Crap they want to eat again

Easter is a bit up in the air and will be until late week.  So this week's special trick is having enough food to eat here if we don't go up north (Easter Sunday is second only to Valentines day for days I refuse to enter a restaurant), and not having things spoil if we do leave.  My mother was right I do spend too much time "on the fence".  Also the kids will be in the house this week as parents switch off.  They are going to expect to eat.  (Sometimes the dog is totally my favorite.  He eats the same thing everyday without a single complaint.)  However yesterday the girl agreed to eat at a Thai restaurant and liked it.  So that is a big win in my running food fight.  And as going to church reminded me, we can afford to eat pretty much whatever we want which makes my complaining fairly pathetic.

First here is a picture of my attempt at my aunts cinnamon rolls.  They were not very good.  I think I need more butter in the middle.  But I have somewhere to go from here.

Sunday:  Jambalaya - there is some old shredded turkey in the freezer as well as the last of the sausage from last week.  So some shrimp, rice, tomatoes and spice and it is done.  The girl is sick so I will buy her a can of chicken noodle.

Monday:  Lunch will need to be left overs as we have some pile up from our eating out and a pulled pork remains that were brought to the swim banquet last week.  I bought some pork chops so those will be tasty. There is pineapple on sale at Rainbow so that works as a side.

Tuesday: Lunch salad is available with sandwich meat and cheese to put on it.  I will hard boil some eggs too.  Dinner is Salmon and sweet potato fries (a menu determined by the Rainbow add for the week).  I am off Monday so I will need to cut and soak the fries in salt water then.  I think it should be light enough for us to head to the Y after.

Wednesday: Lunch I will have some pasta make up to eat with jarred sauce.  Dinner soup supper how I miss you.  As it is a pretty relaxing evening for us, I think it shall be a appetizer dinner.  Shrimp cocktail, cheese, crackers and some fruit to nibble on.

Thursday:  Lunch could be pretty bad as I already don't care what they plan to eat. Poor kids of mine. There is frozen pizza rolls I made a couple of weeks back. Those with some carrot sticks definitely should do. I will post about why pizza rolls are so not worth it sometime. Dinner will be potato and pork soup.  I will add some kale.  By pork I mean the meaty bone that is left from the pulled pork.  So mostly potato soup.  After an early soup, the kids and I have tickets to see Shapiro and Smith Dance company at the Cowles center.  We will need to have some dessert after.  Minneapolis falls apart on the late night dessert front.  So we will probably be a Perkins.

Friday through Sunday we are likely up north and eating off of others.  Hoping I can get one meal in at the 112 eatery in Fergus Falls.  That place is great.  If we end up staying, I have some frozen chicken. Also since there is a coupon on Ham, I will buy one just in case.  It will be useful next week if nothing else.

The Rainbow add was pretty great this week. Real food was on sale - milk, butter, frozen veggies etc.  So this is a major stock up trip.  So there is a theme this week.  Eating the circular.

The List:
Lettuce
pineapple (on sale)
strawberries (on sale)
carrots  (on sale)
red potatoes (on sale)
salmon  (on sale)
sandwich meat (totally on sale)
Ham (coupon)
fruit spread (on sale. good thing since the kids figured out my Jelly was better.  Crap maple syrup all over again.)
Pasta sauce (coupon)
granola (on sale)
evaporated milk
yeast packets (the bread machine kind is not working with the mixer very well)
brown sugar (on sale)
white sugar (on sale)
All purpose flour (on sale)
butter (coupon)
sour cream (coupon)
milk (coupon)
eggs (coupon)
cream cheese (coupon for the name brand,  I might just buy store brand if it is cheaper)
frozen veggies (on sale)
frozen juice (coupon)
ice cream (coupon)
frozen cream puffs there is a coupon and that is a great party item I am certain I can use someday.

A good finish and off to a bad start

Well, well, well.  No big surprise girl with the attention span of a may fly that I am, I totally dropped the ball on this food blog thing today.  But I must tell you it is on the tail end of a smashing week.

