Sunday, January 1, 2023

Happy New Year! Let's Eat!

     


     It's now 2023  across the world. None of us have a crystal ball, so anything's possible. I'm not a big destiny person, or a this is my year, person, but 2023 will be a year of change. My youngest graduates college, and plans still are for DH to retire at the end of August. I hope my older kids continue to thrive in their careers, maybe expand their opportunities. The youngest needs to figure out career and or grad school next steps. We want to complete a few projects, but the main one, no money required, is purging every non used, non functional item in this house including the garage. Hey, we could even make a buck or two. 

     I'm still noodling goals for 2023. One I know is to continue on my weight loss journey. One strategy is to make good food choices. Yesterday was not that great, a few treats ( potato chips) and easy dinner from the oven. 

Last week we ate:

  • Sunday: Christmas dinner, ham, cheesy potatoes, vegetables, salad etc. Appetizers and leftovers later
  • Monday: We had gone out for lunch, so later just nibbled on bits of leftovers 
  • Tuesday: Creamy cheese, ham, and vegetable soup, Mushroom Wellington leftovers 
  • Wednesday: Deluxe pizza from a local bar and grill
  • Thursday: leftover pizza
  • Friday: Mixed green salad, ham pasta salad
  • Saturday: Red bag chicken and steak fries
     With my son coming, I'm not really sure what we'll have. We'll probably take him out at least once between Wednesday and when my youngest gets back late Friday. She'll  be hungry so will plan something ready to serve. I'm making a turkey dinner next Sunday, so want to free up space for all the favorites. Here's a few options, mostly items lurking in the freezer. Assume salad or veg is served alongside. 
  • Crispy chicken and twice baked potatoes 
  • Turkey meatloaf and garlic mashed potatoes
  • Penne pasta with sausage and onions
  • Chicken noodle soup and egg salad sandwiches
  • Rice hotdish ( this was a recipe from my childhood that my kids love as well)
  • Pulled pork sandwiches, potato wedges 
  • Sloppy Joes, goulash ( likely for Saturday when I'll invite family to see the kids, as these can be made ahead and feed a crowd).
     I guess there's some food trends for 2023. Another article said mushrooms and curry were peaking this coming year. We already do a lot of mushrooms and curry is delicious, so I guess we're on point, lol. It was sad to see how many restaurants are closing after yesterday, small family owned businesses that have been around for decades, but with no one wanting to take over. We have two in town that marked yesterday as it's last day, though ones been sold and is pending reopening. It's sad to think dining out will become nothing more than chain restaurants with boring menus. I'd like to experiment with new recipes in the coming year, particularly more plant based. However, I think our meals will be much the same, but lighter portions, and more vegetables. I hope you truly enjoy your day and feel ready for the next 12 months. The new year's here regardless!




22 comments:

  1. Happy New Year! I’ve yet to make a curry but we love mushrooms. Leftovers for the fam today, we’re ordering out at work but it’s on the company this time ;) I of course haven’t planned a darn thing for the week. And I know that not having a plan stresses me out and ends up costing us money so I absolutely have to suck it up and meal plan this year. That’s sad to hear local places closing. We had a farm/pumpkin patch/produce store close down that had been around for decades because no one in the family wanted it and before you know it, it will be another housing plan or golf course. Hope you’re feeling better today! JoAnn

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    1. I know curry is a generic term for Indian inspired meals, but a simple on to start is a masala using veg, chickpeas or chicken, potato, canned diced tomatoes and yogurt. I use curry powder, so flavors already blended. When people start thinking Olive Garden and Chilli's is the local, it's sad.

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  2. Happy New Year Sam!! Our local bakery closed this week. Everything is so expensive she just couldn't make a profit. I wonder how many more will have to close as prices continue to rise.

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    1. Ours closed last spring, employee shortage and just wanting to retire. A cities bakery bought them out, but I think it will be a struggle to stay open. They are charging more what they need to make ends meet, but locals still want the $1.25 house made bakery sweet roll and complain about prices.

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  3. I’ve never done curry before, but always wanted to try it. Maybe this will be the year I do that. The rice hot dish sounds good and so does the goulash. It’s been a long time since I made that. Happy New Year to you and your family, Sam.

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    1. The rice hotdish is just 1 cup long grain rice, three water, diced onion, diced celery, ground beef, 1/2 cup soy sauce, baked with a cover, stir every 30 minutes for an hour, take top off, bake another 20. I don't use hamburger and will add carrots if my vegan daughter is here and then serve meatballs on the side. It is the cheapest hotdish imaginable, so probably why we ate it so much as kids.

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  4. There is something extra special about having a menu planned, ready and waiting. Like a mental load that's a bit lighter!

    I love homemade curry; nice to be on 'trend' with something! ;)

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    1. I stray but having ideas down sure helps. I really am avoiding waste by doing this.

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  5. Happy New Year, Sam! I'm ahead of my time, I bought several of my friends mushroom-themed Xmas presents - growing kits, mushroom crisps, artwork and mushroom tea, even tracking down a vintage mushroom applique skirt and 1950s brooch.
    Not a healthy strat to 2023, we skipped lunch and had a pint in the pub instead. Tonight it's jacket potatoes with cottage cheese, it's 3 days past the best before date so if you don't see a post from me this week I'll have poisoned myself! xxx

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    1. I skipped lunch for diet coke and popcorn. Best buy dates, are a guide, but I trust sniff test too.

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  6. January for me is the month of little eating and no booze either.

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    1. I've not done dry January, but do try to limit all the time. I was very good on alcohol. Between Thanksgiving and New Year's, which includes my birthday, I think I had perhaps 10 drinks total.

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  7. Oh SAM you had me at curry! I have several go-to recipes for curry, and I love it over cauliflower rice. I also love mushrooms, and I'd like to start incorporating them in my diet.

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    1. I'd love to see a few of your recipes. I pretty much make a masala and that's about it.

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  8. With the way things are going the last thing I would want to be doing right now is opening up a restaurant. Which is sad in a way because who the heck wants franchise dining!!!! Anyway, I'm sure you're looking forward to having your entire family together again soon right! The new year's resolutions can wait!

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    1. The franchise's just hop countries too. My daughter had Chipotle in London. She wanted something she missed at home. She was disappointed. I'm counting down my days.

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  9. We have lost our favorite (and only) diner this past year. They have been here for years and one of my first jobs was as a waitress there. It will be missed. We have so many places to get pizza, but not much for other foods and not much variety. I miss the Indian curry and other options that are available in the metro. We are getting another Mexican restaurant (making it the second one in a town of 5000 approx) in the diner location, that should open soon. Not that we don't like Mexican fare, we do, but I loved our diner.
    But, more importantly, want to wish you the best year possible. We all want to expect better things to take place through out this year. I hope it is a good one for you and all of your family. And good luck with accomplishing all you hope for. Ranee

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    1. It's sit down restaurants that are struggling. Bar and grills do better, but one of them is closing, and one went last spring. Forget breakfast anymore. It's the poorly remodeled and managed Perkins and that's about it.

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  10. Happy New year Sam. I do love a good curry and can throw together a mean rice dish. Hoping that my DH retires at the end of Feb. Not sure how he'll fill his time though.

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    1. I say curry but really I just know a sort of masala. It's darn tasty though. Good luck to your spouse in the retirement front too.

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  11. Sloppy Joes! Every time I read you having them I vow to make some of my own. I shall.

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    1. I only make big batches so we have the sparingly. Saturday calls for them.

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