Not a Meal Plan Sort of Week

   

     Ugh I planned, sort of. We ate, definitely.  It was a long week and after today, we're able according to misty recent guidelines break isolation and my quarantining since I had close contact helping her pack. So far, we're both fine and the college kid still tested positive Friday with a home test, and took a lab test Saturday, which likely will be positive, but may be needed as part of the recover verification. The plan and what we had is below.

• Sunday: Grilled chicken, roasted veg; tomatoes, potato, carrots, peppers, and mushrooms mushrooms,yellow peppers and onions
• Monday: Cottage Pie( possibly using leftover chicken or possibly meatballs cut in half) but now college kid requested, you guessed it, curry. Maybe I'll do both with intent for lunches Frozen pizza, DH
• Tuesday: Taco Tuesday with fixings, Bagged SW salad with added veggies and chicken strips
• Wednesday:  Spinach, artichoke sauce on spaghetti
• Thursday: Sweet potato, chickpea, rice, mushroom and pepper hippie bowls with chicken strips Curry, leftover pasta for DH
• Friday: Cottage Pie and leftover curry
• Saturday: Cheese Tortellini in the crockpot with spinach and tomato sauce

     We have an issue with our freezer ice maker and something caused some defrosting but I think food is ok. I'm not even going to try plan meals as I try and clean things out so we can get it fixed. DH is joining his mom for lunch today.  She's comfortable with that as he's not been in close contact with either of us, we've been diligent about wiping down any shared areas with disinfectant,  and feels well. It sounds terrible but I'm more than OK missing a Mother's Day lunch with his family, plus my SIL's parents. There's plenty of family time with them all at the lake cabin in the months to come.  My older daughter is taking her Grandma out on Tuesday to a restaurant that's vegan friendly. My younger daughter may join. 

     That's why there's no meal ideas to share this week. I'm sure whatever we eat will be easy and using up chicken, taco meat, egg rolls, sloppy joes and whatever else I find. Once the freezer is fixed, or at least not problematic, I'll shop for May.  Have a good week ahead. 

Meals for the Week-Maybe

   

Pizza, the home made variety might be made this week.

      It 's going to be an easy week of meals. With balancing work and play, the kid coming and going, and later time with my older daughter, I'm not doing a Julia Childs act. I've got odds and ends in the freezer to use up, planning some take out, and a fish fry on Friday to take our daughter. I will make a massive batch of veggies and chick pea masala so the kid is happy, and chicken, veggies and gravy for her dad. Other meals may include:

• Cheese Ravioli in marinara
• Meatballs and gravy over rice
• Goulash
• Hoagie sandwiches
• Potato Cheese soup 
• Chicken Tetrazzini
• Homemade pizza

     Maybe all, maybe none. I'm baking today, French bread and cinnamon rolls. I guess because of this, soup is a go. Both DH and DD2 like pasta so one if those will be a for you sure too. Yesterday my daughter and I had a wander  in a river town  outside of the Twin Cities. Forgetting it was the Minnesota Education weekend, everyone flocked to any touristy area and Stillwater was no exception. The sidewalks were packed, as was everywhere we popped in. I'll share a few snaps  later, but our lunch in what we thought was going to be a typical bar and grill, was a bit more elevated. We shared a pasta dish, and had two small plates, a ricotta and fig bruschetta, and arancini. Now, I want to find a good arancini recipe and a good truffle fondue as these were served on top of,  because these were magical!  I've more purging to do today, so best get my day started. 

     What's on your menu this week? have you had or have you made arancini yourself? 

Meal Planning? Whatever!

      

     I sure have gotten away from any attempt at real meal planning in July, well mae for the summer. With DD2 bringin home assorted produce tems, the excessive heat, and work schedules that  crept well past proper meal time prepping, I've just sort of flied by the seat of my pants. I had been tracking groceries, and think I've stayed well within my budget (combined Household stuff, grocery, and H&B) of $500, but I'd like August to be an opportunity to make better meal choices and enjoy what summer has readily available. With two full weeks off this month, plus us being back to a two person household after the 21st, my goal will be to both spend less and eat better thought out meals.  Most of July was top off shops-nothing really planned. At some point this week, I'll do a real shop but likely not today, though we need fresh fruit. Here's a list of potential meals that I can make regardless of if I do a big shop or not. 

• Stuffed pasta shells and sauce
• Homemade sausage pizza with assorted vegetables
• Stuffed peppers (though likely with something else. This is a favorite of mine, but not so much others)
• Goulash
• Apple Sausage  Cheddar meatballs and rice pilaf
• Grilled cheese with tomatoes, roasted potatoes
• Toasty dogs and au gratin potatoes
• Tacos with rice and beans
• Spinach, onion, and cheddar quiche

     DD2 will take leftovers for lunch, and prefers over a sandwich, so I'll put a serving aside each day for her. I've plenty of deli meat for the week, but cheese is running low. I'll add that to the short list with fruit for a needed top off. I plan to get corn and have with at least two meals, and what isn't eaten, I'll strip the kernels and freeze for fall corn chowder. While the excessive heat has lessened (Still hot though), I am not happy that so much of these meals will need my oven. I'll try and do some baking at the same time and make a dent in the supply of frozen bananas and clear out a few lingering pantry items.Baked goods will be a nice breakfast change and add items for packed lunches. 

     I needed a spray bottle and a few other odds and ends and just popped into the Dollar Tree yesterday. I grabbed soft butter (probably overpaid per ounce, but kept me from making another stop) a loaf of wheat bread, and hot dog buns. The cashier mentioned likely this will be the last of the bread products they will have. The ingredients have gotten so high, the seller increased their prices to where it was no longer cost effective for DT to carry. I'm seeing stories and blog posts everywhere on how the cost of basics are going up and up. One of my favorite YouTube Channels, Frugal Fit Mom, posted on June 25th comparing several staples now to a year ago. She deduced that while there is some inflation, overall, not the severity of which people are lamenting. This might already be dated though as things have seemed to change even in the last few weeks. I guess my strategy will be to keep doing as much cooking for scratch, using what I have, and trying to avoid waste. Feel free to comment on this, or what you are cooking this week.