I actually ate fish with lemon caper and white wine sauce.  It was as good as it sounds.  With it?  These yummy green beans below.

This girl really ate stir fry.  It was not even really good stir fry.  I still loved it.

Did I mention I made risotto with mushrooms and pea pods?  I did.  The girl ate at a friends and the boy choose left over stir fry.  But hey hubby and I thought it was great.

And because the week ended with St. Patty's day.  We had to have some green.  Pancakes and apple juice for breakfast.

And ham, mashed potatoes with dill and fruit studded salad for lunch.

And then. . . You see I was deep into a project when the time came to start the food for the week project.  I would like to point out, it is 8pm on Sunday, my rugs have been vacuumed this weekend and everyone has enough clean clothes to make it for the next few days.  So I am kick'in butt by my standards.  First I will focus on project.  In spite of several missteps (please read as home depot is incapable of having a straight item in stock.  MY PIPE WAS BENT. REALLY?), we are pretty far on a small project.  A door I have been wanting to put in for a while.  Based on an apartment therapy post, I decided to forgo the expensive, and rather difficult to obtain barn hardware (dear internet hardware sales people, I will NEVER fill out a form to get the price.  Seriously like a guy asking if his mom could live with "you" on the first date. Relationship over.)  So here are some pics.

The door frame with dogie and my thumb.  This is before the 10in addition.  Someone forgot to carry the 1.  It may have been me.

Frame addition and all with the first skin.  Just about fixed the warped framing boards.

Added some insulation as I am hoping this door will allow the kids to go to their rooms and not hear everything the adults say.  I duct taped the seams because I was beginning to worry this project would include none of it.  Can I continue to go to family reunions if I was to do a project without it?

Door is up. Need to paint and add the handle to it.  Also need to return about 100 things to various stores.  My father-in-law tells a joke about all projects requiring 3 trips to the store.  Well let's just acknowledge that said joke replays in one's mind and becomes very unfunny by the 5th store trip.  Beyond that, well . . . I am not certain if I am speaking with my father-in-law anymore.

It isn't sliding perfectly, see above mentioned Home Depot straightness issue.  (Sorry mom, I know they are a great employer.)  The door is able to slide in front of the stairs and at least baffle the sound a bit.  We will need to tweak some things, but still I am really glad I pushed for it this weekend.  I have done nothing on this house in ages.  (Does Hazelton have a home improvement addition program? Is wine frowned upon while I am in it?)  I have a small horse trade coming up with a talented young artist, so this is really the first step in a large art installation.

Back to food.  It was pizza delivery tonight.  I love pizza boys.  You know how bad it is when a nurse looks at you with horror that this is the worst thing she has ever seen.  Oh maybe you don't.  That might just be me.  Oh well, pizza guys never show they think my life is a disaster   These boys have seen it all.  They see you covered in stuff and tools plugged into extension cords all over the living room and don't bad an eye.  Sometimes I worry I call them just to test if I have crossed the line.  (Does hoarders get their show subjects from pizza delivery guys?  Cause I bet the could.)  Crap I got totally off topic again.  Anyway the kids were really great about the zero attention weekend, so I got root beer with the pizza.  Pretty popular right now.  I did manage to put together a list while waiting for hubby to do some pipe length availability research and call me back.  Turns out it is totally okay to sit in the cushy outdoor chairs at the Home Depot and make your weekly menu.  If they add WiFi,  Starbucks could be in trouble.

Monday - Homemade mac 'n cheese.  The boy is conference bound, but not till later.  Nice evening. I should try to get to the Y early right when I get home.  Need to make this ahead if I plan to do that.
Tuesday - a chicken and salad.  Since the girl wasn't home, we didn't make it with the risotto on Friday.  Some is left.  Taking chicken out of freezer as soon as I push publish.
Wednesday - The very last church soup supper of the season.  Chicken wild rice will be my contribution.  Make on Tuesday with the left over chicken.
Thursday - Eggs and sausage (need to try and get to a store to add fruit to this.)
Friday - There is this hamburger & sour cream thing my grandmother put in a family recipe book many years ago. I think I will make it up for Friday.
Saturday - sandwiches (I did make a loaf of bread, and an extra for the freezer.  Let's see if it will rise again.)  Crap I wrote sausage pizza down.  I just ordered that for dinner.  Good deal a look at the calendar shows it is a swimming banquet that night.  Off the hook.
Sunday - Palm Sunday brunch at church will get us through lunch.  Then I will be back at it.  This time with kids and adults in the house all week.  I will need to shop!

