Friday
Short version: Tuna/salmon patties, garlic bread, tomato/cucumber salad, watermelon, stabby cake with chocolate whipped cream
Long version: I still have a few cans of salmon from excess commodities. The best way I've found to use these is to combine one with two big cans of tuna--plus bread crumbs, eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, and dill--to make patties.
I used my own tomatoes to make the salad. Not my own cucumbers, but the salad also had finely diced red onion from commodities and mustard vinaigrette, and it was very good.
The watermelon also came from commodities. It had seeds, and it's one of the best we've ever had. So of course we saved the seeds. Someday we'll manage to grow a good watermelon in our garden. Someday.
This was the feast day of St. Michael, the archangel who led the armies of heaven in casting the devil into Hell when he dared to present himself as equal to God. Several years ago, I started a tradition of making a cake--supposed to be devil's food, but I just make Grandma Bishop's chocolate cake--and letting the kids stab it after we say the St. Michael prayer. Like St. Michael stabbing the devil, get it?
Anyway.
I rarely make frosting for the stabby cake. This year I made whipped cream to top it, but experimented with adding cocoa powder to it to make chocolate whipped cream. I really liked it--it tasted like chocolate mousse--but most of the family said they prefer plain whipped cream.
Saturday
Short version: Bull and potato casserole pancakes, frozen peas, more watermelon
Long version: I decided to use some of the food processed bull meat in another casserole, this one with shredded potatoes. I also threw in the liquid I had drained from the jar of pressure canned bull meat, the last of a bottle of ketchup, a little mustard vinaigrette, some sauteed red onion, heavy cream, and shredded cheddar cheese.
I discovered after this had baked for awhile that I definitely should have squeezed the potatoes dry. The casserole was wet and gluey and very unappealing.
So I spread it out on a parchment lined baking sheet and broiled it until it was crispy on top.
Monday
Short version: Split leftovers, cantaloupe
Long version: Half the family had the last of the leftover bull and sheep chili. Two children had the rest of the bull casserole, which I fried flat in a pan of butter to crisp it up. And I had two hardboiled eggs and a bunch of tomatoes with vinaigrette.
The tomatoes weren't mine. However, one of the teachers at school has a garden about an hour away that appears to be doing well, based on the fact that she's leaving produce on the counter in the front office for the taking. I am more than happy to take the tomatoes, since I have hundreds of green tomatoes in my own garden, but not many ripe ones yet.
The cantaloupe--from excess commodities-- was sweet, but still not soft. The disappointment of a crunchy melon is crushing, indeed.
Tuesday
Short version: Ham and cheese tortillas
Long version: I had to drive to a not-close city this day, so I wasn't here for dinner. A. fed the judo children in the fifteen minutes they had between getting home on the bus and leaving for judo. Based on what I found on the counter when I got home, I think it was leftover ham and melted cheese in flour tortillas. A very serviceable fast dinner.
Wednesday
Short version: Elk steaks, bread and butter, carrot sticks, double chocolate peanut butter almond cookies
Long version: Second son had a very successful elk hunt on Sunday, resulting in 200 pounds of elk meat chilling (literally) in coolers of ice all week to age. I had suggested to A. that he might take the tenderloin out and cut some steaks from it so we could try the meat.
He ended up not having to continue driving the bus after getting to our house because some kids weren't riding, so he cut the steaks when we got home. And since he was cutting them up and I was already collapsed in my chair after work, I suggested maybe he could just go ahead and cook them.
So he did. And they were very fancy. There was beef tallow for frying and mushrooms and onions and parsley and heavy cream and some flat beer. Ta da! Fancy elk steaks.
They were very good. I was extremely relieved that this elk did not have the overwhelming musky flavor of an elk in rut like our last one did. It was so hard to get through all that meat. It will not be hard to get through this one. It tastes more or less like beef with a slight aftertaste that reminds you it's a game meat.
I added the side dishes, because I'm mostly the only one who cares about balanced meals. And I was happy to slice some bread and carrots once all the real work was done.
Oh. The cookies. I used this recipe for this week's snack cookies*, except (there's always an except for me in following recipes) I used some white wheat flour, reduced the sugar by about a quarter, used chopped almonds instead of peanuts, and didn't bother with the salt on top. Winner.
Thursday
Short version: Ham and cheese chimichangas, raw cabbage
Long version: I was subbing at school, so I didn't have a lot of time between getting home and getting kids out the door for judo. Handy ham to the rescue again!
Diced ham and cheese in rolled flour tortillas, fried in butter. Chunks of raw cabbage, and that's a wrap for the week.
Okay, your turn! What'd you eat this week?
