Monday, December 27, 2021

Norming Meal Planning

   

    
      I'm a bit groggy this morning. We had DS on video for several hours. I hardly recognize my son, who had his hair down, which hasn't been cut since before Covid, 22 months ago. His Viking ancestry was surely on display. He told us a funny story about being nearly mistaken for  major Swedish actor- who coincidentally share the same name. It was a good call and nice to be able to see him.

      After back to back buffets of abundance and a day of rich leftovers, I'm thinking we need a bit of freshness and simplicity. Tonight's meal is just going to be pasta of some sort with diced tomatoes and a salad. I ended up making a short cut version chickpea masala and rice for  my youngest and a hot hoagie for DS as both were bored with leftovers. I think we'll do BLT's one night and maybe taco night another.  I have to figure out what I can do with all the various olive/Mediterranean platter items. How  well do olives in oil freeze? I googled it and if I later use in hot food, they should be fine, but need to look for recipes. DD2 will have plans at least 1-2 nights or late afternoon. We're invited to my sister's on New Year's Eve for pulled turkey and cheese sandwiches and card games. We'll get pizza for New Year's day, and then, I'll call the holidays officially to a close, with Sunday, January 2nd back to a normal meal week. 

     That week, DD2 heads back either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. She's got an orthopedic appointment for a foot issue on Tuesday, January 4th in the morning, and we'll watch the weather to figure the better travel day.  But I'm getting ahead of myself. I still get her home for a week. Our older daughter is spending Wednesday-Sunday out of town with friends. It'll be quiet as DH goes back to work today. I too work today but then have two days off, work Thursday, then a three day weekend again. Ping pong calendars it seems.

     There's so much build up to Christmas, and then New Year's, seemingly earlier and earlier, but yet when it's done, it's done! No lingering parties, no baking dates, no lights and glitter. Time is a precious gift so I don't want to blow off January and February, but I need to figure out how to occupy myself other than binge watching TV.  Lord knows I got more purging, always more purging, to do. That'll be a post later in the week. 

      I can tell I've had too much salt- I crave so much water and have been drinking so much I can't sleep straight though so up repeatedly, another reason I'm groggy. So what's on your menus? I feel a cookbook review is needed to get some freshness in the new year. Are you eating down excess or did you plan better? Who else feels a need to skip entire categories of food for a few days- nothing with the words cream or cheese in the list? Happy Monday.

     

15 comments:

  1. I planned our meals not to have many leftovers so we're back to normal meal planning this week.
    NY Eve is going to be Mexican appetizers and I am really excited about that. NY day will be coho salmon and to be determined sides.
    The week between Christmas and New Year's is one of my favorites!! I hope you enjoy yours.

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    1. My sister had her family on Christmas Day and her plan was "Heavy appetizers" and I love that idea. I think I'll make a homme made bean soup though-just started thinking that it has been ages since I made bean soup and I can make half with ham and half without and send some home with my girls. I too like the calm between the days.

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  2. My son finished off the leftovers from Christmas Eve last night (mostly mac & cheese - his fave), and this morning I put a full chicken breast from Christmas in the freezer and a bag of small pieces in the meat keeper. The latter will get used in a fried rice dish later this week. Tonight I'll use some of the pepperoni and salami from the Christmas brunch to make up a pizza. That will use up a bag of grated cheese too. Other than that I've no idea what's on the menu for the rest of the week. We don't usually do anything special on New Year's Day. That's the day I take down the tree and other decorations.

    Enjoy your time off work and the time with your family.



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    1. I think I need to add from scratch mac and cheese to one of our Christmas meals. It sounds so fantastic. Decided-New Years day I'll make one, complete with bread crumb topping. I was pretty minimalist this year, so I'll get things down on New Years or Sunday as well.

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  3. We had a wonderful rib roast for Christmas dinner. I purchased a whole roast, at $6.99/lb, and cut it into one a bit over 6 lb. for Christmas, and two smaller ones for a roast dinner later in the winter. The leftovers (and there were plenty) went into the slow cooker along with the leftover roasted carrots and gravy. I added an onion, three small potatoes, and some beef broth. We had that for dinner last night, and it was delicious. THOSE leftovers are now in the slow cooker on low for DH's lunch.
    Beyond that, the only leftovers we have are part of a fruitcake, and almost an entire coconut cheesecake.
    Tree comes down today and decorations get put away. I like to start the New Year that way.
    Happy New Year. Here's to a great 2022.

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    1. I just am not a great roast maker, but yours sounds delicious-especially the leftovers. I love a beef stew or thick vegetable beef soup. I hope your husband is continuing to do well. As you have said, it brings a different perspective to Christmas and a new year. Cheers, my friend.

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  4. Some leftovers, trying a ham tetrazzini recipe today. We’ve been hit by Covid despite vaccines and stuck at home for the foreseeable future depending on our varying work requirements. I’m asymptomatic but my job says 14 days quarantine. Son who had symptoms will be cleared after 10 days. My husband is also asymptomatic has a week off. Daughter will go back to school at her regularly scheduled day, January 3rd. Everyone is fine, just mild to no symptoms. And bored. Very bored. So I’m taking advantage of the time to cook, clean, organize, and get on top of things for 2022. This has been one of the worst and most disappointing years of my life, I’ll be ready to see it go. JoAnn

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    1. And now there's new guidance by CDC. Take care. My sister started out asymptomatic then wham, was suck hard for days, then still unwell for at least another. I think we all have hopes for 2022. Let's all hold in together.

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  5. I’m so glad you were able to have a good call with your son, Sam.

    I’m with you on having a simple meal instead of all these rich foods. I’ve already started to freeze some of our leftovers as I am getting tired of them quickly. Yes, no cheese or cream cheese in anything! LOL I could have written your post.

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    1. Tacos ended up last night's meal, so tonight pasta either way, we'll still have leftovers. I think we all often think similarly when trying to manage resources and prevent waste.

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  6. I too have converted to simpler meals and plan to do so for January.

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    1. I hope you put a tuna hotdish in your menu. I see lots of roasted vegetables on mine.

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  7. The after Christmas let down is here and the quiet is so nice. I made daughter take most of the leftovers, so I do not have to deal with them. But there is still plenty of food here. I am so glad you had a nice visit with your son. It has to be hard not to get to see him in person.

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    1. I hope the let down wasn't too hard. Your daughter I'm sure appreciates having food at the ready. I really miss him but so hopeful he'll come this summer.

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  8. I sent pretty much all my leftovers home with my kids but boy did I over-estimate the quantities!

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