Vacation is wonderful-but it’s time to head back home. I’ve been down in TX for a week visiting my two sisters and 3 nieces and nephews with the kiddos while poor Yankee Bill is living the bachelor life up in NY. Today is our travel day home and then it’s back to the regular routines of life. I have loved being here and seeing everyone-but it’s always the best to go home to my own place, person and bed.
Here is what I need to consider for this week after looking at the calendar:
1. Since today-Monday-is a travel day and we are returning home after supper there is no need to plan any meal.
2. We’ve not only got our regular dance and scouts nights, but Yankee Bill has meetings 2 evenings and I have a class all day on Saturday. Those are all days when a long involved meal would be a bad idea.
3. I know I’ve got some really nice lettuce in the fridge still that’s been in there for a week. I need to use that. I’ve also got several butternut squash from last fall that I can’t forget to use. Otherwise the fridge is pretty well cleaned out of fresh stuff since I knew I’d be out of town.
4. Although today is supposed to be extremely warm, the rest of the week is back down into the 50′s & 60′s. So I’m still good if I make dishes with more of a cold weather bent-like soups and casseroles.
5. As always my goals are to incorporate one venison, one fish, one meatless, one bean and one soup meal into the menu plan. And I’m fine if a single meal falls into multiple categories-such as venison chili being a venison and a bean meal.
Taking all that into account here is my game plan:
Monday: Travel Day
Sorry Yankee Bill, the kiddos and I are eating at the airport, you are going to have to figure it out on your own for one more day.
Tuesday: Pork Stir-fry with Rice
For my first full day back I want something that is fairly easy for me to whip up. I can make a nice stirfry from the pork in the freezer and some frozen veggies to serve over rice. The kiddos like it, I have everything in the house without going shopping and I can toss it together pretty quick. Win-Win-Win.
Wednesday: Creamy Ham & Potatoes, Steamed Carrots & Salad
There is Easter Ham in the freezer which I can use with some of the potatoes in the basement to make up this crockpot Creamy Ham and Potatoes. Since it’s a crockpot meal I can make it in the morning and just let it cook all day so it’s ready before scouts. The carrots will need to be dug from the garden, and the salad will be very simple using the lettuce I’ve got in the crisper.
Thursday: Butternut Black Bean and Venison Tamale Pie with Green Beans
I’ll actually be making my Pumpkin Black Bean and Beef Tamale Pie and substituting venison for the beef and butternut squash for the pumpkin. I haven’t made this filling Mexican style casserole for a while–It will be nice to squeeze it in before the weather turns more permanently warm and discourages casseroles. Although this is more or less a one dish meal I always hear my mom’s voice in my head insisting that we need a green vegetable. . . so I’ll add some canned green beans.
This is my venison and my bean meal for the week.
Friday: Pizza
Using my Pizza Hut Crust Clone recipe of course!
You know, usually I don’t count it this way, but technically if I just make cheese pizza then this could count for my meatless meal for the week!
Saturday: Homemade Chicken Soup with Impossible Beer Bread
Soup is a great meal for a day I’m going to be out of the house-throw it in the crockpot in the morning and it just gets better and better with time. I’ll be able to whip up a quick loaf of Impossible Beer Bread just before dinner to accompany it.
This is my soup meal for the week.
Sunday: Old Fashioned Salmon Loaf, Citrus Rice and Spicy Greens
The Old Fashioned Salmon Loaf will most likely be a combination salmon and tuna loaf to cut the cost a bit. I get tired of plain old rice, and citrus is a natural pairing for fish, so I’ll jazz my meal up a bit with my citrus rice recipe. The greens will be frozen from last year with a few early greens like wild garlic mustard and dandelion added in for some extra vitamins and zip!
This is my fish meal for the week
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Are you interested in learning more about menu planning? Check out my post “Why Plan a Weekly Menu” .
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