What We Really Ate: Third Week of January

 

I always get concerned at the onset of a Pantry/Freezer challenge that I won't quite manage a month...And along about week Three I think seriously I could go another month.  

I'll be doing a complete inventory this week.  I am NOT good at keeping up with what I use or put into my freezer.  I think I am going to try to keep a sheet notebook and pen in the kitchen and write down what I put in or take out each time I go into the pantry or freezer.  Then I'll enter those into my actual inventory sheets at the end of each day.  We'll see how that works for me.

Here's what we had this week:

Saturday:  Toast

Marinated Ham Sandwiches, Chips.  I took these sandwiches from the freezer before we left this morning and then put them right in the oven when we came in from Outreach.

Beef Stew.  Yes, just beef stew.  I didn't serve the Applesauce or mix up muffins.  And the stew beef turned out to be strips of beef for stir fry, but it still tasted good and cooked up tender in the slow cooker.

Sunday:  Sausage and Cheese Toast for me, Toast for John

Fried Chicken, Creamy Mac and Cheese, Whole Grain Bread.

Monday:  Potato and Sausage Hash (me) and Toast (John)

Red Beans and Rice.  Yes, I did plan this as an entree and yes, I know I've served it for lunch.  My only excuse is that it was cold (30F at noon) and while I was chopping the vegetables ahead of time, it seemed to me that this would be a very good dish to have for lunch.  And it was! I put enough beans into the freezer for at least two more servings each for us.

Pan Seared Sirloin, Armenian Potatoes, Broccoli with Cheese.  When I cut this meat up, I think it worked out to 2 steaks and a sizeable piece to be used as stir fry.  The stir fry piece looked stringy like flank steak to me, so I think that stir-fry is best for him.  The two steaks are not large.  I went online and read all the instructions, and it's most often suggested that this cut be pan-seared (my choice) or grilled.

Tuesday: Cinnamon Toast and Bacon (me), Toast (John)

A variety of leftovers.  I found two burger sliders in the freezer.  Those will be for John.  I'll reheat the Tamale Pie left from last week.  There's a bit of potato salad and Mac and cheese too. Not enough of any one thing to make a meal but lumped together we'll have enough lunch.

More Leftovers.  Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Coleslaw, Biscuits.  Leftover fried chicken.  Russet Potatoes that desperately need to be used will make mashed potatoes. I'll make a small batch of coleslaw and biscuits.  Gravy is super simple: bouillon powder, water and a bit of flour, salt and pepper.  Easy to make.  

Originally, I hadn't planned to use this chicken but to thaw out raw chicken and make an oven fried dish.  That struck me as rather silly this morning, especially when I had four pieces of fried chicken (2 wings and 2 thighs) just sitting in the fridge.  I decided to use what I have, save what I have and go from there.

Wednesday:  Biscuits with ham and cheese for me, Toast for John

Ropa Vieja Burritos, Banana

Polska Kielbasa, Pierogi, Sauerkraut.  You'll notice that this meal wasn't on my menu.  By skipping one meal, and using another item to replace another meal, I've finished my menu plan for the week!  And here I am with three days to go.  Never mind.  I'm not buying anything extra or using anything I don't have.  

Based on the sales I saw for this week it's just as well I'm in a pantry/freezer challenge!  I haven't seen a thing worth leaving home for.

Thursday:  Yogurt with Mango and Granola (me), Toast (John)

Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuits.  I had leftover biscuits, and just enough eggs and bacon to make this for lunch today.  It was yummy and we both appreciated the change in pace.  Eggs are now gone, and I have less than 8 ounces of cheese.

I am also out of celery and have just one onion left.  Well one yellow onion and one red onion.  I really just consider yellow onions as 'onions' if you know what I mean.  I'll use the red onions to pickle or put on burgers or a salad but seldom to cook with.

Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner, Rice, Mandarins.  Oriental seasoned meatballs, red and orange peppers, carrots, broccoli and onion.  I'll serve over rice.

Friday:  Hash and Toast, Toast

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup.  This used one of those cans of tomato soup that I'd noticed had recently expired.

Million Dollar Spaghetti, Salad, Bread.  I had this in the freezer.  I think I put it up back in December, but I failed to note the date when I took it out this afternoon.  It was really good!  Naturally, like last night's meal, John said "We could have this again!"  And we could, if only I hadn't made them both off the cuff and can't remember exactly how I made them.  

And that's what we really ate this week!

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