As a planner, and a person who particularly does not like to waste, food inventory and meal planning have become an almost second nature to me. Ask for something out of the fridge and both males in my house simply stare, vacantly, into the bright cool light of the refrigerator. They both seem somewhat stupefied by turning raw ingredients into, dinner. And these are both highly intelligent males. So I get it. My brain, for whatever reason, works differently. It is what it is.
So prior to leaving on the Great American Road-trip, I consulted Tripit and learned our flight was due to arrive home around mid afternoon and wouldn't it be great if I could have something ready to pull out of the freezer for suppa. Also I had a mess of veggies from the following week that I wanted to put to good use, in addition to the Tomato Butter Sauce from Food 52.
Call it finding joy in the small stuff, but I get great pleasure out of emptying a dishwasher full of tupperware. That is a sure indication that I have used up all of our PlannedOvers. It is amplified when leaving for a trip to know that not only have you used up all of the produce in the house, a delicious and easy part of a meal awaits your return.
I found myself with some roasted squash, roasted veggies, caramalized onions, and the tomato sauce.
All components went into a bowl and a few olives and a crumble of Goat cheese rounded things out nicely, and into the freezer to await our return. It might seem like a lot of planning to have your dinner decided for the day of your return before you even go onto your trip. And it is. But the reward. Nothing can ever replace the calming knowledge, as I wait on a plane that will land 2 hours after it's scheduled arrival time, that I have something delicious waiting for me at home. And planning for the delay in travel, is a plan that will bring you great serenty.
Happy Eating!
Yes, you are a planner, and yes, you are partly a product of your lineage as your parents are both planners too, but you have escalated this trait to new heights!
ReplyDeleteWe plan our arrival to allow plenty of time for unpacking and a trip to the grocery store to get the provisions for dinner. This may seem like a dreaded task to many of you but to me it is a "planned-for" treat. You see I suffer withdrawal pains from not being able to shop for my own groceries and from not being able to create and to eat in reality, what my mind has been envisioning since the trip began.
You see, Kelly, you were destined from birth to assume the role you are now perfecting.