End of February Meal Plan/Job Plan

Here we are in the last week of February and the old worn out phrase "Where did the month go?!" comes to mind yet again.  It went as all months go:  entirely too quickly!  Did I make it count?  Not really.  I lost time, I wasted time, I spent time working on one thing when I meant to be working on another.  That's all due to change.  I've got my lists started.  That's the  precursor to some hard work in several areas.

One of my major work areas this week will be the pantry/grocery budget.  A little waste, a few too many impulse buys, a lot of overage...Yes, the kitchen is under scrutiny this week.  I'll be looking over recipes and working up menus for the spring months: breakfast, dinner, supper, snacks.  I've grown bored with the winter choices, haven't you?



I know Spring is near because there was a fine layer of pollen on the car this morning.  A seasonal sign if there ever was one.  The other sign?  Mama shared a quart of strawberries with me this past week.  Asparagus and strawberries are in the stores here, a blessing of being so close to Florida.

Roasted Turkey Breast with Rosemary, Mashed Potatoes with Pan Gravy, Steamed Broccoli with lemon butter, Corn Pudding, Strawberry Cobbler
I have to move the rosemary bush.  I don't know if it's going to survive or not but I figure I might as well harvest the stems anyway.  If it doesn't live, I'll be buying another to plant because I have loved having it at the back steps.  Maddie likes it too.  She stops and sniffs it every day as she's coming and going.  This is a big meal and it's meant to be.

I expect to have leftovers of turkey, potatoes, gravy, corn pudding and cobbler.

Turkey Strata, Green Beans, Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Almonds
I found this recipe in one of the old Kraft family fun magazines.  It's easy enough to put together: bread cubes (I have bread pieces in the freezer), turkey cubes, onions, pimento (or red pepper), celery, mayonnaise, eggs, milk.  The recipe link is similar to my recipe.  I don't use the soup as a sauce over mine.

Inside Out Tamale Dish, Refried Beans, Green Salad, Clementines
This is a leftover makeover experiment (and isn't it about time we had one of those features once again?).  I'll use the leftover corn pudding and spread it on the baking dish, top with a Beef Picadilly mixture.  I think it will work out just fine.  Here's to experiments!

Bean and Beef Burritos,  Green Salad, Pico de Gallo, Molten Butterscotch Cakes
I think there will be enough picadilly and beans left to make a second dish.  The dessert is a recipe I've had on my Pinterest board.  Time to use some of those.

Chicken Crescents, Green Peas, Duchess Potatoes, Baked Apples
Another recipe I have meant to try.  I'll use some of the leftover turkey breast and will make only half a recipe.  The duchesse potatoes?  Just a fancy way to heat up leftovers.  This should be the last of one half the turkey breast.  I'll slice the other half for sandwiches.

Leftovers Day for me
Not having to cook will give me extra time to work on my long list of projects.  I'm sure there will be something left over.

Pasta with Spinach, Artichokes and Tomatoes, Cheesy Garlic Bread, Wedge Salads
An easy to prepare meal for the last day of this week, perfect for after service.

For week of February 16-22:

Home:  Grocery shopping.  I want to plan this carefully as I have room in my budget to stock up a little and there are a couple of new recipes I'd like to attempt.  That means a non-routine list so a wee bit more work than usual.

Look over selection and price of shades.  We've decided to upgrade the main rooms window coverings, which is 4 big double windows.  I'll start with shades. 

Shed.  It's supposed to be nice all week long and I doubt it takes more than an hour or so to shift things about and organize it all a little.  I need to look for a new storage bin to stash things in.

Make out my shopping lists for home: new, thrift, hobby store, pantry lists so I can track sales and purchase when I find items.

Yard/Outdoors:  Trim roses.  With the nice weather coming in this week they will be putting on new leaf buds right away.  Since there's to be cooler weather next week now is one of my last opportunities to do this job.

Try to take up rosemary and rose bush at back steps and repot.

Buy paint for front porch floor. 

Booth:  Stop in to dust, add in a few new items, remove some of the oldest pieces, generally refresh. 

Personal:  Need to make out a list of items needed right away for wardrobe and watch for sales to make those purchases.
                  Shop clearance rack for new items for next winter's wardrobe.
                  Take up my jeans.  I need to put darts in waist of both pair.
                  Get the last February birthday gift and mail off.


Feb 23 - 28

Home:  Strip living room of accessories.  Refresh using what I have in other rooms or in shed.
Mop floors.
Find new bath rugs.  Must have.

Yard/Outdoors:  Clean off front porch and get ready for Spring/painting.

Booth:  Gather books/boxes, cover to use as lifts for items.
Gather and tag enough items from stock here in home to completely refresh booth.
Start listing items in other sell venues.