I'd like to do more meal prep for the week, particularly lunches. some mornings I am just not feeling the vibe and it would be nice to grab something form the freezer, unknown, but it be tasty. Even weird lunch leftovers have to be repacked. Sine I don't have much for prep type food, I'll think on this for my shopping tomorrow. Today though, we are going to finally get to the roast form Thursday. Any leftovers will be cut smaller, have gravy added, and have a stew ready for either tomorrow or Tuesday. I'll do a simple drop biscuit over the top. I just took a look at the receipt from DH's shop, a look in the pantry, and the freezer. I actually can plan farther into the week if my Monday and Tuesday are hectic and I just don't get there.
Here's sort of a plan prior to grocery shopping. I'll add that we have quite a bit of fruit between some fresh, frozen, and canned. My vegetable supply is running low, but still have carrots, celery, a bag of frozen, and a few cans of beans and corn. There's plenty of baking supplies, oatmeal, and pancake mixes so breakfast is fine. I add this so you all know I'm trying to still serve meals that are well rounded.
- We have two cans of tuna. I'll mix one with a stalk of finely chopped celery and 1/4 of an onion, This will make three nice sandwiches for Monday, tow for DH to make on his break, and one for me to make up at work (I'll pack the tuna separately so bread doesn't get soggy.) The other either will just stay put, or perhaps I'll make another tuna hotdish this week. Last weeks was a winner on a cold night.
- Cook the remaining two large chicken breasts. Use one in a chicken pasta salad with the last of the celery and some shredded carrots. This will make a nice change from the lunches we've been cobbling together. He bought a jar of an Alfredo sauce, so the other breast will be cut up and added to the sauce with steamed vegetables will make another meal.
- He also bought a jar of red pasta sauce. I mentioned we have plenty of baking ingredients, so I may get all the ingredients ready and start a garlic loaf in the bred maker, and come home to fresh bread and spaghetti. I'll reserve some of the sauce and make a homemade flat bread pizza with onions, olives, and the odds and ends of the cheese in the drawer. This can make a nice supper before Wednesday trivia and when DH gets off, or another coupe lunches.
So there's sort of a plan, grocery store or not. This provides a minimum of four days of supper and lunches, not considering leftovers that weren't intentional.
- Beef roast dinner
- Beef stew and biscuits
- Chicken pasta salad
- Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti and homemade garlic bread
- Tuna salad sandwiches
- Tuna hotdish
- Spaghetti and homemade garlic bread
- Flat bread pizza
You're doing great! I menu planned yesterday, and made taco meat for salads & tacos. we had that for dinner last night, with pico de gallo I made. We have enough to eat it again later in the week. We will also eat leftover lasagna & carnitas (freezer). I typically don't cook much on weekends after a trip, as I'm so tired, so pull more from the freezer than is typical. It's nice to have those options.
ReplyDeleteI have frozen taco meat as well I forgot about. We were going to buy tortillas at Kwik Trip but they don't always have them, and Sunday was a no go day.
DeleteI have been cooking ever since mom came to visit me. I even cooked all meals to help out while we were at my sisters. I am feeling burnt out lately. So, last night I ordered pizza. Mom loves pizza so, she did not object to it. Tonight I have defrosted some meatballs and we will have spaghetti and meatballs with broccoli. Mid-week I am going to take mom back to her home and after I come back, I will not have much time left before my vacation. I am going to consume whatever is in the fridge and clean it out.
ReplyDeleteWe never tire of pizza-probably too much of a good thing. Using up what you have left will help your vacation budget.
DeleteI don't have a rogue shopper, but a rogue diner. DH will always, ALWAYS agree to take a kid or 3 out to eat when asked. Friday it was youngest to dinner at a taqueria. I had made slow cooker chicken tortilla soup, which I simply left in the slow cooker for yesterday's grazing--no cooking yesterday. Today I am preparing a slow cooked pot roast over mashed potatoes (DH's request.) Beyond that I have no idea what meals I am cooking next week. DH's birthday is Thursday, but we will celebrate Friday with the meal of his choosing and (I think) a pumpkin, Nutella swirl cake. (It's a tradition that he gets a never-before-baked-in-our-house-cake on his birthday.) Day classes for College Boy, and evening class for dually-enrolled DD on Tuesday and Thursday. What I *DO* know is that "El Camino, A Breaking Bad Movie" will be available on Netflix at midnight, Friday. As such, I declared Friday a family holiday, so those who want may stay up and watch the movie with me, knowing they can sleep in Friday. If they get up and want to head to the high school, I will drive them, if not, fine. (No college classes on Fridays.) I'm pretty sure several public school teachers have taken personal days on Friday for the same reason!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a Breaking Bad person-just never saw it. Same with several other big follow shows. Eventually, I'll get caught up and do a lot of binge watching.
DeleteMaking up a menu is on my agenda today. Thankfully fall weather (low 70s/high 60s) is here so I can pull out some of my casserole type dinners, which is good because my schedule is crazy busy. I did a huge shop this week as we used September to eat down our freezer and pantry so I have already spent $220 at the grocery store and it is only the 6th! But our pantry and freezer are full again so I can go from there.
ReplyDeleteHopefully with your big shop the remainder of the month will just be filling around the edges. but, with three growing kids-I remember!
DeleteI don't really meal plan a day or two ahead but I have a new shopping strategy. Due to trade tarrifs and other just steadily increasing grocery prices it is virtually impossible to stay on budget. So no matter what I am going to buy in the largest amount possible at the lowest price, even if that means going over budget. In the past I might buy a smaller package to try and stay under budget and in the long-term that bites me in the butt. This week I bought 10 lbs of field onions and 10 lbs of sweet carrots from our local farm stand that is only open another couple of weeks. That should last a long time and now that the garage is cooler I can store the extra onions there and the carrots last a super long time in the veggie tray (since they were just picked they last up to 4 months in there with little to no taste difference). I also bought vitamins for hubby in the largest containers at costco I could find, a 300 day supply. Hoping this will help keep costs down.
ReplyDeleteIf you go to the dollar store and buy a cheap pair of panty hose you can put one onion in the toe, knot it twice, add another onion, repeat the process until all the onions are contained using both legs if needed. Hang them on a hoot and just cut off below the knot (starting at the toe) when you need an onion. they will last for months in a cool space.
DeleteI have visions of a really good onion soup-with carrots. I have been using more onions lately. They add such a nice extra flavor to everything.
DeleteI am surprised at how little food I need to buy for just the two of us. before Son2 and DIL2 moved to the other side of town, they ate with us several times a week. It has been an adjustment to my cooking/buying, but is so good for the budget and my time. As much as I love TheHub I am very content to serve him less than stellar meals most nights.
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to find that as well-and my youngest was a small eater. I think I just am doing better with using the bits and pieces we already have. DH isn't usually picky, though has favorites. I think when he gets home, he's just mostly happy to have something prepared waiting.
DeleteYou are cooking all my favorite comfort foots - yum.
ReplyDeleteAnd with just two of us, we get repeat comfort through leftovers.
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