Weekly Menu Retrospective #81

Welcome to my weekly roundup of the past week's eats. I prefer to report what we ate in the last week, rather than what we're planning to eat in the coming week. Why? The reason is pretty simple: although I usually have a general idea of what we're going to eat in the next week or so, life often unfolds a little differently than planned, and I adjust my menu plan on a near-daily basis to accommodate leftovers and other not-possible-to-plan-ahead circumstances. I find this is the easiest way to ensure that I minimize our family's food waste. I'm also willing to admit that I'm a rather spontaneous cook, given to preparing foods that strike me as the most appealing thing to eat right here and now!

If you'd like a whole book full of inexpensive, quick and kid-approved recipes, check out my book, Cheap Appétit : The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Family for Less Than $400 a Month (While Eating Better Than You Ever Thought Possible) on Amazon (Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Amazon UK) and Barnes and Noble.  It's gotten multiple 5 star reviews!! I've included page references to recipes that are in the book in my menu plans so you can locate them quickly. For more details about the book, go here.     

Breakfasts:
Granola (p. 92), Spiced Pear Oatmeal Muffins*, Morning Glory Muffins (p. 98), peanut butter toast

*I took some overripe pears and cooked them down into "pear sauce" the same way you'd make applesauce, then used them in an applesauce oatmeal muffin recipe

Lunches: 
leftovers, sandwiches  

Dinners:

Monday: Barbecued Pork Chops with Spicy Rub, Cheesy Vegetable Casserole (p. 203)

Tuesday: Everything-But-the-Kitchen-Sink Lentil Soup (p. 162), Garlic & Cheese Biscuits (p. 213)

Wednesday: Pad Thai

Thursday: Lemon & Garlic Chicken, leftover Cheesy Vegetable Casserole

Friday: Make-It-Your-Way Potato Hash (p. 140)

Saturday: Broccoli, Bacon and Mozzarella Egg Puff (variation of recipe on p. 181)

Sunday:  Sausage and Millet Stuffed Red Peppers (recipe coming soon!), green beans, Magic Cookie Bars (made with homemade condensed milk)

In keeping with my local and organic challenge, I'd also like to note the local and/or organic items on this week's menu:

Organic: coconut (in granola), coconut oil (in granola), canola oil, raisins (in granola), sunflower and pumpkin seeds (in granola), coconut milk

Local: potatoes, carrots, onions, apples, pears, broccoli, cauliflower, ground beef, chicken, pork chops and sausage (from VG Meats), honey (unpasteurized), milk, eggs, sour cream  

Local AND organic: sesame seeds (used to top bread loaves), oats (in granola), millet, green beans, red peppers, green onions, herbs and cherry tomatoes from our backyard garden

For more great meal ideas, check out Menu Plan Monday at orgjunkie.com.
  
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