Welcome to a late starting week. Yes, I know it’s not Monday any longer, but even though I haven’t had my plan up I promise I’ve actually been feeding my family home cooked food!
Here’s what I’ve got to plan around this week:
1. Last week there were changes to the meal plan–which frequently happens. It’s a plan, not something etched in stone! So I never did make the Garlic Pork Balsamico or the Tuna Loaf, so those will go in this weeks meal plan.We also wound up making ham this weekend because my 1/2 of an organic pig arrived–and I had to clear some of the older pork out of the freezer! I threw a ham from last year in the crockpot and called it supper.
2. This week I had a class on Monday night, Yankee Bill has events Tues, Wed, Thurs evenings, and we’ve got Princess’s school play Fri-Sun. Not to mention Buddy going back to scouts on Wed. Lots and lots of stuff going on. I’ve got to get into the store at some point which usually winds up to be a full day trip as well. Sigh. It’s chaos from now till Christmas it seems.
3. In the fridge I’ve had leftover ham, the ham bone, and mashed butternut squash I should use up. Out in the garden I’ve still got leeks, chard, mustard greens, turnips, radishes and a few carrots. I love fall gardening, even if I kind of want to just be done at the same time.
4. As always my goal is to have one venison meal, one fish meal, one pork meal, one bean meal, one meatless meal and one soup meal per week. Taking all that into account here is my game plan:
Monday: Lentil Soup and Bread
I tossed the ham bone in the crockpot with lentils, garlic, water, onion, carrot and a bit of bullion and made a lovely slow cooked lentil soup that I served with bread. Easy peasy and I got to my evening class on time without having to worry about dinner.
This was my bean, soup and meatless meal (there was practically no meat on the bone–it was mostly for flavor)
Tuesday: Pasta with Red Sauce and Salad
I combined home canned hot venison sausage with home canned spaghetti sauce, boiled pasta, added it together and then threw in some half and half from the fridge and some powdered Parmesan cheese. Served a quick salad on the side. Filling, delicious and easy.
This is my venison meal for the week.
Wednesday: Breakfast for Dinner–Pancakes
I haven’t done breakfast for dinner in a while. Yankee Bill doesn’t particularly like it, and Princess will be at play rehearsal, so it should be an easy meal to whip up for just Buddy and I. I might make some fruit compote out of the odds and ends of the fruit bowl to serve on the side instead of a vegetable.
This is another meatless meal for the week. I’m on a roll!
Thursday: Salmon/Tuna Loaf with Hollandaise Sauce, Southern Style Greens and Rice
I didn’t make the Tuna loaf last week, but now it’s on my mind so I need to make it! I adore it with a bit of Hollandaise sauce on the side mixed with some spicy creole seasoning. The greens (most likely Kale from the garden but maybe Indian Mustard) will be done southern style–all day long in the crockpot with a ham hock, onions and red pepper. Mmmm. Add some rice on the side and you’ve got a glorious meal.
This is my fish meal for the week.
Friday: Homemade Pizza
We haven’t actually made pizza in a long time. It will be nice to have Buddy help me make it as an afternoon activity as well (Princess will be getting all geared up for her show and probably have to eat early)
Saturday: Garlic Pork Balsamico, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
Like the fish loaf, now that I talked about the garlic pork I’ve got it on my mind! I’ll do some home mashed potatoes (unless I get stuck for time then it’s from a box) and just add home canned green beans on the side.
This is my pork meal for the week.
Sunday: Leftover Stirfry
All the bits and bobs that are leftover will be added into a stirfry.
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Are you interested in learning more about menu planning? Check out my post “Why Plan a Weekly Menu” .
If you put meat in a dish, IT IS NOT MEATLESS. It does not matter how little you put in. If it has meat in it, it is NOT meatless.
Jane-while what you say is true, the question here is what is my goal? Yes, if I was serving food to a vegetarian or vegan, I would not refer to a dish with any meat at all as meatless. However, my intent is to reduce the cost of my meals (ie be frugal) by cutting down on what is typically the most expensive ingredient in any meal plan, the meat. I spend far less money having a slice or two of bacon for each person in my family or a quarter cup of leftover ham tossed in my pea soup than I would if I bought chicken breasts for everyone or a couple pounds of ground beef.
And anyway, it’s my meal plan–I can define my goals and definitions however I like. You are welcome to define yours however you like. Thanks for taking the time to comment!