Faced with the never-simple task of feeding her busy family every night, food writer Leigh Belanger turned to her kitchen chalkboard, planning out her weekly dinner menus in order to keep the chaos at bay. She quickly discovered the merits of modern menu planning: it saves time and money, produces better dishes, cuts down on waste, and returns creativity to the kitchen. Most importantly, she found that a good plan preserves sanity.

This stunning and approachable cookbook is an invaluable guide for families who want to eat locally and in season but know that getting dinner on the table requires a dash of reality. Sixteen seasonal menus lay out the strategy, starting with a “big cook” and clever tips on how to use that food in new and inventive dishes throughout the week. With over one hundred delicious and inspiring ideas for family meals, My Kitchen Chalkboard provides the wit, wisdom, and adaptable recipes you need to answer that nightly question: “What’s for dinner?”