Week 3 I'm going to eat stir fry

Well here we are again - Sunday.  As I type my daughter, our little girl is saying she would like it if we made beef stir fry.  Well that means 3 of us, so it is on the menu.  (If three will eat, the other can have toast.)

Last week was about a B.  For the most part we followed, but mostly because hubby was willing to make up for my lazy attitude.  It did take us 3 trips to the store and 1 to the butcher which is 2 trips more than were planned.  Also my bread maker broke. Right between loaves 1 and 2 in preparing for guests.  Well the best mixer recipe I had makes two loaves.  Guess I get to try that freezing thing after all.  No cinnamon rolls, but pancakes make a nice substitute.  Make your own sandwich bar was easy to put together and fit everyone's needs.  Meatballs, pasta, and both red and white sauces all passed separately is my new group meal.  Went over very well, and most part took in at least some salad.  We did not use the roast, as my sister's family headed out early to drive slow on icy roads and with daylight savings time the vision I had of myself getting up and prepping a roast was just not realistic.  Off to a burger joint we went.  So we will start the week with a roast in the crock pot.  We do have a nice bit of fruit left, so that will be an add on to many meals throughout the week.

Sunday evening:  I am bringing Thai food from a local restaurant to a friend that is in need of meals, so we will have Thai too.  Also I have a mommy event that I need to bring a snack too.  Fresh guacamole and chips will be my item.

Monday:  Roast with root veggies.  The boy has a concert so we need to eat before that.  Perfect day to put a roast in the crock pot with some potatoes and carrots.

Tuesday:  Fish and green beans.  The kid's swimming has ended, but I still want to keep up my 7 pm Yoga class.  Maybe I can get them all to come to the gym too.  White fish with lemon Caper sauce on the side and green beans with almonds and honey.  After the gym (just in case no one ate the first offering) there can be a snack.

Wednesday:  Soup Supper.  Piano and Soup Supper.  I am currently not signed up for anything.  So unless there is an email request.  I am getting by for a few bucks.  I know this wasn't the primary thing saint Peter had in mind for church, but is sure is a nice part of it.

Thursday:  Beef stir fry.  Cello lesson, 1 hour break, then boy scouts for the boy.  The girl and I have signed up for a Community Ed class starting the same time as boy scouts but is a bit more of a drive.  I will pre-make the rice and chop the veggies on Wednesday.  Drop the boy off at lessons and head back to cook.  Hubby will pick him up at 6.  By 6:15 the group all sits down to a nice meal.  At 6:35 the girl and I head out.  This leaves the boys to clean up before they take off for scouts which is much closer to home.

Friday:  Mushroom Risotto with salad. We are hoping to take in the High School Variety show.  So eating on the early side, but a nice 2 hour piece of time to cook and eat.  That should be lovely.  I don't expect the risotto to go over with anyone under 20, but sometimes the boy surprises me.  The girl will eat salad.  She eats a lot of salad.

Saturday:  Taco lunch & Shepherd's pie.  Hubby will put together lunch (using 1/2 of the pound of hamburger)  while I'm away eating a lovely brunch  not feeling one bit sad about missing tacos.  We have some frozen mashed potatoes that need used up so that will pair with the remaining 1/2 pound of beef and any random veggies to be found.  I still have a spare pie crust (they come in a 4 pack) from the quiche last week.

Sunday:  (St. Patrick's day) Green pancakes breakfast, Salad & ham for lunch.  So far only church in the morning.  Realizing I simply must figure out more times to hit the gym in week.  Saturday and Sunday need to become part of the equation, as well as another weeknight.

