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This is not my menu, but an image I nabbed online, but I think it would be fun to create a little home menu for Christmas Eve and Day, using fun holiday designs. Another project perhaps that I'll add to my list and just not do! We still must eat even if not festive fare so today's post is a Blogmas cheat I think. DD2 has another week of online classes and then a few days of finals before her semester is over. She has a lot on her plate. I am swamped at work, making sure I take some stretch breaks during the day, and using the time for one of us to start something for dinner. Here was our meals this past week-a lot of variation from the possible meals list because of shops.
- Sunday: Take Out
- Monday: Pork chops, applesauce and apples, wild rice pilaf
- Tuesday: Penne past and zucchini
Wednesday: Chicken vegetable stir fry (teriyaki) and rice
TJ's mushrooms are so good! - Thursday: Chicken breast sandwiches and homemade potato wedges
- Friday: Brew Pub Frozen pizza-spicy cauliflower, red beans and rice (DD2 is not a fan of pizza with lots of cheese)
- Saturday: Mushroom Stroganoff over egg noodles (I also had a bit of ground beef already cooked form freezer for DH to mix in with his)
Amazing that by Saturday of the coming week, it will already be December 13th. This is DS's birthday week, which we haven't celebrated with him in person since he was a senior in high school, 14 years ago since he was away at college and/or lived in another state since then. We'd add a birthday celebration to his first or last night when he came home for Christmas. Not this year, so I need to make sure to send a little celebration his way early in the week.
We did a Trader Joe's run, as much to get out of the house and get a few things for Christmas. I'll share that later-so much fun to have in a grocery store. I did a small grocery shop earlier because we needed some personal items and DH made a stop. Yeah, we have already spent quite a bit on groceries for the month, but to be fair, so much is for holiday meals and baking and even a gift. Despite last week saying I could probably get weeks of meals without shopping, I've added even more options but I think I am going to rein it in and actually plan a menu that may or may not be on point.
Meals in our house might be the following.
- Sunday:Chicken cordon bleu or kiev, rice pilaf and salad
- Monday:Chicken Tortellini or chicken noodle soup and bread sticks
- Tuesday: Rice Hotdish with carrots and celery
- Wednesday: Butternut Squash Ravioli* with salad and grilled halloumi*
- Thursday: Mandarin Orange Chicken*, rice and steamed veg
- Friday: Take and bake pizza and salad, or a take out pizza and salad (I have coupons and vouchers for both)
- Saturday:Hamburgers or chicken sandwich with the fixings, fries
Soup night early in the week serves multiple purposes. I get the two containers out of the freezer to make room for treat making plus anything not eaten will be ready to eat lunches. I also have my monthly Monday night call so not much to think about other than reheating and rolling a few bread sticks (which I may end up substituting with crescent rolls or just toast and crackers). Those marked with a * are Trader Joe items, though the orange chicken was bought back on our Halloween run and still in the freezer. Pretty much al of these meals can be prepped ahead in a few minutes and thrown in oven or are minimal stove top time so I can commence with the treat making-to get out of our house and delivered to others houses. What's for dinner in your house this second week of December?
I do admire anyone that can meal plan - even if they don't always stick to it. I never did this, even when I was working and had kids at home. The night before I always got something out of the freezer to defrost and worked with that, but actual meal plans? Nope I just never got round to it!
ReplyDeleteI rarely stick to it, but knowing options helps us order out less. And then... we got a take out last night even after all te planning.
DeleteI started writing down menus for holidays and special occasions a few years ago. It is fun to look back on. This year I followed last years cooking schedule for Thanksgiving and it made the holiday so much easier. Have a great Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really good idea and fun to look back at your traditions-old and new.
DeleteSounds great Sam. I'm cooking a bit larger meals this week so I'll only have to cook every other day and there will still be plenty for lunches and maybe even a few meals left to add to the freezer stock. I'll be making Christmas goodies on the days I don't need to cook :)
ReplyDeleteVery organized. I'm struggling a bit with the daughter now being a less enthused eater. She'll fend for herself, but she eats so little I hate to not have meals she likes. Her last few weeks of school are turning quite brutal so don't want to throw cooking on her et.
DeleteI have a chicken that has been in the crock pot since Friday and slaw and butternut squash spirals that all should last us three meals, five for the chicken if you include lunch sandwiches. Then, there is the thawed ground pork that will be for taco casserole. There is cheese for grilled cheese sandwiches and lots of fruit.
ReplyDeleteDo you worry that the chicken will be dry with so much cooking? I find chicken has a crock pot limit. A whole chicken is a good value.
DeleteI'm not feeling super hot, so everything is going to need to be easy for the next few days. Nick is making a chicken parmesan, we have at least one leftover meal in the fridge, likely tortellini with a meat sauce, and then freezer dinners. Oh, & I ordered some chicken noodle soup for myself, on a site I've never tried before, using a promo code. Fingers crossed it's good!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear you are still not feeling so well. Take care an dlet those boys do their kitchen thing. I bet having those freezer meals ready is a big help.
DeleteEverything on our list sounds yummy! I am planning on making chicken enchiladas, smoked sausage and potato bake, chicken and cheese casserole, breakfast for dinner, pizza rolls, and tikka masala. These may change though as DH woke up this morning with a fever and feeling like crap. Thankfully I have easy meals in the pantry (spaghettios, sandwich stuff, soup, etc.) that can fill in.
ReplyDeleteI keep saying I'm going to make my own enchiladas-they sound so good. I bought a couple from TJ for my daughter. I hope your husband gets better and its not lingering, or Covid.
DeleteI envy your dinner planning particularly for the anticipation of what's coming
ReplyDeleteRight now I can't get Someone to dream or plan anything about Christmas let alone for a Christmas dinner. I like the notion of having a feast planned - look forward to this more than the prizes.
With my son not here and he is th eone that likes the full home cooked meal the best we will be more party type eating. Since we are staying home on Christmas Day, we also do not need another big meal. It will be scaled back but festive.
DeleteIt’s a cold, raw day here so we made cookies and then put a ham in the oven. Yes, it’s close to Christmas but everyone enjoys it so I think we’ll be ready for it again by the 25th. I will probably make ham soup with the bone. I’ll also make haluski this week. I’m grocery shopping on Tuesday so I will decide the rest of the week after that. I’m heavy on hours again this week so I’m thinking at least two crockpot meals will be necessary. Oh, and check your email ;) JoAnn
ReplyDeleteI might get a ham for Christmas-albeit a small one, as we hav enot had one for a long time. DH can't eat much, but we can use over several days as more part of a party food type menu.
DeleteYour meal plan sounds great plus you reminded me I need to go to TJ,s for some Christmas items
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, I got a little carried away but it was fun to find some new to me things.
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