Menu Monday - Semi Home Cooking

I don't think I made more than two meals at home last week.  Mama had hip surgery and while I carried a meal along on the surgery day, the rest of the week was shot.  I was so busy gathering stuff she needed, going about trying to get things taken care of, that when I'd start to head home it was late and I was struggling with tiredness, hunger and overwhelm.  I ate out a lot.

My menu plan for last week:  1 meal got made.  That was it.  I can't even remember what was on my menu plan, sigh.

This week things are still in the air, but there's some opportunity for routine too.  I might make it through this if I can hang on to the normal days.  Meals won't be difficult by any means, but boy they will taste better than anything I had last week!

Monday:  Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Salad, Homemade Croutons
The croutons were courtesy one of my meals out this past week.  I stopped at Olive Garden and brought home the bread sticks (and half my entree).  We used one of the bread sticks for our Shabat bread and I used the rest to make croutons for salads.



By the way, I had a nice soup that day Roasted Chicken with Gnocchi...I'm determined to try and replicate that soup.  It was so very good. 

Tuesday:  Homemade Chicken Tenders, Fries, Slaw
 I haven't made homemade chicken nuggets since Katie was in junior high.  Boy were they good though.  I have a large packet of chicken tenders.  I thought I'd make up a batch of nuggets and freeze some for later.  I like to make a sort of sweet/sour sauce of pineapple preserves with yellow mustard stirred in.  Frozen fries will bake alongside the nuggets.

Wednesday:  Hamburgers, Macaroni Salad, Grape Tomatoes
John put in an order for this meal tonight. I'd like to make macaroni salad here at home, but we'll be grocery shopping that day and I have a feeling we won't make it past the deli salad.  I'll cook burgers here at home using that really good beef we bought at the meat market.  I'll look for a fancy roll to have our burgers on (maybe onion).  It will be a quickly prepared meal.


Thursday:  Chicken Pot Pie, Green Beans, Ambrosia
Frozen pot pies as a very good name brand one is on sale this week.  It will be a nice break for me, so I can prepare food ahead for Friday and Saturday meals.  Navel oranges are still a very good buy for us just now and Aldi has fresh pineapple for $.99.  I think the ambrosia will be refreshing with our hot pot pies.


Friday:   Mexican Pizza, Texas Sheet Cake
Refried beans, taco seasoned hamburger (a bit of ground meat cooked ahead on Wednesday when I make burgers), Monterrey Jack cheese, salsa, on a cornmeal crust.  I like to top my hot pizza with finely shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes just like a taco.  The Texas sheet cake is like a moist brownie with cinnamon and a lovely chocolate glaze topped with pecans.


Saturday:  Crock Pot Turkey and Dressing,  Peas with Mushrooms, Strawberry Shortcake
A meal for Oneg.  Strawberries are very inexpensive just now.  I'll take along the macerated berries and whipped cream and assemble the cake just before we eat.  I like to make a real shortcake for the base, sort of a giant biscuit.

Sunday:   Dinner out with the kids.
John planned this meal six weeks ago.  He called the kids and set up the date and turned down an extra shift for the first Sunday in months on end so he could have dinner with them.  No clue what we'll have but it is bound to be enjoyed just because of the company.