* The two younger children still have a snack time at school, and I typically send in a wide-mouth pint jar of cookies for them to keep in their cubbies every week. For school snack cookies, I make somewhat heartier recipes with some protein, which means peanut butter, nuts, or oats. Or all three. And I usually slightly reduce the sugar, too.
I have a suggestion for your salmon. I grew up on Salmon Stew and its very filling and simple. Saute an onion in some butter, then cook some bacon until it's almost done.Fill the pot with some water, Salt to taste then add cubed potatoes. Cook until they are almost done and add salmon and cook until potatoes are done. Then season with pepper to taste.
ReplyDeleteOf course this can be altered a million ways. My daddy would add carrots, turnips or rutabagas if we had any. You could use any variety of meat to bulk it up, but bacon or sausage works best, imo.My mama would use mostly milk instead of water if she made it.I'm sure you could jazz it up to suit your palates.
Lastly, I'm jealous because with the cost of salmon, I haven't made this since before COVID.
Jenless: Thank you for the idea. I did make salmon chowder last year a couple of times, but it definitely has not been soup weather here for awhile.
ReplyDeleteHi! Another thing you can do with salmon is reheat it in a skillet with a pat of butter and then serve on a bed of salad greens... I second the salmon chowder also.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, this week we ate:
Sunday-Hamburger patties with horseradish sauce, roasted potatoes, green beans.
Monday-Had a bunch of chicken bones in the freezer so I dumped them in the crockpot and made broth. Had broth and green salad along with bread.
Tuesday-Crockpot to the rescue again...did you know you can bake potatoes in a crockpot??? Yes ma'am...easy peasy.
Wendsday -Sheet pan dinner. Perogies with peppers and onions topped with a dollop of sour cream. Yum.
Thursday-Monster salads topped with pierogi leftovers...good way to clean out the fridge.
Friday-Tonight I'm thinking shrimp scampi with salad.
Saturday- Going to the coast so most likely clam chowder.
Random thought: I work two jobs and like you am pressed for time when the dinner hour looms. Crockpot meals are a life saver. Some things aren't so great being cooked in a crock pot but a lot of things are (soup is a huge thing in our house) might be worth coming up with a few recipes to help you out...I highly recommend elk steak chili!
Happy weekend!
I used to use the crockpot for meals, but I have to admit rarely using it as the instapot came into my life. I never remember to defrost the meat ahead of time, so instapot to the rescue!
DeleteBut the crockpot is great at holidays for lentil stew and apple sauce for my vegetarian kids.
For the underachieving out there, take comfort that my menu will make whatever you made look like a feast. It was that kind of a week.
ReplyDeleteFri- hot. Hamburgers and fries.
Sat- even hotter. However, I was out of town with kids to visit college girl. Why do we always plan trips on the hottest day of the month? After time at a kite festival and park, We had very delightful ice cream for lunch, walked by a lake, later grabbed some nuggets and fries while hydrating with gallons of diet coke and water, then left daughter. Once home,some kids ate oatmeal for dinner. I think I made a grilled cheese or two - teen boys are never filled. My husband foraged.
Sun- why, hot again. Chicken strips, chips, and broccoli.
Mon- husband had a salad, kids had hot dogs and fries, grapes.
Tues- the heat was not abating, so I pulled out the last of my gift cards and got Domino's. Husband included a salad.
Wed- still hot!!!! Leftover pizza, pineapple, and chicken patty and apple slices for the boy who doesn't like leftover pizza.
Thurs- finally not too hot, though 81F isn't actually cold. I had grilled some chicken I needed to use, so chicken in gravy over noodles. Peas, carrots, a few little potatoes, and homemade bread which was rushed but came out great.
Now, autumn came in with gusty winds , showers, and 55F temps. Thank goodness .
Have a delightful fall weekend!
Friday: beef stew and corn bread
ReplyDeleteSaturday: we went out for a lunch with my dad. I had a salad topped with salmon.
Sunday: I think we had sandwiches
Monday: leftover beef stew and cornbread.
Tuesday: cheesy pasta bake
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday: fish, rice (for my husband), roasted potatoes, steamed greenbeans, and sweet and sour cabbage. My son apparently only likes roasted greenbeans and said to never steam them again.
Friday-husband out of town. Cheese and crackers and delicious fresh peaches.
ReplyDeleteSaturday-4, 6, and 8 visiting. Cheese and ham tortillas and sugar cookies for dessert. Peaches.
Sunday-scrambled eggs and toast
Monday-cornbread, sausage, green beans
Tuesday-tomato sandwiches, chocolate chip cookies
Wednesday-scrambled eggs (husband still gone)
Thursday-grilled cheese sandwiches, tomatoes. I must say it's nice to cook dinner in 15 minutes, especially when you know it will be eaten in 15 minutes.