If you're looking for exciting and creative meals, swoosh on by. We've been eating basics and staples and plan another week of it. Here's how last week faired.
- Sunday: Brunch, plus leftover's later with Salmon, brie and my sister's pulled turkey.
- Monday: Mushroom Stroganoff
- Tuesday: Pasta fagiole soup, crackers
- Wednesday: Pulled pork and boxed Mac and cheese. We were anxiously waiting to hear our daughter arrived safely back to school so I was happy to find the pork in the freezer once my stomach felt at ease.
- Thursday: Chicken tortellini soup ( froze two large portions)
- Friday: Scrap Pepperoni lasagna- used bits of stuff and broken noodles
- Saturday: Used up stuff to make burritos/ bowls with guacamole.
I used up bits and added bits to the freezer or will eat for lunch today. We had soup twice, but the chicken tortellini is so thick and creamy it's very filling. Here's sort of the plan for the week. More soup, but I've been craving a hearty bean soup and I have some celery and carrots that need something done with.
- Sunday: Assorted homemade mini pizzas- Pepperoni, spinach, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, plus ingredients for a caramelized onion, apple and squash version. All will yield lunch leftovers.
- Monday: Pasta Puttanesca This will end the olives and olive tapenade!
- Tuesday: Meatballs in gravy, mashed potatoes
- Wednesday: Stir fry and rice
- Thursday: Tomato soup and grilled cheese
- Friday: Chicken, cheese, broccoli rice hotdish
- Saturday: Homemade Bean soup and Panini sandwich
I've not set a budget challenge but goal is to stay out of the stores other than needed. Since I was near Trader Joe's after my knee appointment, I popped in for a browse, a few treats just found there, and more vegetables. DH has quite a few gift cards for local restaurants so if we decide to get a meal out, it will be low cost, but I want to see how the next two weeks go. My daughter's non profit has an event January 23 and that's my aim to stay healthy for. I have the outdoor hiking meetup with mom's friends too the week before, so going to bars and restaurants isn't that appealing.
Do you know there's mom bloggers and vloggers selling their family's meal plan? Incredible! You get my dullard menu for free. I'll let you know if I stayed on track for any of this.
Sounds great Sam! Since I've been working so much we have still been doing lots of grazing boards, just too tired to cook much. I think I will get a nice big pot of soup on today, we're having the perfect weather for it. Have a great Sunday and a great week!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind soup multiple times in a week. So hearty and warming. DH gets sick if it but sometimes wonder if he'd just eat out without me cooking meals or live if frozen pizza and air fryer food. To me, that's boring.
DeleteMy goal is to only pop into Walmart once this week. I’ll need creamer, tissues, bacon, odds and ends of stuff. Husband did a big shop yesterday so I’ll just cobble together whatever we have and call it a week. I did find a half pork loin marked down to 1.05 a lb and he found whole turkey for 79 cents a lb so those are great item to stretch. I need to come up with some sort of solution to my coffee creamer addiction. It’s getting expensive and is a pain to keep running out of it. Either homemade or ween myself back off of it, though I used to use Splenda in my coffee and creamer is probably somewhat better for me. Regardless, I have an 11 hour day ahead of me for inventory and it’s my seventh day in a row. We have another sick employee, she went to get tested yesterday but it sounds like she’ll be out this week. We’ll probably order pizza at work, the rest of the fam can fend for themselves. I’m supposed to be off tomorrow but I don’t have high hopes of that happening. If I am, I’ll meal plan tomorrow, if not I need to start freezing stuff. Can’t afford to waste anything. JoAnn
ReplyDeleteAs I don't like sweet coffee I've never had to worry about creamer, though do like milk or real cream in mine. That day sounds really hard. I hope you get down time today.
DeleteYour menu sounds good SAM. I am not sure what we are having yet as I'm sitting here in urgent care waiting for my covid test results. Doc thinks I have bronchitis. Meals will definitely continue to be simple like last night was chicken nuggets and tator tots. I might throw a pork roast in the oven today since the oven does all the work. I'm not sure yet. Have a great Sunday.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're unwell, but maybe now you have the right treatment. Simple is perfect for meals and letting you recover.
DeleteSelling meal plans? I guess anyone can incentivise anything these days. Your menu sounds good to me, with the exception of the olives...I'm just not a fan.
ReplyDeleteSadly, my son is not a soup eater so meals tend to revolve around a protein with some sort of starch and added veg. You think your menu is boring. :)
M is not a soup person, so I took advantage of his boys ski trip & made two soups for the freezer. I have them for lunch, to get in my soup fix, and avoid a menu that he won't eat. I have enough dietary challenges to work through as is. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone would pay for my menu plan of leftovers for half the week either!
I was baffled to see the tag line and link to Etsy. $9.99 for a months plan. We'll, if someone's willing to buy. I've now got many options for lunches as well. We made too much pizza- but is that possible?
DeleteOh Gosh! Is it time for me to come up with a meal plan, AGAIN!?! lol
ReplyDeleteI want to live on a cruise ship and have all my meals cooked and served to me instead....can I do that??
