What's for Dinner?

That infamous question that when asked plagues my mind with a million possibilities while other times leaving me staring into the abyss like a deer with headlights.  I have found that there are weeks when I can come up with dinner ideas on the fly and chef it up like a pro.  However, there are those days when somehow my mind just draws a blank and I just can’t come up with anything to make, I can’t think of one dish to cook, kind of like the famous “I don’t have anything to wear” line with a closet busting out the doors with clothes.  Am I alone on this one or has it happened to you as well?

I often find myself asking my 17 year old daughter what she thinks I should make and her answer is always “lemon chicken”, because it’s her favorite or she has often replied with a simple “food”.  That latter reply draws dirty looks, eye rolling finished with a frustrated groan on my part.  I don’t really have an explanation as to why this happens, perhaps the weeks when I draw a blank I have too much on my plate and my brain has reached its maximum capacity for the week aka brain overload.

Then when I finally figure out what I want to make, I find out I don’t have all the ingredients so I have to do a supermarket run after work, waste time, get home tired and frustrated.  The adventures of a supermom but I would not change it for the world.

The solution for me came to me by chance one day as I was having one of the deer in headlight dinner moments.  I began to ask myself why I was having such a hard time if I cook 6 days a week, why can’t I think of what to make.  This series of questions led me to a very simple answer, are you ready? (drum roll please), MAKE A LIST! Wow, what a brilliantly simple solution to such a nerve wrecking problem.  Yes a list!  Why didn’t I think of this before?

I decided to make a list of dishes that I normally prepare, I did a main dish list along with a side dish so when I’m having a brain fart I go to this list and it really has helped me a tremendously.  I often find myself looking at the list and remembering recipes that I have not made in a while.  

I really hope I’m not alone in this so please let me know if you suffer from Lack of Dinner Idea-tis (Get it? No?) like I do, it would most certainly make me feel a bit more rational in my seemingly very chaotic world.

In an effort to help you guys out I have created a printable list so that you can get your family menu started.  It is the little things like this that make our world that much better. 

Please click here to print your menu and enjoy!  Dinner planning will never be the same.