Menu Monday and September: A Preview

That's right! Two, count them two, posts for the price of one. So with one more day until September I am already booked up with things to do until the 13th. Every year around this time I cook a large feast for the SCA group I play with, occasionally. This year is big one. I chose to do a historical documented late period Roman feast. (300-400 C.E.) We're talking end of the Roman Empire, Hello Visigoths! They still ate like the Romans. I mean who wouldn't? After doing all of my research, my conclusion is that they didn't eat much differently than we did and even had fast food places and street vendors. They couldn't even go to their midday bath at the bath house unless they knew there would be snacks.
Anyway, that basically means I'm going to be doing a lot of prepping and I'm making feast my official personal project of the month. I'm already half way done with the papier-mache pig.
Later in the month Ruby will be going to her grandparents house in Kentucky for the first time, sans parents. During which time J and I will be taking off of work and getting the house in order. Purging, painting, rearranging - All good things to accomplish before the winter hits and we go into hibernation. Yes. We are bears. That will be this months home-improvement project.
Also starting on the 2nd, my online courses for my business degree. I've already checked it out. Looks pretty fast paced which I'm happy about. I was a little worried it'd be a little too independent. I definitely know by now that I am a student that needs clear deadlines and assignments. I never liked having to be somewhere at a specific time so online classes seem like a perfect match for me. Thus, the third and final project for September. Don't fret. In October I will return to my normal crafty self. Here's a visual of one of the projects now.

Think two round chair pillows strapped at the shoulder. Cause that's what it is and they're charging 60 bucks for it.

 This weeks menu is still a work in progress because my shopping schedule has been thrown off due to a Sunday sausage-making session. So I will leave some blanks to be filled in after the shopping is done on Wednesday.

Monday: Pan-fried rice cakes, Scrambled eggs, scallions, bacon.
Tuesday: Turkey meatloaf, mashed cauliflower-potatoes, green beans (never made it last week)
Wednesday: Pumpkin hummus, spinach-yogurt dip, pita bread, roasted chickpeas
Thursday:  Brine treated BLSL Chicken Breast, Farro-sotto (feast recipe try out) except with celery and parsnips, Peas.
Friday: TBD
Saturday: TBD
Sunday: TBD

Menu Monday: The Confession Edition plus Progress Report

Okay so in addition to this being my menu post it will also be a one week until the end of the month progress report. What have I done this month? Not much. I finished the butterfly project. I did an owl craft for a friend of mine. Here are some specific things I haven't done in the entire month of August.
1. Cleaned the kitchen** or bathroom floors.
2. Deep cleaning of the bathroom
3. Fridge Cleaning
4. Put away clean laundry
5. Cleared out anything to get rid of or give.
6. Cared about cleaning at all.

So, I'm hoping that today I can get myself into a manic fit and do it. Maybe all it will take is the lovely smell of bleach water to get me started. Soon if I don't do something a new species of sentient leftovers will be discovered in our home, watching tv and eating popcorn.
ETA: I just finished cleaning the kitchen, its floor and walls. So at least something has been accomplished. I am about to embark on a journey through the clean laundry pile. It has come to my attention that if I would simply fold the clothes as they arrived from the laundry room this would not happen. I have known this for sometime yet still choose to do nothing. Maybe it's a weird genetic thing or medical condition. I'll make a note to get this tested asap but I may have to postpone laundry folding to do so. 

So on to the menu:

Monday: Oven Chicken Nuggets, Sweet potato fries, Broccoli
Tuesday: Turkey-Quinoa Meatloaf, Cheddar rice casserole, Peas
Wednesday: Crepes with Cottage Cheese, Apples, Bacon
Thursday: Crock-pot Chicken Paprikash, Green beans
Friday: Salmon with roasted beet salad, oranges, and avocados.
Saturday: Ham and Cheddar rice casserole(leftovers), peas
Sunday: Shrimp, spinach-yogurt dip, pita chips, cucumbers

Menu Monday: More Healthy Food

So this week features J's birthday. In celebration, we will have one day of not so healthy food, since that seems to be his favorite kind. I think we're all doing pretty well with the adjustment. It's been over a week since I stopped going somewhere for coffee/empty calories. Never got to the flank steak from last week so I'll fit it in this week.

Monday: Turkey and Whole-wheat Spaghetti Night with fresh spinach and peas.
Tuesday: The Birthday Dinner: Bratwurst, Brocco-Blueberry Coleslaw, Green Beans
Wednesday: Grilled Chicken Salad with Grilled Zucchini and Chickpeas 
Thursday:  Grilled Chili-rubbed Flank Steak, corn tortillas, Avocado and Grapefruit Salad,
Friday: Date Night (Maybe Medieval Times)
Saturday: Pantry-raided Chopped Salad with Leftovers
Sunday: Grilled Tilapia, Grilled Sweet Corn, and Grilled Farmer's Market Veggie or the day.

