Welcome to a snowy upstate NY day! The kids are off from school today due to a storm, and it looks like there is more snow on the way later this week. It’s a cold and snowy time here–and feels like spring is far far away.
Here’s what I’ve got to plan around this week:
1. The kids have Odyssey of the Mind every night this week since the competition is this weekend. I’ve got the ladies coming over tomorrow to make pasta–that will keep me busy during the day, and we’ll wind up with fresh pasta. Wednesday I have errands, Thursday I have a seminar I’m attending–so both those days I need either easy meals or something that can go in the slow cooker and cook on it’s own. Saturday we’ll all be at the OM competition during the day and then that evening Yankee Bill and I will go out for Valentines Day.
2. In the fridge I have leftover ham, salad fixings, sour cream, . . . . . I’ve got 2 dark beers that Bill doesn’t actually want to drink on the counter that need to get used for something. The butternut squash up on the cabinet need to get used up. In the basement I’ve got a bunch of potatoes, onions, garlic and of course all the frozen vegetables from the garden and the frozen meat from our cow, pig and deer.
3. I’m still trying to finish up some of the final office stuff. Why does that last little big take so much effort? Anyway–that’s keep me pretty busy even when I’m at home. I’m just not in the mood for any complicated meals.
Taking all that into account here is my game plan:
Monday: Pumpkin Black Bean Beef and Tamale Pie and Green Beans
The Pumpkin Black Bean Beef and Tamale Pie is pretty much a one dish meal, but I always feel I should have an extra “side” vegetable so I’ll use some of our home canned green beans and warm them up with a bit of bacon and onion as a side dish. Mmm.
This is my bean and my beef meal for the week.
Tuesday: Homemade Pasta with Meat-sauce and Salad
The ladies and I like to get together to try new skills or work on large projects (these are the gals who got together with me two years ago to can 72 pints of applesauce!). We’ve been wanting to try making our own pasta for months and finally got around to scheduling a day. So after we make pasta of course we need to eat some! I’ll just slice up some of the pork Italian sausage I have in the freezer and add it to some of my homemade canned sauce. Since the kids have been taking salads for lunch I have plenty of salad stuff in the crisper and can make one to go alongside.
This is my pork meal for the week.
Wednesday: Irish Stew & Soda Bread
Irish stew is an opportunity to use up some of the beer, venison and potatoes. Plus after the initial browning/assembly I can let it cook in the slow cooker all day while I’m gone. Then in the evening I’ll just have to make some Soda Bread as a side–that will take a bit over an hour to mix and cook, if I’m in more of a hurry I’ll just whip up some biscuits instead. B
This is my soup meal.
Thursday: Ham Loaf, Homemade French Fries and Beets
The Ham loaf is actually a combination of cooked and ground ham, ground pork, egg, breadcrumbs and spices. It’s very yummy and if I get around to taking a picture then I’ll get the recipe posted sometime soon. Since we have so many potatoes I’ve been wanting to make homemade french fries in our little fry daddy. Finally as a vegetable I will use some of my home canned beets. If I feel like it (and remember) I might do a quick pickle in the fridge for the day with them. Pickled beets along with the richness of the fries and the ham loaf just sounds good to me.
This is my pork meal for the week.
Friday: Homemade Calzones
Pizza is a bit easier then calzones (since those have to be formed individually) but the kids have been asking for them. I’ll have to either make or buy a bit of ricotta to go inside-as far as I’m concerned it’s not really a calzone unless you have ricotta too. Of course I’ll use the Pizza Hut Crust Clone recipe for the dough!
This is my meatless meal for the week.
Saturday: Dinner Out
Happy Valentines Day!
Sunday: Soy & Ginger Fish with Rice and Snow Peas
I have frozen tilapia. I’ll use it in my mom’s Soy & Ginger Fish recipe (which apparently I’ve also never posted? What’s up with that?). Soy goes with rice, so we have to have that. Then finally as a green vegetable I’ll use some of the snow peas from our garden that I froze.
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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