On to the list (I need to figure out how to put a sound bite in so the list can have doom filled theme music).

Salad greens ( romaine will do -2 of the 3 packs)
apples
tomato
broccoli
pea pods if they look good.
darker mushrooms whatever looks good
White fish
ham small
sandwich meat
taco shells
Slivered almonds
brown sugar
baking powder

Wish me luck

Week Two: Meals Continue

Well I guess calling my previous post the first week of posting a meal plan obligates me to do a second.

Honestly this is what frustrates me about food.  I would like to be saving the world, renovating the house, learning a language, and catching up on the movies from the last 20 years.  But mostly I am figuring out what to eat.  Even the monks of history seem to list bread and beer among their main focus.  Guess we are not as far removed from the animals as I often wish.  When the kids move out I am going on a 7 day meal plan and just repeating those 7 days for the rest of my life (Ha! they would gladly do that now.  I know it is me that is the hold out.)

What do I have?  Thawed cut up chicken breast (bone in) and two little chicken wings.  There is some bacon, sausage, and some of the grass fed beef purchase (a  roast, soup bones, and 4 round steaks).  Some lettuce, carrot sticks and apples are left, but the veggie situation is really low.  We do have a couple blocks of mild cheese and 5 eggs. Dry staples are holding well although I need flour and potatoes.  I got some bread made during the magic card game on Saturday.  So we should make it most of the week.  I need to start experimenting with the best stage to freeze it in.

Sunday dinner:  Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.  It is something we have been meaning to have for a while.  So I guess that means I need to figure out when to make more bread.

Monday:  Book club night, which means the rest eat without me.   I am up for bringing a food item this month.  Something fair themed as we have read "Devil in the White City".  Granny smith apples and caramel dip will be my contribution.  I have a history with this as I was once a concession stand worker and this was a very popular item.  No one uses an apple slicer with quite the same skill as this girl.  Although at least 2 other book club members have done time in a concession booth.  So hopefully they bring something else.  Burgers and veggie dippers for the rest of the crowd.  Last of the ground beef is thawing.

Tuesday:  Swim practice night.  We will eat those chicken breast before we go and come back to salad.  The chicken will marinate in something I find in the cupboard after I finish this post. The salad can be cut up before swimming.  If I put the ingredients in the bread maker before work, the girl can turn it on when she get's home.  That should have it a the rise step shortly after I walk in.  No good.  It would be ready to bake as we are leaving for swimming.  Better I start it when I get home.  It is ready to rise as we leave.  Don't put it in a cool place so the rise takes a little longer.  Then bake when we get back.  Take out the bacon and bake potatoes (with the bread) for the soup on Thursday.

Wednesday:   Lent soup I am signed up for bringing fruit.  Methinks the same item for a different audience is efficiency at it's best. I will bring out those apples and caramel again.  Make the soup for tomorrow and take out the roast for Sunday.

Thursday:  Bit of a drive by night.  The boy has cello and signed up to help with a art project for the church.  There has been a request for potato soup with bacon.  Request granted.  That never happens.  Do a late in the week extra fruit run to have fresh stuff for the weekend.

Friday:  Quiche with any left over bacon.  We are expecting guests late in the evening.  So I need to keep them around to clean up the week a bit before the guests arrive.  My sister is coming with her hubby and 1 child celebrating a 13th birthday.  Make 2 loaves of bread.  This will be a weekend to use extra bread.

