M. Suzanne Terry

Cheese covers a multitude of faults. It also covers a multitude of glories. Let’s all just agree that cheese is a good cover.

Yesterday, we listed basic staples for the kitchen. Today, we’re expanding the staples ever so slightly to include specific meals. I like to do this because, no matter how specific my basic list is, there are meals that I know I love, and I don’t want to have to go to the grocery store every time I want to enjoy them. Your list from yesterday will make a variety of meals; your list from today will make your specific family favorites.

When I say specific, I really mean specific. Like, kale and goat cheese lasagna specific.

Making this list is simple:

1. Choose a few meals (I suggest 5-10) that you and your people particularly love.

2. Write down all the ingredients you need to make that meal and add it to your staples list from yesterday.

My meal staples vary seasonally. I have three or four meals that I make during a certain time of the year, and I try a new meal or two every season just to keep things interesting. For example, my meal staples for every winter are the aforementioned lasagna, split pea soup, and roast. I make them all at least once a month when it’s cold outside (sometimes twice), so I go ahead and keep what I need to make them on hand. Last winter, though, I went through a serious warm salad phase. One of my favorites was this roasted broccoli and peanut salad. So instead of going to the store every time I wanted it, I just made a little room to stock the few ingredients that weren’t already on my basic staples list.

Dividing my meals seasonally also gives me a built-in schedule for re-evaluating my staples. If, while I’m making my list of specific meal ingredients, I notice that there’s a basic staple that has been hanging out in the pantry for months without being used, I retire it for that season and see how that goes. It keeps me from perpetually adding things that will eventually spill over to my counter tops and table.

You, of course, don’t have to divide your meal staples out seasonally. Maybe you love tacos (and really? Who doesn’t? People with bad taste?) and know that it’s something your family will eat all the year long. That makes it a great meal staple. Or maybe you have family recipes that have been passed down that encompass all that is comfort and home to you. You get to choose what meals work for you.

So list your favorite meals and everything you need to make them, and add that to your list of staples.

I’m sharing my Epic Meal Planning strategies for Write 31 Days – click to see the master list.