. Master Menu for Two

While this won’t apply to all of you in this season of your life, it is an idea I would like to share, mostly because many problems in our lives are answered with small adjustments in our management style.

In this case, I received a request for a simple Master Menu for Two from a family who have a busy lifestyle and desire not to eat out so frequently.  As you can see, several principles are incorporated.

1)  Never cook a meal without cooking two meals.  This allows a second evening to be relatively free of cooking hassle and still provide good nutrition.

2)  Have a written, posted plan so the first person home knows what’s for dinner and can make initial preparations (unthaw meat, set the table, or prepare fruits and vegetables).  By this I mean, let others help once the plan is in place.  “John, would you set the table when you get home from work each night.  I’ll plan to prepare the vegetables and serve the fruit for each evening meal.  Let’s plan to eat together at 6 p.m.”

3)  The start-up week is the hardest because the pattern is new, the routines unfamiliar, and there are no leftovers to rely upon.  However, this is like most new changes in our life.  It is only with practicing that it gets easier and becomes comfortable.

4)  The Master Menu isn’t to make life staid and uninteresting, it is to aid and release the cook from “deciding.”  When there is more time and interest, recipe books can come out, new ingredients tried, and an unusual eating experience anticipated.  For the most part, however, just getting a good meal on the table will fulfill the daily needs of a smaller family.

Find more helpful ideas in my Master Menu Cookbook.