After the excess of the Holidays a few weeks of humble, plain food is just what's called for in my book. That and eating leftovers. Then using what you have.....in that order. Enjoy!
Have you heard the urban legend of the woman that instead of a retirement home just did endless cruising? Everything taken care of for her, medical care in board... Not a bad thought. January will be humble food month.
DeleteI'm going to try going with two week order on Tuesday as a test even if I have to go frozen in the ceg and fruit the last couple if days. The pasta soup looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteWe really enjoy the pasta fagiole soup but it makes a ton, so plan to share and freeze.
DeleteI tend to agree with Sluggie - the idea of living permanently on a cruise ship is very appealing. All meals made for me and no housework!!! As for me, while my appetite is coming back slowly my enthusiasm for cooking seems to have left town for the moment so it's all simple stuff over here. But hey, as long as everyone gets fed right?
ReplyDeleteNo housework would apeal. Laundry would be the only downside- and other people. I figure easy meals is better than no meals.
DeleteDefinitely a time for soup with the temps being what they are. We had a broccoli cauliflower cheese soup last week with a Reuben sandwich, using up the corned beef and Swiss cheese. Leftover sauerkraut will be used up with kielbasa and potatoes this week and likely will be making potato soup before some of the spuds start to grow. Todays "linner" will be leftover pasta and a small salad. Might make a cheese quesadilla to go with as there is no garlic bread left. I've been really putting more effort into utilizing our leftovers which can make for some unusual combinations but it works. Both my husband and myself prefer simple fare. You don't end up with a lot of spices or ingredients that you don't know what to do with when you do specialized cooking. Stay warm - although it does sound like it will be a bit warmer mid week and then back into freeze later in the week. Ranee (MN)
ReplyDeleteYou have me thinking Reuben sandwich now- it's been ages. Your soup sounds delicious. I've not found a good broccoli cauliflower soup recipe or version to make. Sunday had a cold bite for sure.
DeleteIf you do make Reuben sandwiches, try using French dressing instead of the Thousand Island that is typically used. It gives the sandwich a nice kick and before having them this way, I did not like Reubens. Now they're a real treat that I look forward to. (my husband makes them)
DeleteI love soup and could easily have it every meal.
ReplyDeleteMy meals going forward are leftovers, revamped leftovers and using what is in the fridge that needs to be used.
I would love to be able to sell my meal plan going forward but nobody would want it. I don't understand why anyone would pay for someone else's plan.
My meal plan is a repeating loop with leftovers to insert. I assume all recipes are linked in the plan as well?
DeleteMy meal plan is so easy--just cook about ten pounds of bscb. I add a new vegetable to it each day, and as one veg is eaten, there is another taking its place, eating at least two and often three vegetables at a meal.
ReplyDeleteTommy is so grateful to have home-cooked food that he does not mind getting it himself. We eat chicken for about three days, have another leftover, and start back on the chicken. Right now, we have plenty of dibbles and dabbles of leftovers.
I need to find one of those meal plans and see just how special it is.
I'd never have a happy husband with so much chicken. Glad that works for you as it's easy.
DeleteI enjoy reading others' meal plans, but I can't say I would never pay for someone else's. Also, whenever a vlogger or blogger offers things like that for sale, I almost always stop reading. I can't stand blogs which are constantly shilling.
ReplyDeleteMy meal plan this week is nonexistent. Tonight is slow cooked pork and sauerkraut over mashed potatoes, with an apple pie (baking as I type this) for dessert. That's it so far.
Today, it's sunny, and almost 50 degrees. This is certainly a change from the severe weather of last week. I've been outside a few times already!
She must also link to all the recipes or I really don't understand buying. Our Sunday was wretchedly cold.
DeletePeople sell their meal plans?? What kind of weirdness is that? We've also been eating much more "bare" - both of us are feeling the chocolates and tight clothes!
ReplyDeleteMore weird- people buy the plans. I've figured they must be like mini recipe books and link to the details as well. I managed after holidays to not put more in, but that's not anything to crow about.
DeleteTut! every time i read your menu I want to come over it sounds scrumptious.
ReplyDeleteThere's more for a third person- come in over.
DeleteHere’s a wonderful, cheap chicken wild rice soup I made up. Everyone loves it! Made it last year and couldn’t fine find the rice mix as it was sold out so stocked up this year. Thank god it came back. At Aldi’s get Earth Grains roasted vegetable and chicken dried rice mix (also has orzo!) I sauté onions and carrots (occasionally celery) till slightly tender, pour in soup mix, add lots of water with pkt of seasoning and chicken bouillon to taste. Simmer per per rice mix directions but about 15 minutes before done I add up cut up cooked chicken and at the end I simmer in a roux to thicken a little and add cream for creamy wild rice soup (but I bet it would be good without it. The pkt has such flavorings). About 45 minutes and a huge pot of soup. I use my larger lodge pan.
ReplyDelete