Good Idea #1: Part 2- The List

After I compiled all of my recipes, I made a shopping list. Seems pretty straightforward, but I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything so I went about the list-writing in a methodical fashion. I looked at one recipe at a time and wrote down all of the ingredients. The amount of each ingredient I would need, I put in parentheses next to it:

Chicken Breasts (6)
Salt (2T)

Then I moved on to the next recipe. If there were duplicate ingredients, I put the amounts in parenthses next to the amount for the last recipe. If there was a new ingredient, I added it to the list as follows:

Chicken Breasts (6) (8)
Salt (2T) (.5T)
Bacon (2lbs)

Once I had gone through all of my recipes in this fashion, I added up all of the amounts to get the total I would need for my big cooking D-day:

Chicken Breasts (14)
Salt (2.5T)
Bacon (2lbs)

Next, when the shopping day arrives, I will root through my freezer, fridge, and pantry to see what and how much I already have. If I have enough of a particular ingredient, I will cross it off of the list and forbid The Hubs to touch it. (If anyone would like a copy of my shopping list, email me.)

Also, after checking pay dates, time off work, proximity to March, and the alignment of the planets, I have scheduled my cooking day: February 26th. August 6th 1945 ain't got NUTTIN' on what my kitchen is going to look like at about 5pm February 26th 2010.