Seems to me that the last meal plan I made was at the very end of August, which included the first few days of September.
I didn't make a meal plan for the week starting September 5, because neighbor S brought me a feast and there were leftovers from that and other leftovers that I already had in the fridge. The following week, S brought me pastries and lentils and there were still more leftovers! Once again, I didn't need to make a meal plan! They were augmented with cooked food from the freezer (chicken curry I had cooked and frozen, frozen gyoza/potstickers and hamburger patties I had bought, pizza I had baked and frozen, etc.) and a pot of chicken and vegetable soup I had made (I added the last of the lentils S had given me to the soup and it was delicious!). I certainly didn't go hungry!
So, here I am, on a Wednesday afternoon, trying to decide if I should make a meal plan for the rest of this week or not! I suppose I should, if only to take things out from the freezer in advance to thaw!
On Monday, I had chicken curry and rice for an early breakfast after staying up all night; followed by the last of the soup for lunch, and the last of the gyoza/potstickers (there were only four left in the bag) for dinner, with apple slices and peanut butter.
On Tuesday, I had a hamburger patty (no bun or bread) with a side salad and corn for brunch; chicken curry and tortillas for dinner, grapes and an apple.
Wednesday (today):
Brunch: Scrambled egg, bacon, and toasted homemade bread (from the freezer)
Dinner: Salad, sauteed chicken drumsticks (from the freezer)
Thursday:
Brunch: Salad (I need to finish the lettuce before it spoils)
Dinner: Chicken drumsticks, stir fried vegetables, rice or noodles
Friday:
Brunch: Toasted homemade bread and cheese
Dinner: Spaghetti with ground turkey sauce
Saturday:
Brunch: Pancakes or waffles with peach sauce
Dinner: Leftover spaghetti and ground turkey sauce
Sunday:
Brunch: Leftover pancakes or waffles
Dinner: Rice and curries (fish curry, dhal, moringa, etc.)
This meal plan is based on what I have on hand. It might change if I decide to put in an order for groceries this week and when I pick it up. I haven't done any grocery shopping, yet, this month, and chicken is on sale for $.99/lb. this week, plus I need more bread and a few other items.
How is your meal planning coming along?
An incredibly delicious week, Bless. I don't meal plan anymore, as I live alone. But I do have "staples" on hand for meals. This seems to mostly work for me.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ratnamurti. I find it easier if I have a meal plan because then, I can remember to take things out of the freezer in time to thaw, etc. :)
DeleteI love how neighbourly everyone is. My meal plan is so-so. I had things planned this week - thinking it was a normal week. My middle son then told me he was coming to visit on Wednesday and Friday (his birthday) and then found out husband had to work until 6pm Wed and Thurs (+ 40 min drive home) so I had to rethink! I think I need to be a bit more organised regarding schedules!
ReplyDeleteI am blessed to have S as my neighbor! You did well with reorganizing your meal plan around your family's schedules! Glad it all worked out!
DeleteYour neighbour is so kind and her gifts of food to you look so delicious. Only a week left in September, the time just flies by and your grocery budget should allow you to have a good buy-in this week. I have my weekly grocery delivery arriving today but I'm still trying to use what's in the freezer so I've not ordered too much this time.
ReplyDeleteShe really is, Eileen; she and her family take good care of me! :D Time is definitely flying by! It's already the start of Autumn!
DeleteI have all my grocery budget for this month, but, I think I might put aside a portion of it for stocking up, later. I am thinking ahead to holiday baking and want to be able to take advantage of sales on baking supplies (butter, flour, etc.)
Hope your grocery delivery arrives without any problems and includes all the items you ordered. :)
Hi Bless. That all sounds very tasty indeed. Can I ask what a gyoza is. I've never heard of it before.
ReplyDeleteHi Cherie, thank you. Gyoza is the Japanese term for a type of dumpling with a savory filling (vegetables and chicken or meat, or shrimp, etc.); they are also called potstickers or Chinese dumplings. They can be made from scratch, but, I find the frozen ones to be quite convenient to have on hand. :)
DeleteWe usually a bag of potstickers in the freezer. They are a great addition to many meals - and very easy to prepare.
ReplyDeleteThey are a good thing to have on hand, aren't they? My problem is, if I have them in the freezer, I tend to want to eat them all the time! :D
DeleteMaybe your meal plan needs to include an item, "possible food donations"!
ReplyDeleteI made rather a lot of pancakes this morning and we only needed two fairly small ones each, so there are a dozen more in the freezer now!
DDIL shared a recipe that I really like for north American style pancakes, which includes 1/2 cup of yogurt, so I save the whey that comes up in each litre of plain yogurt, to use in the recipe.
LOL; that makes it sound like I am expecting gifts of food! Maybe I should just add a caveat, "subject to change"! :D
DeleteFreezing the extra pancakes sounds like a good idea! Next time you want pancakes, all you have to do is take some out and warm them! Using the whey in the pancakes will up their nutritional value and use something that would otherwise go to waste. :)
Yes, you should make an line for "delicious food from S" insert here.
ReplyDelete:)
Such a problem to have, right?
Reading through your list, you had some tasty meals.
I had some leftover vegetable and bean soup that I stretched yesterday into a Cajun potato and Shrimp soup which turned out very tasty. The Emeril's Cajun Sprice expired in 2013 but is till chugging along.
lol
LOL, I don't think I'd to that, Debra, but, I will happily alter the meal plan if there are additional gifts of food. :)
DeleteYour Cajun potato and shrimp soup sounds delicious! I don't believe that spices expire. :)