Plan ahead, avoid cookbooks and thimbles

I collect recipe books like some people collect thimbles. Does anybody really collect thimbles or is it just an easy trinket to sell in airport gift shops? I've seen shot glass collections, plate collections, but never a thimble collection.  Anyway, I love me some cookbooks.  I buy them way too often.  I love to look at all the different creations I could make if I spent the time.  In all actuality I would say I probably only really make three recipes out of every cookbook I buy.  As usual, my intentions are better than my actions.  Allrecipes.com is the best way to go.  It's free, it doesn't require storage in the kitchen cupboards that you are about out of, and you can find about any recipe you ever wished for.  I like that I can use my iPhone to browse Allrecipes.com and find a recipe when I have free time during the day.  Today I browsed Allrecipes.com  to come up with a menu for the week. I'm substitute teaching quite a few times this week and I have a habit of picking up take-out for my family after a long day of teaching, and spending almost half of what I made that day on dinner! Most women would agree that making dinner is not a problem, but deciding what to make is the problem! Then once you decide what to make you usually don't have the necessary ingredients. My Grandma Fraser used to say that you should have your dinner planned (and even started if possible) by 10 a.m. every morning.  This week I'm following her cue! Chicken enchiladas, spaghetti, French dip sandwiches, taco salad and leftovers are what I'm preparing this week. I truly believe if I follow this menu plan for the week I will save myself significant time, money and stress.  I'll let you know if I break down and hit Subway after one of my teaching days!  Now I'm off to turn the pages of my new cookbook with my new Nevada thimble...