Saturday:  Totally up in the air.  The goal is to have meals available for 7 totally at the ready, but nothing so timed as to keep us from going with the flow when meal time comes up and while we are out and about.  Also it would be great to have take along things so we can stave off feeding 7 out and about more than wanted.  Wow, now that I type it, I see what a tall order that is.
I asked my sister to bring breakfast for the morning. That should nicely start us off.  I'll stock some juice, eggs and fruit so everyone should have a happy beginning.  Salsa.  Must buy salsa.  My brother in law may be the single most go with the flow person around when it comes to meals, but I know he loves some salsa on his eggs and anything else he can pile it on.
Lunch will most likely be out and about.  I will make sure all types of sandwich fixings are here.  If we end up here, great, if not we can pack them for the road.  If we don't use them, no problem.  Lunches next week will benefit.
Dinner is bit harder.  That is a lot of tastes to please.  Thinking meatballs are good for all.  I have pasta. The birthday boy can determine if they are to be Swedish or Italian.  If I precook the pasta in the morning, that is a meal that can come together really fast.  A salad will make me feel I have offered some veggies regardless of if anyone eats it. My sister will likely end up putting it together as our boy is playing his cello in a concert.  Fruit tart from Byerly's will be the birthday cake.  Do you serve ice cream with that?  I want it with champagne, but considering he is 13 perhaps a sparkling juice will do.  I'll buy some whipped cream in a can to cover my bases.  I'll pick up granola bars and fruit to be sure we can have a packed snack bag.

Sunday:  I think overnight guest have got to be the best excuse for cinnamon rolls around.  I will let them rise in the fridge the night before and serve them with fruit and maybe some bacon or sausage patties.  (If a certain birthday boy would like it.)
Lunch will be the last shared meal with my sister's family.  Going with my family roots and doing a roast in the crock pot so it is ready after church.  My mom often did this, Sunday after church was always the largest meal.  Which is saying something as on the farm there were a lot of large meals.

The list:

celery
apples
oranges
bananas
potatoes
salsa
butter
string cheese (on sale)
yogurt
milk
sour cream
eggs
canned whipped cream
frozen juice
ice cream (how nice there is a coupon this week)
meatballs (again hitting a coupon item)
tortillas
hamburger buns (the delight my kids find in manufactured bread is sort of sad).
peanut butter
apple sauce in cups (This worked to encourage the girl to pack a lunch).
sparkling juice
granola bars
tortilla chips
flour - all purpose and bread
water (It is always nice to have a gallon of water for people that are used to water different from your own.)

Thursday trip:

pineapple and/or mango
kiwi
bananas (yes we will need them again)
berries

salad greens
sprouts
sandwich meat if needed.

Thursday Fail/Redirect and Weekday Wrap Up

It is Friday and I am feeling pretty good about our stick to the plan skills.  (It remains to be seen if this putting it out there will keep me so good long term).  Only 1 lunch out which I feel great about as it was meeting up with a friend. We needed bread made on Thursday, which was manageable as Thursday has a lot of pop back home moments perfect for doing the next step.  I have been making the majority of our bread for a year now.  The rest of my Thursday night prep for Friday's salad and biscuits just didn't happen.  There was a certain little man that informed me he had made a decision and he wanted to be a fish from the Lorax for school the next day.  In all fairness I had 14 or 15 hours notice.  He was either a fish or orange sherbet by the next morning, but he clearly was in some type of costume.  (I really do have a theater degree focused in costuming, yet managed to make really sad costumes for my kids again and again.  It is a terrible failing that I find endlessly amusing).  So as is often the case I did two things sort of ok instead of one thing well.  So the salad had some seeds and no other protein (I still hard boiled the eggs while we ate the salad.  Does that make me crazy?)  And without biscuits, we will soon be in need of a loaf of bread, yet again.  Have you had honey and butter on homemade bread recently?  It is just yummy.  All in all as I head to a school dance filled with pizza and treats, we are going in strong.

We are having a party tomorrow.  By that I mean two lovely men that are willing to come over and play cards with a few 8 to 10 year old kids.  The very same little fish/frozen dessert/man has made the popcorn to be sweetened for treats, and I need to get some pizza dough made.  Also time to take out that chicken for Sunday.

Oh on top is a picture of Thursday's soup.  Yes it looks almost exactly like the Fried rice from Tuesday.  I added some curry to my bowl just so I didn't feel so stuck in a rut.  But then I did the exact same thing to the left overs of it I brought for lunch.  Call'in it - A RUT.