I have a confession to make. I haven’t followed my meal plans for the last two weeks! This is my busiest time of year with work plus I have two of my kids’ birthdays during the second week of December, not to mention all the craziness that comes with the holiday season. I was feeling pretty down on myself for not making dinner as often as I wanted and failing so miserably at following my weekly menu plans. Then, about a week ago, I decided to give myself a break. I can only do so much and I needed to just let go and stop beating myself up over the lack of dinners being cooked. We still ate food. Everyone is surviving just fine. When it gets crazy like this, I just need to take it one day at a time and prioritize each day based on that day’s needs. Maybe cooking dinner is a priority one day, but maybe not another. Once the new year rolls around and we get back into a normal routine, I’ll get back into the weekly dinner groove. Making dinner for my family is a priority in my life. But, until the crazy is over, I just need to remind myself that it’s okay to let go if I need to.
As a Christmas present to myself this week I’m not going to worry about a weekly menu. This is kind of crazy for me. As someone who isn’t always the most organized in the traditional sense, the weekly menus are a godsend. They really do help me so much each week. But this week we’re going to go with the flow. If we’re out looking at Christmas lights one night and need to hit Rubio’s (again), so be it. If I’m home with the kids one day and we have time to make a nice dinner, then we’ll make a nice dinner.
Here is my mini-plan for the week, with the meals I know we’ll for sure be eating!
- Christmas Eve: Chinese food takeout, a longstanding Maynard family tradition!
- Christmas Day: Swedish meatballs with boiled red potatoes and lingonberries
- All week long: Bulle! (Swedish cardamom bread that we can’t get enough, which is why I only make it once a year!) I have two posts about this bread on my blog. The first is here, where the bread is braided and gorgeous. The second is here, where you get to see a picture of my Swedish grandparents and the bread is made into buns.
If you have a menu planned this week, please share it in the comments! And be sure to tell us what yummy foods your family is cooking up for the holidays!
Hi! My name is Jane Maynard and you've landed yourself on my blog, This Week for Dinner™. Every Sunday I share a weekly menu...and count on you to share yours! You'll also find other deliciousness that I hope you'll enjoy!
Sounds great! This season is so hectic and hard to stick with a plan. Tentatively, this is our week:
Sun: Orecchiette with bacon and tomato sauce with caesar salad (Martha Stewart recipe)
Mon: Bone-in pork chops with green beans and salad
Tues: Crispy chicken thighs with cabbage and salad
Wed: Out with family
Thurs: Homemade lasagna with caesar salad and garlic bread
Fri: Pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and salad
Sat: Leftovers or take-out
Glad you have decided to have fun and enjoy this crazy, wonderful time of year! I love the tall birthday candles…makes the celebration extra special 🙂
Sun: Chinese take out
Mon: Salmon & green beans
Tue: Baked cod with shrimp and peas
Wed: Scrambled eggs & fruit
Thu: Christmas Eve hors d’oeurves
Fri: Christmas Eve feast with ham, turkey, and all of the traditional sides
Sat: Leftovers
I”m kind of addicted to tall birthday candles!! 🙂
Happy holidays!!!
Sunday: Minestrone soup and rolls
Monday: “Mac and beef” (from scratch)
Tuesday: Chili
Wednesday: Mini-English muffin pizzas
Thursday: Chinese appetizers
Friday: Huge brunch at the in-laws, dessert at our house
Saturday: Crab and sausage shells in parmesan white sauce
What a wonderful gift to yourself ! im so glad i read this today as i am feeling the same way with food and also with exercise. and ive been eating cookies like its my job since i baked all weekend. Here is my menu plan for the week
Sun – Burgers and coleslaw
Mon – Beef and black bean tacos
Tue – Apple Brie Quesadillas
Wed – Orange Chicken in the Crockpot
Thu – Xmas eve apps – skewered chicken w pesto, goat cheese marinara w toast points, shrimp, stuffed mushrooms, cookies, boozy punch, and a cheese tray
Fri – Steak & frites for Xmas dinner
Sat – Xmas party apps at my moms. I’m making cranberry meatballs & a big cheese/meat tray
Sun – Relaxing all day and making homemade pizza
oh man, me, too, on exercise! my clothes set up nicely in the bathroom for an early morning run have been sitting there for 2 weeks! 😉
All of my kids will be home from college so I have to make their favorites :o} (Hence Ham & Turkey)
Mon – Pot Roast w/Carrots & Onions, Mashed Potatoes
Tues – Garlicky Tortellini Soup, Crusty Bread
Wed – Sausage, Potatoes & Peppers Skillet
Christmas Eve – Ham, Cheesy Potatoes, Broccoli
Christmas – Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Green Beans, Rolls, Fruit Salad, Cranberries
Sat – Leftovers
Sun – Leftovers
enjoy your time with your kids!!!
After living at my in laws for two months we finally signed a lease for a new place and I cannot wait to get back into meal planning but like you I think Christmas week is just fine without one!
God Jul!!
congrats on the new place!!!
God Jul!!
It’s good to know your limits! No mom guilt! I’m the same right now – we have food – that’s good enough. We are eating soup from a can tonight and your chocolate chip pie recipe (again!). Then we have family coming all next week, so that’s when we will be better about a plan. In the meantime, have a very Merry Christmas this week! Thanks for your blog 🙂
awww, thanks, carolina!
thank you to everyone who posted – you’re the best. happy holidays!