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) Morning Glory Muffins (p. 98), Fluffy Breakfast Puffs
Lunches:
leftovers, sandwiches, Meal-Sized Salads (built with random fruits, veggies, leftover tidbits, cheese, seeds, dried fruits all tossed onto a bed of greens)
Dinners:
Monday: Everything-But-the-Kitchen-Sink Lentil Soup (p. 162), Cornbread (p. 212)
Tuesday: Broccoli & Bacon Alfredo, tossed salad
Wednesday: Sweet & Sour Pork (p. 142) served over rice
Thursday: Spinach, Sausage and Mozzarella Egg Puff (p. 181)
Friday: "Chicken Enchilada" Nachos (I made a batch of my Zesty Cheese Sauce and added cumin, chili powder and a couple of cups of shredded poached chicken; poured over good quality tortilla chips - I use Que Pasa - and topped with avocado, green onions, salsa and sour cream).
Saturday: Sausage and Apple Sauté (p. 137)
Sunday: Beef Bourguignon over mashed potatoes, Pear 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), raisins, sunflower and pumpkin seeds (in granola), flax seeds, quinoa, lettuce, beef stock, tortilla chips, lemons, coffee (locally roasted and delivered by bike!), cornstarch, mustard, tamari, oregano, basil, parsley, Fairytale tea, peppermint tea, lemon balm, oatstraw
Local: potatoes, onions, carrots, apples, salsa (home-canned), honey (unpasteurized), sour cream, whole wheat flour
Local AND organic: oats, milk (used to make yogurt), eggs (not "certified organic", but real free range and fed organic feed), apple cider vinegar
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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