At baby group I was talking to another mom about menu planning and she said she plans out a month at a time. That sounds like a challenge, but maybe I'll try it later this year. After I get the hang of things a bit more. Last weeks menu planning was rough. Hopefully this week goes better. Lessons from last week include: don't forget the grocery list, and, don't lose the weekly menu plan.

Another inspiration to me was in the intro to a new cookbook I picked up this week, Super Natural Every Day by Heidi Swanson.  I learned about this cookbook at Food52's Piglet Tournament of Cookbooks contest. A lot of good cookbooks were in the contest this year. I also ordered Nigel Slater's Tender and Momofuku Milk Bar.

Anyway, Heidi Swanson went over her shopping routine -- she shops about one time a week at a local farmer's market (benefit to living in CA, you can get a lot of produce year round). I suppose I could go shop at the SF farmer's market year round. Maybe I'll try to go next Saturday.

She shops about once a month at a natural foods store to stock up on beans and grains, and other specialty stores as needed. That would be cool if I could do that this summer -- just shop at the farmer's market. Sounds challenging. You really have to cook with what is in season that way. In the summer I do try to buy most of my produce at the farmer's market. I wouldn't mind trying to do a meal or two a week this winter/spring using only local ingredients. I'll have to get to the market and see what they have for me.