It's been ninety degrees or above for most of the week. That is why leftovers have featured heavily this week. Because we do not have air conditioning, and I do not want to be cooking big meals when it's 85 degrees in my kitchen.
Friday
Short version: Shepherd's pie, raw produce
Long version: I had a lot of whipped potatoes left I had made a few days before, so I decided to use them to top a shepherd's pie. Of course, by the time I made the meat mixture for a 9"x13" pan, I needed more potatoes than I had. So I added instant potato flakes, along with a bunch more milk, butter, and sour cream, to bulk up the potatoes I already had.
That worked well.
Saturday
Short version: Leftovers, bread and butter
Long version: Some leftover shepherd's pie, some leftover lamb steak, plus bread and butter and more raw produce to finish it all off.
Sunday
Short version: Pork, baked beans, boiled potatoes, green salad with vinaigrette, strawberry/rhubarb pie with vanilla ice cream
Long version: We had guests with us for dinner this night, and I knew it was going to be 90 degrees in the afternoon. For that reason, I cooked everything ahead of time. I made the baked beans--using a couple of containers of cooked and frozen pinto beans--the pie, and some garlic bread the day before. I also cooked a pork shoulder in the morning.
And then an hour before the guests came I got a text that one of them is avoiding gluten.
Okay, that's a no on the garlic bread, then.
That's why I was boiling a pot of potatoes at four o'clock. So much for not heating the kitchen.
It wasn't too bad, actually. I also shredded and fried the pork in its own rendered fat on my big grill pan, but even still, it was only about 80 degrees inside when we sat down to eat. Bearable.
The pie had what is probably the last of this year's rhubarb in it. It was very good.
Long version: A. had the last of the lamb steak and some of the leftover boiled potatoes. The children had leftover pork and potatoes fried together, plus some of the leftover carrot and kohlrabi sticks that I had set out as appetizers the night before.
Tuesday
Short version: Lamb chops, garlic bread, raw produce
Long version: This was the garlic bread we didn't have on Sunday. I just heated it up in the microwave to keep it soft.
The raw produce we've been having has been either bell peppers, radishes, or cucumbers, depending on preferences and what needs to be used first.
We had hosted a tea party earlier this day for a couple of Poppy's friends, which of course featured scones.
Wednesday
Short version: Pork sandwiches, leftover lamb chops and potatoes, raw produce
Long version: I had forgotten I had some pork left, which I discovered when I was pulling out the last of the potatoes for A. So I started slicing the pork, thinking I would fry it in the skillet on the stove to heat it up. But then the child in the kitchen with me remarked that it looked like it would be good for sandwiches.
Indeed it would. So that is what the children had. Some had it with barbecue sauce, one chose pickles and mayonnaise, another had mayonnaise, mustard, and lettuce.
A. had the last of the lamb chops and potatoes.
Thursday
Short version: Hot dogs, coleslaw, coconut water
Long version: I had bought these hot dogs when we were in the city to go the dentist last week. I left them this day for A. to cook, because I was in a different city at a therapy appointment with a child. I also made the coleslaw in the morning.
And then I got home just after 6 p.m. to the children informing me they had not been fed, and A. countering that he asked several times if they wanted to eat and they kept saying no.
I guess they were just waiting for me. Touching.
So I fried the hot dogs and put them in buns.
The coconut water came from actual coconuts. Poppy had been asking me about coconuts, and I told her that we used to eat fresh coconuts when we lived in Hawaii. I promised her if I ever saw a fresh coconut, I would buy one for her.
And then, there they were at the grocery store.
I bought two. A. drilled holes in them so we could drain out the coconut water, which the children drank. And then I completely failed to get the coconut flesh out. I had no memory of how we did this when I was seven years old, so I looked for tips online.
My options were freezing it or baking it. I was not going to be turning on my oven to 400 degrees, so I went with freezing and told the kids we'd have coconut for breakfast in the morning.
Refrigerator check:
7 comments:
Fri- grilled chicken, broccoli, rice, bagel for some who don't like rice..
Sat- leftover chicken stew- I had 2 small containers in the freezer which made enough for some to have, leftover grilled chicken for picky eater, leftover rice, ramen, broccoli (a clean out leftovers night)
Sun- kids had hot dogs or chicken patty and chips, husband was out for work, I had ice cream. Then felt guilty so ate a sandwich later.
Mon- tacos, leftover potato chips,, banana bread, and I had ramen .
Tues- took pizza from freezer because I hadn't slept well. Then college girl came home a day early, so I needed to order more as she is vegetarian and I only had leftover pepperoni and sausage. Oh well, so much for thrift.
Wed- pasta, sausage, broccoli, and 2 loaves of garlic bread- one with sesame seeds that I needed to use up. But college daughter ate out so we had a lot of garlic bread leftover.
Thurs- grilled more chicken, then my exhaustion caught up with me (I had only slept 3 hours the night before ) so I pulled up chips, apple slices, pineapple. So much for hobo potatoes and cauliflower. Young son made scones - much appreciated.
We've had warm but not humid weather - perfect early summer. So baking happily. By next week we'll have the humidity move in, so it'll be be ice cream at every meal.
mbmom11: I hope you sleep tonight. Struggling through busy days with very little sleep is miserable.
I'm with Kristin mbmom11. Though I would add, don't forget to take care of yourself.
You are only as good as you feel. Hugs.
Kristin, I am always eager to see what you have thrown together for the bunch. I like the sandwich idea that came from a child...that way they all could have on it what sounded good so they would eat it.Using leftovers has always been a big go to for me, change 'em up a bit adding different sauce or dressing and it is good as new. Beth
I have sleep issues sometimes too (what's with waking up for good at 3 am?). Good luck tonight!
Friday-first camping trip of the season and I made bologna and cheese rolled up in tortillas and heated. Except some children, and I'm not pointing any fingers here, changed their orders midstream. The whole point of the tortilla roll ups is that they are made at home before hand. But at the last minute, one didn't want the bologna but that was ok because another ate it. One just wanted bologna. One just ate the tortilla. Whatever. We also had carrot and celery sticks, grapes, and marshmallows.
Saturday-hot dogs, potato chips, carrot and celery sticks, grapes, marshmallows. A win because everybody ate everything.
Sunday-home. Meat pies from the freezer.
Monday-lentil soup, fresh bread
Tuesday-chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli
Wednesday-tuna macaroni salad, tossed salad (lettuce from the garden), strawberry-blackberry pie
Thursday-leftover lentil soup, cornbread
I used to wake up at 3 too, but a friend suggested magnesium. I looked into it, and apparently melatonin helps you fall asleep originally (which isn't my issue), and magnesium can help you stay asleep. I'm not entirely sure how it works, but it's been helping! If I wake up in the night I'm able to quickly fall back asleep rather than being up for an hour.
Sunday: We had dinner with family, lasagna with veggies and ice cream. It was national rocky road day, so of course that was on the menu!
Monday: I went to my cookbook club at the library and ate lots of delicious food. I brought red curry chicken salad on lettuce wraps.
Tuesday: Preschooler's choice, she went with spaghetti.
Wednesday: Impromptu dinner with neighbors (summer is so great for those), hot dogs and brats.
Thursday: Thai turkey burgers with quick pickled carrots. A new recipe, but definitely a winner!
Friday: Pizza salad with marinated beans
Saturday: It was the local Asian festival that night, so we ate there.
Have a great week everyone!
Oh my gosh. That pie looks soooooo good!
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