It’s Monday again!
Last week’s menu went well until we hit the weekend. Then it all sort of fell apart. Saturday Yankee Bill had a meeting, so the kiddos and I just ate leftovers (of which their were plenty) an then yesterday my lovely MIL called to ask if we wanted to come to her place for a roast chicken dinner. How could I say no to that? As a result I didn’t make the fried rice (but many of the leftovers got used up on Sat) or the Enchilada Casserole.
A surprise hit was the Lentil Casserole from Home Ec 101 that I tried. Both of the kiddos thought it was yummy, and YB’s first comment was “There isn’t any meat in this?” in a tone of surprise after the first bite (he ate 3 helpings). It made a large 9X13 pan, so there were tons of leftovers (next time I may only make 1/2 a recipe). I’ve been eating some for lunch every day, and for lunch yesterday I whipped up a soup out of canned broth, leftover veggies, and 2 pieces of the casserole mashed up and sort of dissolved in it (yummy I tell you). My plan is to use up the rest of the casserole this week in a mexican dish. By the time I add in all the taco spices, I think the lentils will taste like a regular mexican mix.
Monday: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad, Bread
My neighbor and friend-T-sent over an entire pot of spaghetti sauce and meatballs yesterday, claiming to have made a huge pot. She is so sweet that way! So I’ll just boil up some noodles, fix a salad, throw the bread I’ll bake today into a basket and call it a meal.
Tuesday: Bratwurst, Rolls, Potato Salad, Canned Corn
YB was down in Pennsylvania last week right near a great German restaurant and butcher shop. He stopped in and bought REAL German brats-the white kind (not the Johnsonville kind which do not resemble the German ones at all). Trust me, if you’ve ever lived in, or even visited Germany, you see the difference. The sausages were not cheap-an extravagance to be honest-but they will taste so good with some spicy mustard hot off the grill. I’ll boil up some potatoes during my day today to cool and have on hand for some American style potato salad-my first batch of the year. I’m sure there will be leftovers of that.
Wednesday: Eating Out
We have an event to attend, so we’ll be eating on the go. We rarely do that!
Thursday: Enchilada Casserole, “Spanish” rice, Refried Beans, veggies
This is where I’ll use up the rest of the lentil casserole. I’ll mash it up and simmer it with some taco spices and then use in place of the meat. The spanish rice is a complete cheat, just rice cooked in tomato juice/sauce with a few spices. The beans are canned fat free from Aldi’s. Veggies are frozen.
Friday: Homemade Pizza
Saturday: Sausage Rice Casserole, Veggies, Bread
I’ll use any leftover Brats. If there aren’t any, then I’ll use one of the polish sausages from the freezer.
Sunday: Turkey and the fixings
I purchased an entire turkey last week at Save a Lot-it was $.89 a lb, so that is pretty cheap meat. Of course it was frozen solid, so I figure that a week or so in the fridge will defrost it. We’ll have a classic turkey meal, and then I’ll freeze cooked portions for later and boil the carcass for soup next week.
Head on over to Organizing Junkie for more great menu plans.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I won’t lie, the lentil casserole is one of the few vegan recipes I know that has enough protein to leave me full before I’m tired of eating. I’m glad you liked it, too.
Hey, Jen, l’m going to try your lentil stew!
Here’s another idea for leftovers… they make great sandwich fillings with a little mustard or mayo. l especially like leftover pea soup (we called it pease porridge when it sat a few days and thickened, my kids loved it, singing the song is an added bonus).
Any leftover cooked beans, mashed with some seasonings are great for sandwiches…l love spicy mustard and baked beans on Exekiel bread! Good enough to open a can of them, as well. Beans on toast are a Brittish staple!
Love you and all you’re doing!
V
Yummy menu! The lentil casserole looks great, my family eats a lot of lentils and that recipe will go in my file. Have a great week!
love your new wall paper background. Was the pink and green deliberate?
Evelyn
We’re having the same thing tonight!
I’m going to look into the lentil casserole because we’ve been trying to eat less meat around here.