Weekly Menu Retrospective #84

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), Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins (p. 96), Apple Cinnamon Pancakes, Baked Oatmeal (p. 91)

Lunches: 
leftovers, sandwiches, pizza 

Dinners:

Monday: Pork with Cabbage, Apples and Onions

Tuesday: Thai-Style Peanutty Pasta (p. 147)

Wednesday: Italian Meatball Subs (p.126)

Thursday: White Bean and Barley Soup, Pizza Breadsticks (a variation of this recipe, p. 214)

Friday: Western Omelette Wraps (p. 124), Creamy Cucumber Salad (p. 205)

Saturday: Sausage on a bun with sauteed onions, Easy Oven Fries (p. 194) (made with red potatoes from a Waterdown farm)

Sunday: Lemony Chicken and Spinach Pasta (p. 150), Apple Crisp (p. 220)

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), coconut milk, canola oil, raisins (in granola), sunflower and pumpkin seeds (in granola), tortilla chips (for snacks)

Local: potatoes, carrots, onions, apples, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, cucumbers, ground beef, pork, sausage and chicken legs (from VG Meats), honey (unpasteurized), milk, eggs, sour cream  

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

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