Weekly Menu Retrospective #119

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:
Chocolate Chai Granola, Zucchini Raisin Bran Muffins (sub zucchini for the carrots in the recipe on p 102), Upside-Down Apple Oven Pancake (p. 95)

Lunches: 
leftovers, sandwiches, pizza

Dinners:

Monday:  Lemon and Garlic Chicken (p.184), Broccoli, Bacon and Cheddar Salad (p. 204), Easy Oven Fries (p.194)

Tuesday: Cabbage & Beef Soup (p. 167), Pizza Breadsticks (variation of the recipe on p. 214)

Wednesday: Creamy Chicken Pasta with Peas and Carrots (sub poached & shredded chicken for tuna in the recipe on p. 146)

Thursday: Chickpeas with Potatoes and Peas (p.138), tossed salad

Friday: Ham & Cheese Skillet Quinoa
  
Saturday: Cheese Omelettes, hash brown potatoes, tossed salad

Sunday:  Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, roasted carrots and onions, Amish Oatmeal Pie (p. 221)

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), raisins, sunflower and pumpkin seeds (in granola), flax seeds, lemons, coffee (locally roasted and delivered by bike!), cornstarch, mustard, tamari, oregano, basil, black pepper, parsley, Fairytale tea, peppermint tea, lemon balm, oatstraw

Local: potatoes, onions, carrots, red peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, cabbage, apples, salsa (home-canned), ground beef (from VG Meats), honey (unpasteurized), sour cream, milk

Local AND organic:  oats, milk (used to make yogurt), eggs (not "certified organic", but real free range and fed organic feed), apple cider vinegar,  whole wheat flour, cornmeal, *fresh herbs (parsley, basil, chives, oregano), *green onions

*from our backyard veggie garden 

Want to know more about the specific food products I use and where I buy them? Check out my "What's In My Pantry" board on Pinterest.  I will keep this board updated with current information on what products we use, where we're buying them, and how much we're paying. It's a work-in-progress, and you can find it HERE.

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

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