{"id":3492,"date":"2015-08-21T11:47:49","date_gmt":"2015-08-21T15:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/characterinkblog.com\/?p=3492"},"modified":"2015-08-21T11:47:49","modified_gmt":"2015-08-21T15:47:49","slug":"podcast-handout-for-simplified-meal-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/characterinkblog.com\/podcast-handout-for-simplified-meal-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"Podcast Handout for “Simplified Meal Planning”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Simplifed<\/a><\/p>\n

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Listen to the podcast here<\/a><\/strong>!<\/p>\n

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Get asked efficiency questions a lot:<\/h3>\n

1.<\/strong> Doing the mundane, routine, or regular more quickly and more efficiently gives you more time for the exciting, ground-breaking, earth-shattering!<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Teaches our children efficient work habits.<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Makes you feel like a million bucks! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

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Kitchen Efficiency Links<\/h3>\n

1.<\/strong> Podcast: How to Implement Cycle Cooking for Freezer Entrees and Starters<\/a><\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Podcast: Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start Freezer Cooking<\/a><\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Podcast: Five Tips to Be More Efficient in the Kitchen<\/a><\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> Blog Post: Beef Roast and Pork Roasts in the Crock Pot<\/a><\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> Blog Post: Shredded Chicken<\/a><\/p>\n

6.<\/strong> Blog Post: Crumbled Ground Meats<\/a><\/p>\n

7.<\/strong> Blog Post: Determining the Type of Freezer Cook You Want to Be<\/a><\/p>\n

8.<\/strong> Blog Post: Dishes, Laundry, and Trash<\/a><\/p>\n

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Level of Efficiency in the Kitchen Dependent Upon Several Factors<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1.<\/strong> How homemade vs. how store-bought<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Time allotted for make-aheads and prepping<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Freezer space<\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> Experience<\/p>\n

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How Do You Look in Your Freezer or Cabinets or Fridge and Come Up With a Meal Without Over-Thinking<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1.<\/strong> Can\u2019t think of anything to make<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Don\u2019t feel creative<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Everything takes too long\/no prepped or defrosted ingredients<\/p>\n

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Solutions<\/h3>\n

1.<\/strong> Think in terms of meats (see my cycle cooking<\/a><\/strong>)\u2014and have a master list<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Have staples on hand<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Learn to cook meats fast or efficiently (chicken here<\/a><\/strong>, crumbled meats here<\/a><\/strong>; pork and beef roasts here<\/a><\/strong>)<\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> Freezer cook! If just starting out, do one of two things (see podcast here<\/a><\/strong>):<\/p>\n

a.<\/strong> Start with \u201cmeal starters\u201d if limited freezer space and\/or not much experience (and also low cost if just starting out)<\/p>\n

b.<\/strong> Find six, eight, or ten entrees that your family loves that you can learn to freezer cook easily and quickly and work on these. (See many more ideas below in the \u201cThink in Terms of Meats Master List.\u201d)<\/p>\n

i.<\/strong> Shredded chicken\u2014chicken enchiladas, chicken lasagna, shredded bbq<\/p>\n

ii.<\/strong> Crumbled meat\u2014taco meat, enchilada casserole, lasagna, spaghetti chicken sandwich filling, chicken taco meat, chicken tetrazzini, arroz con pollo, cream of chicken soup starter, chicken broccoli soup starter, chicken gnocchi soup starter, chicken noodle soup starter, chicken rice soup starter, hot chicken salad casserole, broccoli chicken rice casserole sauce with meat, sloppy joes, spaghetti pie, cheeseburger pie, pizza filling bag, chili, hamburger stew, beef broccoli alfredo starter<\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> Have ingredients for ten entrees at all times (Five Tips for Kitchen Efficiency<\/a>)<\/p>\n

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THINK IN TERMS OF MEATS\/CYCLE COOKING AND MAKE MASTER LIST<\/h3>\n

1.<\/strong> What meats (and in what form of the meats) do you regularly use in your meals?<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> How can these be \u201cgrouped\u201d (either for thinking purposes or for preparing bulk entrees for the freezer)?<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Make a master list of things that you EVER make from various meats, print it, and tape it to the inside of a kitchen cabinet or on the fridge in a sheet protector. You want this handy!<\/p>\n

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Shredded Chicken<\/h3>\n