Themed Dinners

I’d like to be able to take credit for this, but I can’t. Years ago, I subscribed to several magazines and always tore out pages of ideas, put them in a three ring binder and then never looked at them again.

Well, with the internet so convenient and our recent move, I thought I didn’t need all those bulky binders, so I started to clean them out and came across an article about themed dinners. My mind started churning. I’m not one of those weekly menu planners. I don’t like to have a set meal per day planned, but I like to have an idea and be able to choose.

Themed dinners was the perfect solution.

How did I pick my themes? First I looked at what meals my family really loved. The ones they went back for seconds and thirds. There was tacos, teriaki chicken, pasta and lentils for starters.

Then I broke it down. I figured out what days I needed a quick meal and chose the other themes by the way they sounded and whalla! My themed dinner schedule.

Mexican Monday

Souper Tuesday

Whatever (One Pot) Wednesday

Leftover Thursday

Italian Friday (since we used to get pizza every Friday, but want to save some money and eat healthier, and being Italian…it was easy to figure out this day)

Seafood Saturday

Surprise Sunday

Then I took an index card and wrote out my schedule. Under each category I listed several meals options. Now when the day rolls around, I check my index card and calendar and decide what we’re in the mood for. Right now Mondays are always taco night, and some meals can do double duty. Like Tortilla soup can be a Monday or Tuesday dish. And Pasta fagioli can be Tuesday or Friday.

I love the flexibility of theme menu planning without the rigidness. It lets me be in control of my dinner instead of the dinner controlling me!