prepping din-din

if i ever came across as a judgy, a-hole to the working parents. . .i am sorry.  ever since, mike started his job and our farming season started i have been floundering in the dinner department.  i know i got it good.  i don't work normal hours.  i have a nanny who comes to my house twice a week.  my aunt watches hendrix another day of the week.  blah, blah, blah.  i know i got it good, but on tuesday, wednesday, and thursday of every week it is a feat of epic proportions to get a real dinner on the table.  i now fully understand why people get take out, have pizza delvered, and drive thru fast food joints.  i still think it's gross, but i get it.  parenting is hard work.  having a real deal job, taking care of the household, and being a parent is even harder. so when it takes every fiber of my being to get dinner on the table i just remember* what mark says in his book, "it takes the same amount of time from start to finish to make noodles with butter, sage, and parmesan as it does to make a box of mac & cheese.  and the noodle dish is much better."  i agree and it is real, actual ingredients that everyone can pronounce.  so mondays are the day that i prep as much as i possibly can for the week's meals.  especially the dirty three (tues, wed, thurs).  then when 3:00 pm comes, i don't have a panic attack.  i have an iced chai instead because caffeine was meant to be abused by mothers.

here is this week's menu and how i prep for it:

mon: beef stew with mushrooms (reinvented pot roast) - farm taxes done, signed, & mailed
chop veggies & meat
tues: pizza pockets with salad - intern growers all day/swim lessons at night
make pockets and bake until almost done 
(25 minutes, cool completely and refrigerate, wash & chop greens)
wed: ruebens with sweet potato fries - field all day
um, just put that corned beef you bought on sale in the crockpot with a bottle of guiness, assemble & toast sandwiches while baking fries, fries can be bought or cut in advance)
thurs: sweet & sour pork (or shrimp) with fried rice - birthday at DG/office work
wash & chop veggies, premake rice (premade rice is easier to fry)
fri: shrimp & grits - provision subscriptions emailed
(this is so fast - 20 minutes - it takes no prep)
total time prepping: 1 hour for 5 meals
total time & sanity saved: priceless

*i also have been known to bow to the crockpot.  it is the best thing that ever happened to mothers. besides their children