The System

Lisa and I have put together a new system that is working like a charm. We both cook 2 meals a week and give each other half. So this week Monday, I cooked chicken enchiladas for us and them, and Wednesday made Shrimp Corn Chowder. On Tuesday, she gave us a pork loin and tonight, she made us Spinach Stuffed Manicotti. It is pretty easy b/c we still only have to make 1 recipe and split it in half. So we figure we are saving tons of money and time. It really works out to be enough food for the whole week and I only have to cook twice!!! You can't beat that!!! Her food has been delicious! We loved the manicotti tonight. We have enough for leftovers for tomorrow night then Ryan and I are going out Saturday night, so it really has been great. And we get a variety of meals. We resorted to this plan because Main Dish closed down in February, and we frequented that place to make 12 meals a month usually. We were distraught and didn't know what to do, but I think I'm going to like our new plan even better. It is much cheaper than Main Dish that is for sure!!!!!!
The other part of our system is watching each other's kids over night once a month so we can have date night. We watched their girls last weekend and they went out to dinner and a movie. They are watching our kids March 23rd so we can go out. The kids have a blast together and it is nice to know that once a month, we will have uninterrupted time to spend with our spouses- including getting to sleep in!
I guess we have really had another system going most of the year for our jobs; we take care of each other's kids so we don't have to pay childcare. It looks like it will work out again next year because we will both keep the same schedule. (She really has taken care of my kids for 3 years, so I am finally getting to help her out some now.)
So, I highly recommend adopting our "system" if you have someone to exchange meals, kids, and childcare with- it makes for a huge money-saver, fun for the kids, delicious food, bonding with your spouse and strengthening your relationship with your friend as well. We have come to depend on each other as well as enjoying each other's company.

I am signing off to go watch another episode of SURVIVOR!!!! YAY!!! I guess I"ll have to flip the channel every once in awhile to check out American Idol and see who gets voted off! Have a good weekend everyone.