Friday
Short version: Shrimp tacos or burritos, refried beans
Long version: Last meatless Friday in Lent! We had been the lucky recipients of wild, USA-caught tiny "salad" shrimp from the excess commodities this week, which is what I used to make dinner. All I did was saute them with taco spices. My sister, who was visiting, encouraged me to add butter and parsley, too, which I did.
To make the refried beans, I used one quart jar of my home-canned pintos in a pan with oil and sauteed garlic, mashed and simmered until thick. So good.
We had lots of avocados to make guacamole, too, which always elevates this sort of thing.
Some had flour tortillas (burritos) and some had corn tortillas (tacos), and all enjoyed their meal. I know I did.
Saturday
Short version: Pork, cornbread, green salad with vinaigrette, rice pudding
Long version: Pork butt is so useful. I make this meal a lot when we have guests. It can be made mostly ahead, with minimal work at dinnertime, which is nice when there's a lot going on. It is also good for people who have dietary restrictions, as there is no gluten, alliums, or dairy if you avoid the cornbread and rice pudding. And it makes a LOT of food.
Sunday
Short version: Easter lamb, pita bread, potatoes and onions, tzatziki sauce, hummus, chiffon cake with strawberries and whipped cream, sugar cookies
Long version: Would we have anything but lamb for Easter dinner? Of course not. We had kept one of the back leg roasts bone-in just for Easter dinner when we were butchering a couple of week ago.
I used this recipe for it, except--there is always an except with me and recipes--I was preparing the garlic by hand, rather than in a food processor because the pieces of mine were in the dishwasher at the time. So I only did six cloves of garlic instead of 15. Also, I used the juice of only half a lemon, I didn't use the mint or nutmeg, and I didn't measure the other things.
That's a lot of excepts.
I did put garlic in slits all in the meat, though, which is always a good idea.
I had room in the Pyrex with the lamb, so I cut up a few potatoes and an onion to go in there, too. Rather than doing a separate spice mixture for that, I just used some of the lamb spice mixture. Very good.
I use this recipe for pita bread, this one for tzatziki, this one for hummus, and this one for chiffon cake.
My garden-nerd goal is to use something from the garden for every major holiday meal. Easter was early this year, but I did have parsley and green garlic to use. I put those in the tzatziki.
The sugar cookies were extra undecorated ones from St. Patrick's Day that I had in the freezer. I let Poppy decorate them with colored sugar, and they were very colorful.
All together, a very nice meal.
Fri- getting back in late afternoon after bringing daughter to college, I need something easy. Fish sticks for grown ups, grilled cheese for kids, chips, miscellaneous.
ReplyDeleteSat- homemade pizza with cheese and/or pepperoni. I had the last fish sticks.
Sun- no extra visitors today, so just the small crew at home. Took roast beef from the freezer. ( half of one I cooked earlier in month) , mashed potatoes, string beans, broccoli, crescent rolls (from the tube- they were on sale and the kids love them). Dessert was homemade chocolate mousse with fresh whipped cream. Very rich and delicious but recipe was fussy. ( whip egg yolks over a hot water bath?!?) It wasn't quite as bubbly as it should be, but everyone ate some.
Mon- kids on break this week. With absolutely miserable weather- cold, rainy, wicked winds, some snow, so lots of snacking. Mon morning I had to get kid to Dr appt in big city by 8am, so I was tired all day. Leftovers to the rescue! Husband had roast beef sandwiches, kids had some chicken strips and fries, apple slices, pineapple, and a small pot of instant mashed potatoes to help use up the gravy.
Sams club cookies from big city for dessert. Also I made cream puffs in the afternoon to use up the mousse and whipped cream. Very popular- kids ate them as a snack.
Tues- chicken in gravy, rice, corn, carrots, homemade bread. (Definitely a cold day!) Carb city, but kids and husband loved it. One kid ate leftover chicken strip too.
Wed- took kids to work with me to break up the week (high winds and rain/snow mix meant mo one was going to play outside in my absence, so I wanted them off devices.) After my class, we went to that town's library and lunched out. Then returned hone to stare at devices. So they weren't too hungry for dinner, and so they had scrambled eggs, corn bread, apple slices. Husband had bean soup( I bought a can for a Lenten Friday and forgot about it) , saltines, a roll, and corn bread.
Thurs- Husband out for work, so kids got grilled cheese, chips, apple.
That chiffon cake looks amazing- and the recipe uses both whites and yolks. Efficient and tasty.
Track start next week here, so expect lots of low effort meals from me.
Not too much excitement here: Easter dinner: lots of appetisers; one guest went overboard, and my avocados were perfect for once, so guacamole and blue corn chips, too. Ham and roast chicken, mashed potatoes, squash (musquee de Provence from my squash storage), green salad, rolls, chocolate Guinnes cake, baked custard). Mil.
ReplyDeleteFriday-spaghetti and cheese, broccoli
ReplyDeleteSaturday-chicken, potatoes, coleslaw
Sunday-ham, cheesy potatoes, salad, angel food cake, and something called sunshine cake to use up the egg yolks. Odd texture, but good. Hot cross buns for breakfast. Jellybeans everywhere.
Monday-split pea soup, fresh bread
Tuesday-ground beef and cabbage, baked potatoes
Wednesday-leftover chicken on toast, peas
Thursday-pork roast, baked potatoes, coleslaw
Loved seeing the Easter buffet. Much better than anything at Lowe’s Ventana Canyon. Serve yourself is always special.
ReplyDelete