Then, I met The Gentleman and my meal plans disintegrated as he and I traveled back and forth between our respective cities (while still traveling for work), so I let the habit slide.

Here we are now in Hawaii, surrounded by farmer’s markets and roadside stands and multiple grocery stores all within walking distance and blessed with suddenly consistent schedules.  Well, consistent as long as good ‘ol TDY doesn’t kick in (that’s temporary duty which often involves travel and overnights for you non-military folks).

Anyway, the climate is right for meal-planning and I’ve got an added incentive to really be thoughtful about what I’ll cook each week:  The October 2012 Saveur Magazine Issue.  I picked this up a few days ago at Whole Foods to accompany my on-the-go sushi lunch and was mesmerized.  See how it says “101 Classic Recipes” on the front and pictures a fairly simple pasta primavera?  Yeah.  That cover is misleading.

Inside is the most wonderful selection of tried and true recipes from around the world; everything from Chicken Pot Pie to Canh Chua Ca.  I’ve got my own recipes for some of these dishes (Moussaka, Beef Stroganoff, Falafel) but others are delights I’m totally unfamiliar with (Chawanmushi, Vatapa).  Either way, and though I’m not usually big on cooking from someone else’s recipe, I’m going to make each and every recipe in this collection*.

Lest I be too ambitious, I’ve decided to add only one or two dishes to each week’s menu.  Check back tomorrow for my Notice the Dirt menu plan featuring my first Saveur selection: Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic.**

**I’m starting out with an easy and already much-loved recipe.  We’ve got to ease into this thing, y’all!