Menu Monday: The Diet Edition

Okay so we have all gotten out of control. It's come to the time when Momma put us all on a healthy diet again.
Proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It's sad when your preschooler comes home from Grandma's house and all she wants to eat is fruit snacks, ice pops, chips and french fries. So I still have the snacks around but she's going to only get one a day and she'll have to earn it by eating something good for her first. Of course, we aren't exactly nutritional role models, at least not yet.

On to the menu.

Monday - Grilled Turkey Cutlets, Spinach and Grapes.
Tuesday - Grilled Salmon Salad with Potatoes, Eggs, and Green beans
Wednesday - Grilled Chicken, Corn, Tomato, and Zucchini Salad, Whole Wheat Farfalle.
Thursday - Grilled Tilapia, Broccoli Slaw with Apples
Friday - Turkey Kefta Kabobs, Pita bread, Cucumber-Yogurt sauce, Grilled Zucchini
Saturday - Family Pizza Night
 (probably something with spinach, pine nuts, and maybe some of the leftover kefta.
Sunday - Grilled Chili-rubbed Flank Steak, Avocado and Grapefruit Salad, Corn tortillas

Menu Monday - The pauper's edition

Okay so we're a little lean this week. We all have those weeks where ends meet, but boy did you have to stttrrreeettchhhh to make that happen. It's only hard when J and I get paid at the same time, instead of one of us getting paid once a week. I hate it when the calender syncs up like that. We are very grateful because we know it could be worse and we know it's mostly our bad decisions. We're still a work in progress just like everyone else.

On to the menu.

Monday - Fried Rice with Veggies and Veggie"Beef tips"
Tuesday - Thai chicken peanut noodles
Wednesday - Tuna Nicoise-style Potato salad
Thursday - Leftovers night or Spaghetti night
Friday - Date Night - no Ruby TBD
Saturday - Dinner at J's parents house. TBD
Sunday - Farmer's Market Day - no Ruby

Yeah..not really a menu. Ruby is going to her grandmother's house in Iowa, this coming weekend. First time she'll be going somewhere without me that I'm not bringing her to and leaving her there. It's only three days.

Menu Monday: Back to Business (Tuesday)

So it was going to be posted yesterday but I was having computer issues, and head-desk issues. So without further ado: 

Okay - enough savoring my birthday week and time to go back to cooking actual meals, not just skating by on grilling a protein and steaming some veggies. It's been hot, so I haven't been wanting to cook, but I'm pretty sure I'm legally obligated to feed my daughter so I've been forcing myself to do so. So, Sunday she and I both went to the farmers market to get inspiration. I let her point to some cherries, "brown grapes" in her language. I'm going to can those bad boys based on this post. I want summer in a jar in the middle of winter, too.
She also pointed to eggplants and asked if they were chocolate. Then looked only more confused when I said they were eggplant. I also got some Yukon gold potatoes, apricots, and grape tomatoes "sweeter than a mother's smile," according to the farmer's sign. I didn't end up cooking the pulled pork last week because of a scheduling error. I ended up being the only one home on Friday so I had Indian food instead. So it's in the slow-cooker for tonight.

Monday - BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Oven baked green beans
Tuesday - Mexican Eggplant Casserole with tortillas and re-fried black beans
Wednesday -  Turkey Spaghetti Bolognase and Snap Peas
Thursday - Grilled Parmesan Chicken Skewers over Vegetable Couscous
Friday - Family Pizza Making Night (zucchini, bacon and mushrooms)
Saturday - Leftovers night
Sunday - Farmer's market surprise probably involving the grill.

Menu Monday: The Blueberry Edition

Went to the farmers market yesterday and found one of the vendors selling California plums. Complete with code stickers on them like the ones found in the grocery store. Not awesome. I don't think they should be allowed to do that. A farmer's market is for local produce. We have plums in Wisconsin and Michigan. Not yet, but in a couple weeks. The whole point of the market is to sell fresh local produce that is in season. It made me sad because the same vendor has the sweetest most delicious cantaloupe I've even had. I dream about it in the winter. Watermelon is awesome too. The melons are local, like thirty minutes away. It broke my heart a little. Did buy the watermelon though. Can't wait to break into that puppy.

Also picked up some yellow wax and some green beans, black raspberries, fresh red onions, cabbage, split-pit peaches, sugar snap peas, and a tomato. Yum.

Monday - BLTS with Apple Coleslaw Salad
Tuesday - Fish Tacos, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Corn on the cob
Wednesday - Spaghetti Pie
Thursday - Beef and Green Bean Stir fry with noodles
Friday - Family Pizza Night
Saturday - Burgers and Hot dogs
Sunday - Chicken Salad Sandwiches

I've got Blueberries and Black Raspberries to deal with. Here's some things I'm thinking about doing with them: 
Chicken with Blueberry Salsa
Blueberry Buckle
Classic Blueberry Muffins

Menu Monday and a PSA

 Public Service Announcement: 
From now on Brine your Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts. 
If you choose not to listen to me, fine. Your loss. I have recently started to brine them and I now feel as though I have been missing out on delicious, moist, flavorful chicken breast my whole life. No more rubber protein source for me thank you very much. Next week I'll be trying it with Pork chops. Yum.


