Easter is over, Princess comes home today and we are back on a “normal” schedule at the Frugal Upstate household. . . if any such thing exists.
Here is where you put the considerations for the week
1. Yankee Bill has one meeting this week, I don’t have any!
2. Buddy & Princess have swimming three nights this week, so I need easy & early dinners those nights.
3. This week is “TV Turn Off Week”, which means they have special activities over at the High-school a couple of nights of week, and of course those are on the two nights that we don’t have swimming. So if we went to every swimming practice and both activity nights we’d be out every night this week.
4. As always the goal is one meatless (or pretty meatless), one fish and one venison meal for the week.
5. I have leftover Ham, Juice from the Ham and some side dishes left that should be eaten or frozen.
6. It is supposed to Rain. All. Week. The only decent day (and that’s only “partly sunny”) is Saturday, which means we will probably spend the day outside. We get kind of starved for the outside like that. All day outside means not too much time spent in the kitchen and possibly grilling.
Taking all that into account here is my game plan:
Monday: Ham Flavored Lentils over Rice with Broccoli Casserole and Green Salad
I made my Homemade “Honey Baked” Ham for Easter Dinner~and I have about 4 cups of delicious Ham/Maple flavored juices in the fridge. I’ll stew the lentils in the juice and then serve it over a fresh pot of rice. The broccoli casserole and salad are left over from dinner as well and will be used as is. This is my meatless meal for the week.
Tuesday: Ham Fried Rice and Stir Fried Vegetables
Obviously I have a lot of ham left over! I’ll make extra rice tonight and set aside the extra to make the fried rice. I’ll use some of the vegetables in the crisper bin for the rice, then I’ll just do a bag of stir fried veggies for extra on the side.
Wednesday: Hunter’s Pie and Biscuits
Hunter’s pie is basically shepherds pie but made with Venison. . . I’ll make mashed potatoes for the top as well as enough left over for Thursday’s night’s dinner. Although Hunter’s Pie is a “one dish meal” I always feel bad if I don’t have at least 2 items for dinner, so I’ll whip up some biscuits to go with. This is my venison meal for the week.
Thursday: Salmon Loaf with Creole Sauce, Mashed Potatoes and Carrots
The salmon loaf may really be a mixed “Salmon & Tuna Fish” loaf, depending on what I have in the cabinet 🙂 Hollandaise sauce from a packet with creole seasoning added will make the sauce. The mashed potatoes are from the day before, warmed up, and the carrots are canned from last years garden. This is my fish meal for the week.
Friday: Pizza
Made with the Pizza Hut Crust Clone Recipe. I may get fancy and make White Garlic Pizza.
Saturday: Hamburgers on the Grill with Macaroni Salad and Marinated Cucumbers
The hamburgers will be a combo of ground venison, ground beef and TVP. Macaroni salad it easily made from ingredients I have on hand. Usually I wouldn’t spring for cucumbers out of season, but I made a huge salad for Easter and have two cukes left over. I’ll just make a sugar & vinegar marinade.
Sunday: Easter Dinner take two
We’ll serve up the Ham with various sides left over from the week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you interested in learning more about menu planning? Check out my post “Why Plan a Weekly Menu” .
For more great menu plan ideas, head on over to Menu Plan Monday at the Organizing Junkie.
I followed your ham in the crockpot directions and just wanted to let you know, IT WAS THE BEST EVER!!! I got rave reviews. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Jennifer-I’m so glad you loved it! I just love that it is super simple but tastes super fabulous~kinda makes us look like kitchen goddesses without having to really work that hard.
Jenn-
How funny I did the same recipe as boith you and Jennifer, soo good! how funny I did not see you were making fried rice too, this is in my game plan this week! Cajun Red beans and rice is on the run for tommorow. The hubby wants Jambalaya so the red beans is going to do as I am using up my ham bone!!! He is cooking on Friday though so seafood jambalaya it is, not a frugal choice but cheaper than eating out!
Oh, the ham fried rice is a great idea – sounds yummy!
You know, I can totally hear your voice in your menu posts, especially after meeting you in person! 🙂
I tried your crockpot ham recipe, too…Husband said, “Are you sure you know what you’re doing??” I said, ‘Well, she’s never steered me wrong before.’ (I do like your Pizza Hut clone recipe, and have good success with the others…with the possible exception of the all-day Mac and Cheese. What didn’t get mushy with that got too crusty, instead. Think I cooked it too long.)
I don’t care much for maple flavoring, so dumped in a cup of honey, along with the apple juice. Results: the most tender, flavor’s-all-through-the-meat ham I’ve ever had! The other surprise: the juices didn’t even taste that much like apple juice. I would never had said such a simple recipe would produce such terrific results — thank you so much.
I’m glad your faith in me was rewarded. I’m sure the Honey was even better than the “pancake syrup”. . .