Isn't it hard to believe that tomorrow December is here? I know this year has absolutely flown past for me! I'm not nearly through with my Christmas shopping yet, but I hope to be done in the next week. Fingers crossed on that one. It's not money holding me back just now, it's time. It's always one or the other isn't it? So of course, with all that to do, what do you suppose I've been doing for the past two hours? Sorting out my vast collection of books of course. I know, it does seem silly to tackle it when so much else could be done with my time, but my bookcases have looked perfectly awful for weeks on end now, with books and objects and dust and stuff just placed any old which a way. I decided that I'd do one shelf at a time. Ha! I forgot the me that once wanted to be a librarian who decided to 'organize' the books, so now I've got books all over the floor, across the rooms, and I'm almost overwhelmed by it all. So I decided I needed to take a break. It looks only three times as bad as it did before I started, and it surely isn't going to go anywhere in the meantime! I've got supper started in the crock pot for today, and I've promised a certain deli item for tomorrow's meal...That leaves me with just five meals more to figure out for the week ahead. I've no clue what the schedule for this week is beyond today and tomorrow, because at that point I am at the whim and fancy of a certain man who is off work and a teen daughter who sometimes participates in after school activities and sometimes doesn't. Tomorrow, of course, is Big Shop. I really do miss that weekly shopping (so many more bargains to take advantage of when you shop weekly) but truthfully, I don't have time for it just now, so I'm back to doing Big Shops until after the New Year. Sigh. I need to stop looking at that massive mess of books and do something else instead. I think I'll heat a bowl of soup and contemplate meal possibilities. It's amazing how much more restored you feel after eating when you're hungry isn't it? While the soup heats, I'll share the first two menus for the week. Monday: Roast Beef, Onion stuffed Baked Potatoes, Tossed Salad, Rolls, Baked Apples The roast is cooking in the crock pot as I write. The potatoes are easy as can be and a nice change from the usual baked potato. Slice potatoes almost through into slices. You want them to sort of fan open. Slice an onion very thinly and slip onion rings between potato slices. Place on a sheet of foil, smear with softened butter, sprinkle with salt and pepper and then wrap tightly. Bake in 350F oven until tender. Tuesday: Deli Fried Chicken, Sliced Tomatoes, Deli Macaroni Salad, Crusty French Bread, Tangelos Just as requested, I will pick up this meal. If potato salad is on sale (and I think it is) we may have that instead of the macaroni salad. I'll pick up all the components of this meal in the deli/produce sections. Wednesday: Cheddar Broccoli Soup, Toasted French Bread, Fresh Pears with Gouda and Walnuts The soup I made last weekend was stored in the freezer and will make a wonderful meal for this night since the forecast calls for rain. I can thaw and reheat the soup in the microwave. Leftovers from our loaf of French bread will be toasted while the soup heats. If you like Blue Cheese it really is nice with the pears. However, we have gouda on hand and so we will use what we have. Thursday: Chicken Curry in a Hurry, Yellow Rice, Tomato and Cucumber Salad, Pita Pockets, Caramelized Cinnamon Apple Sundaes The recipe for the chicken may be found in the archives, June 11, 2009. I haven't tried it since that first time because it was a warm and spicy dish more suited, I thought, to autumn/winter menus. I'm looking forward to serving it up. Instead of the chicken thighs I used last time, I'll use boneless skinless breasts which should please all in my family. They simply do not care over much for dark meat. Friday: Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches, French Fries, Cucumber and Red Bell Pepper Sticks with Ranch dressing, Crisp Apples Pairing leftover thinly sliced roast with caramelized onions, melted cheddar and toasted onion rolls makes a wonderful sandwich. I'll bake the French Fries while the sandwiches heat through. If peppers and cucumbers are not reasonably priced in your area, consider using carrot and celery sticks instead. Saturday: Chicken Apple Sausages, Potato Pierogis with onions, Brussels Sprouts, Rye Bread, Apple Strudel I bought these sausages at Sam's and I haven't tried them yet. I thought maybe, since Kay doesn't much like brats, she might be willing to try a chicken sausage. We'll see. I know if all else fails she'll eat pierogi and strudel, so she definitely won't starve, lol. Sunday: Pork Loin Roast with Pan Roasted Root Vegetables, Spinach and Apple Salad, Pecan Pie Basically I'm pot roasting the pork roast. I'll prepare the food the night before, and set the crock in the fridge. I can let it cook in the crock pot Sunday morning. All I'll really need to do is make the salad and dinner will be all ready in no time, with very little trouble on my part. There's also fewer dishes to tend to, which means that Sunday is likely to be a leisurely day for me...I'm looking forward to it! |