My friend Shoshana once told me that she found women's conversations about food and recipes to be incredibly boring. "What's the big deal -- you buy food and you cook it. Don't women have anything else to talk about?" Only when she got married did she understand the challenge of planning menus from start to finish.
Comments to my last post on cooking indicate that even experienced homemakers have trouble coming up with ideas for daily meals. I'm opening the floor for suggestions. Here are my guidelines:
- Kosher, of course!
- The menu/dish should consist of mainly unprocessed, inexpensive ingredients readily available in Israel.
- Meat should not be the focus, i.e. chicken and potatoes is out but chili that includes ground turkey, or a casserole using leftover chicken are acceptable. In fact, anything incorporating leftovers gets extra virtual points!
- Baked, cooked or microwaved--not fried.
- Kid-friendly.
- Nutritious, preferably including whole grains, legumes, and/or vegetables.
- Limited amounts of oil and fatty cheese.
- Quick to prepare, or containing elements that can be prepared in advance.
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