As for this week:
 
Monday - Fish and Chips (Oven roasted potato wedges) with Peas
(didn't have these Saturday as we ate at J's parents cabin that night)
Tuesday - Grilled Chicken, Black beans and Rice, Carrots with honey and lime.
Wednesday - Turkey Chili Cottage Fries
Thursday - Caesar Pasta Salad with broiled Chicken breasts
Friday - Date night cook-in (edit:Sandwiches and a "Lost" marathon)
Saturday - Papa-Grill Hot Dogs, and 'Mac an Cheese' (A Ruby request)
Sunday - Farmer's market bounty mystery meal
Edit: Grilled Peaches and Pork Chops, Sugar snap peas and beerbread


Nothing too exciting. We're pretty much at the mercy of my fridge and pantry until Friday when we can go grocery shopping. Still sounds pretty acceptable, though. Yay me for my stocked supplies!

Menu Monday: The Good kind of Boring Edition

One of the helpful tidbits I've learned over the years is that company = leftovers. So we are swimming in them.
This week's menu is going to reflect that.

Monday: Trader Joes Orange Chicken with leftover fried rice and yakisoba from Benihana, asparagus. 
Tuesday: Tacos in the city with Roo's Daddy.
Wednesday: Spaghetti with Turkey bolognese, salad with carrots and radishes
Thursday: Veggie rice cakes and chicken skewers
Friday: Date Night at Seasons 52
Saturday: Family Pizza night
Sunday: Grill night/farmer's market iron chef

A nice boring menu for a nice boring week.

Menu Monday

This weeks menu is brought to us by my local Farmer's market.
I LOVE farmer's markets. I especially love my little town's because all the growers are so small and cute. Especially in the early harvest season. Some of the booths have one item now but will have thirty by the end of summer. I love being able to see the change, from lean to bountiful. I also love grocery store rarities like English peas in the pod and local red currants.

Yes, Roo has gnawed off the bottom of the letter 'p'. For your information, that many pea pods yield that many peas(approximately a 1/2 cup and I bought what they had labeled a quart). They will be starring in Monday's dinner courtesy of Martha Stewart.

On with the meal plan:

Monday - Creamy Pasta with Peas, Arugula, and Pine Nuts
Tuesday - Chili-rubbed Steak Tacos with Snap Pea and Radish Salad
Wednesday - Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa and Edamame Coconut Jasmine Rice
Thursday - Eating out
Friday - BBQ Chicken, Potato Salad, Grilled Asparagus
This is the same BBQ chicken from last week that never got cooked
Saturday - Eating Out
Sunday - Father's Day (Yet to be decided, but will consist of a brunch and dinner since Ruby has a Daddy and a Papa)

At some point this week I have currants to use. I'm wanting to make a very European style tart.
I also have some rhubarb and the sweetest, smallest, beautiful strawberries I have ever tasted and seen.
Did I mention how much I love the Farmer's market?

Monday Progress Report

It's Monday and I believe I have successfully accomplished my goals for the week.

I stuck to the meal plan until Sunday. We made an impromptu visit to the in-laws house to fix my aging and unruly back. I enjoy the perk of having a physical therapist in the family by marriage. After that I was in no mood to cook any of the delicious things I had picked up from the farmers market that same day. Fresh English peas, local red currants, fresh Madeleine cookies baked by a local French catholic abbey. Yum. We ended up picking up our dinner instead. Since technically Sunday is my 'fun' day on the meal plan I still consider it a win.

As far as the cleaning schedule, it was all completed just some of them weren't completed on the same day I had listed. Some early, some late, some like the magazine de-clutter project is still going on. In fairness, I had eight magazine holders full of old Cooking Light, Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, and Cooks Illustrated to go through and keep only the recipes I was likely to make. So far I have removed about a magazines worth of pages from six of those magazine holders. Only two to go and I'm planning on finishing that up tonight.
On the agenda for this week:

Monday - Finish magazines project, grocery shopping
Tuesday - Clean bathroom and wash floors, Fold and put away laundry, unload car and vacuum car out.
Ew to the car. Toddlers are messy and I don't remember the last time we did this.
Wednesday - Vacuum, straighten balconies, Father's Day project
Currently our balconies are being used by an expecting squirrel couple. We've been giving them their space but my parents will expect somewhere to suck on their cancer sticks away from the rest of us.
Thursday - Dinner with a friend, Finish up Father's Day Project.
Friday - Hanging with the parents
Saturday -Dinner with Friends
Sunday - Father's Day

It's a light week because we're entertaining most of the time I usually have to do things around the house.
Next week I'm going to have to start my house project and personal project if I'm going to finish by July.

Now for the obligatory picture of my daughter doing something supercute.

The Asian Chicken Noodle Salad was a big hit with everyone. Even when she had cold leftovers for lunch one day after. This weeks meal plan to follow.