Can someone teach me how to meal plan?

[allisonintx]

Originally Posted by apmommy

Allison, how do you do that though? Meaning, how do you take it from spaghetti to those "fancier" items. Is it a creativity thing? When I think (notice I used the word think there, not make) of making dinner I don't think, "Chicken with alfredo sauce and mushrooms sounds good." It's more, "We need bread, milk, vegs, and chx." But it's very hard for me to get creative with that and take it to the next level.

Am I making sense?

This is a great thread btw. This was never modeled for me and I'd love to learn how to do this so, at a minimum, I can teach my girls one day.

Ok, to go from Spagetti to Cavitini

Switch spaghetti noodles for Rotini noodles (the spirals)
cook by the directions on the box

Use the same jar of sauce

Add turkey pepperoni and browned italian sausage (I use only one link each time I make it, so a package, in the freezer lasts all winter...of course winter is only about 12wks here )

bake it in a casserole dish for about 20min at 350degrees then throw some mozzerella cheese on top and melt it.

Serve.

See, same process you know how to do, the ingredients are just a different shape!