one of my downfalls. Hope you're feeling better soon!
Thanks Allen, I'm on the mend.
Meal planning works really well for me, but for a lot of people it is an odd thing to do! My mother for example claims to feel constrained by the concept of planning in advance. While I've seen notes in her handwriting around the house with details of things she's run out of, I've never seen her shop with a list. My sister is the same. My grandmother is like me, a card-carrying member of the cult of the list. Shopping with my mother and sister is one of those nerve-wracking experiences that I try not to do too often!
I do really think that the key to successful meal planning (for foodies anyway) is flexibility, understanding of seasonality and a great relationship with food suppliers. I couldn't do it without those factors.
I hope you're feeling better and I know the feeling. I had a cold last week and I kept telling people "I don't have swine flu!". Sorry to hear you had a crazy week, it can't have been helped with being sick!
I love not planning my meals.. our best cooking happens when Joel and I find random inspiration in the cupboard and create something new. Fun fun! But I can see how some people find that stressful..
Meanwhile, when ARE we having that risotto?
Would this Saturday suit you Mandie? You can choose between the risotto or mystery meal
I'll be posting the next week's menu shortly.
Oh, and you *can* create something new on a schedule, or een swap stuff out completely
Lorraine: thanks, I'm feeling a bit better now. I have the immune system of ... um.. well something with a not very good immune system. Most of my weeks are crazy though!
Rachel,
I think I must have had the same virus too. My main (silly and self centred) concern is not being able to smell (my wine). . . Good to hear your weeks are (almost) as crazy as mine!
Sorry to hear you've been feeling rough. Thought you might like to know that I took advantage of the fact that hubby was away on a rugby tour to plan our meals.
I successfully managed to plan my weeks meals yesterday (while thinking it was Sunday all day) so am already a day behind, only to be reminded when hubby got home that we're away Thursday and Friday and out Saturday night.
But as you say - look on the bright side - I already have most of next weeks done too!!
Rhi’s last blog post..Tea Cup Birthday Cake
Edward: Not a silly concern at all - Not being able to smell is essentially a death sentence for any committed foodie or wino! I hope you're better now. I do have a secret weapon though which protects my sanity and makes my weeks slightly less crazy - no children. To any of my friends reading this, I love your children, really I do - but I also love that they're *your* children!
Rhi: Congratulations on the start on planning - even if it wasn't quite for the days you intended!