Simplify Meal Planning: Identifying Family Favorites

With other bloggers creating lists of their go-to meals, I realized I don’t have anything like that for my family. And I probably should. After all, having a list of meals you know your family likes makes meal planning easier. I’ve been compiling this list over the last couple of weeks and then reviewing it after checking my fridge (and freezer and pantry) and grocery ads before coming up with my shopping list for the week. And I’m saving about $20 a week on groceries and spending less time planning! Win-win!

Our go-to meals: 

Chicken fajitas 

Chicken fried rice 

Chicken and rice bowls

Chicken salad sandwiches

Grilled cheese 

Taco bowls (or tacos)

Stuffed peppers 

Lettuce wraps 

Stuffed chicken parm

Steak rolls

Broccoli beef

Chicken fried steak 

Burgers 

Ribs

Chili

Pigs in a blanket 
Beans and cornbread

Thai chicken wraps

Stuffed shells 

Meatball subs

Mac and cheese
Pumpkin-sauced spaghetti

Pizza

Carnitas

Barbecue pork

Breakfast 

Sides:

Salad

Coleslaw (regular or peanut)

Cornbread 

Sweet potato fries or chips

Roasted potatoes 

Garlic toast 

Carrots and ranch

Breakfasts:

Whole wheat muffins

Donuts

Banana muffins 

Oatmeal 
Not overnight oats

French toast
Apple crumble

Pancakes 

Breakfast burritos

Breakfast sandwiches 
Scrambled eggs

Snacks:

Apple with peanut butter (or pb dip)

Nuts

Yogurt and granola

Protein shake

Fruit

Desserts:

Ice cream

Cookies

No bake cheesecakes

Fudgy brownies
Microwave brownie

How to Freeze Cookie Dough

Omygod you guys, this is a game changer. Honestly, I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. Remember when I made these awesome snickerdoodles and was complaining about how quickly they would disappear? 

I could have frozen some and saved them for later. I should have. 

Now I know.

The other day, I needed an M&M cookie. I used this recipe, which made 21 balls of cookie dough. I figured 6 would be a not unreasonable number of cookies for my family to eat in one day, so I popped the rest in the freezer.

The next day, my munchkin and I grabbed two frozen cookie dough balls out of the bag and threw them straight into the (preheated) oven. Just add about 3 minutes to the time suggested on the original recipe (at the same temperature). Do they look any different than the cookies I made from fresh cookie dough? They do not. Do they taste any different? They do not!

If you have frozen cookie dough ready to go, you can literally go from "I think I want a cookie" to eating a freshly baked cookie in 20 minutes flat. As I was saying, game changer.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to try this with every other cookie recipe ever, so I can have whatever variety of fresh, warm, delicious cookies whenever I want! What is your favorite kind of cookie that you want to try this with?