I have about a kazillion non-urgent things going on at any given time, but the sad truth of my life is that, in the short term at least, I'd rather sit at my desk and read fanfiction than actually accomplish anything. So since I've posted all of four times in four years and already have an unfinished post in progress and don't want to add another, I'll make this one quick. Hahahahahah (if you knew me, you'd totally get how hilarious that is - I don't do quick when it comes to words).


Anyway!


Meal planning is something to which I aspire, but only occasionally succeed. I need something

1. that I'll actually look at on a semi-regular basis,
2. that makes sense, 
3. that is easy to alter based on life, and
4. that I might actually do. 

I'm a huge fan of WRITING IT DOWN - I love the physical process of writing, watching words and doodles form on paper at the end of my pen or pencil - but realistically, to meet all the criteria above and not end up just another scrap of paper that I may run across in a month or a year or a decade, I needed something online. Enter my reliable friend Google. I actually was hoping there was a calendar tool that I could use on my Google calendar. No luck. But dear Google did direct me to my new menu planning friend, here.

It was easy to adapt to my grown-up family. It was easy to pick a color that nobody else was using to make it stand out. It was easy to invite my husband and daughter to share the calendar so everybody knows what the basic plan is. And if I need to switch meals around, or discard one altogether and go out instead, it's click-and-drag easy!

I've been using it for THREE WHOLE DAYS NOW! And so far IT'S WORKING GREAT! :)




Second, while dinner this evening was just bacon and eggs, as long as I had a lined, greased cookie sheet (have you tried baking your bacon? Easiest bacon cooking method ever! No mess, no clean up, and afterward...) I made Roasted Garbanzo Beans. I have several recipes (suggestions?) for these on my "Savory Snacks" Pinterest board and today I tried roasted garbanzo beans with cajun spice.

Instead of olive oil, I just rolled them around in the bacon fat (I drained off the excess first and just used what was left on the foil). I used Sweet Mesquite Seasoning in the big jug from Sam's or Costco. Because my oven bakes unevenly and since it had to bake about 40 minutes I dutifully set my timer to rotate the pan and give it a quick stir/shake every 10. 

Unfortunately, at the last beep of the timer, the 24-year-old son was microwaving chili in the kitchen and turned the timer off. He DID tell me, and I WAS working at my desk, RIGHT THERE in the kitchen, but I didn't stand up right away and ANOTHER 10 minutes (or so - who really knows?) later there was only about a quarter of the pan that wasn't BLACK. But for what it's worth, that tiny amount is quite tasty - and curiously good with craisins. I'm not sure they were supposed to be that crunchy, but since I don't know for certain, I'm going with not a complete disaster.

Also, I'm very thankful for foil lined pans. After salvaging my half-cup or so of beans, I just carefully folded up the foil and, voila! the pan is spotless.