(Anna Thomas)

I did get most of what I set out to do done this weekend. I most definitely slept in, though not as long as I would have expected, it was enough that I was no longer exhausted. I planned out the next two week's worth of meals and went grocery shopping. I think there are a few items I wasn't able to get, but I didn't feel like venturing out to another store after Costco and Fresh 'n' Easy.

Here's what the next few weeks look like (in no special order):
Dinner-
Chicken Milanese with sauteed swiss chard (tonight's dinner)
Chili Cheese Pork Chops with a side salad
Blackened Tuna with squash and steamed kale
Smothered Chicken with a side salad
Chinese Beef and Pea Pods with steamed green beans and cauli-rice
Barbecued Pork Loin sandwiches
Carolina Crock Pork with a side salad
Beefy Crock Stroganoff with steamed broccoli
Pork Chops and Mushrooms steamed green beans
Minestrone Soup with a spinach salad

Breakfast-
Cottage cheese with strawberries or fruit yogurt
Scrambled eggs with cheese and/or bacon pieces
Eggs, spinach and Havarti cheese on 1/2 an English muffin
Cereal (the old standby!)

Lunch-
Lots of salad with ground beef, chicken, tuna, roast beef, or broiled salmon

I'm not above repeating meals, so breakfast and lunch will be repeated once or twice as laziness or desire prevails.

While making dinner, I started the simple syrup for Basil Lemonade from Orangette. It's all ready now, but I think I'll hold off until tomorrow night so that the sugar doesn't keep me up tonight.

The consensus in the household is that brussels sprouts are liked better than butternut squash. Again, no leftovers, though, so at least I don't have to worry about dealing with those.

I'm usually quite a night owl, but tonight I'm pondering sleep before 9:30. Being surrounded by sick people, it's probably not a bad idea. Well, maybe after we're done watching Passport to Europe.

I know Gary's feeling better - he's harrassing Kalvin again! (If Kalvin could speak, the language wouldn't be fit for mixed company, I think...)

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Now playing: Orkney Sessions at the Reel - Dark Island
via FoxyTunes

After a leisurely morning and an early afternoon spent figuring out what is for dinner for the next week (and who was cooking it), my sister, Gary and I spent the rest of the afternoon traveling from store to store gathering ingredients - 4 stores in all. Really makes me wish that there was one store that had everything, but when you're looking for ground mace and ham hocks, sometimes only a large chain grocery store will have it.

Tonight's dinner was the fabulous Pasta with Hashed Brussels Sprouts and Pine Nuts. I was a bit worried - I know that I like brussels sprouts, but I was unsure of everyone else. Not that I need worry. Everyone literally licked their plate clean. Even my sister who doesn't like nuts (though she likes pine nuts, I've now been informed) ate every last morsel. Much maligned vegetable, indeed! Tomorrow night's dinner is Apple and Butternut Squash Soup that I am currently let simmer, mostly because it saves me from having to cook soup after getting home (with the bonus that the soup tastes better the next day...and the day after that). I bought a baguette today that I'll serve with it. Mmm. Dinner. It'll be hard not to take part of it for lunch, too!

Later this week, I plan on roasting a chicken. That means that I should have leftovers for chicken sandwiches with herbed mayo. If I can remember to grab them in the morning, the best part about cooking is the leftovers...when there is any!


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Now playing: Lothlorien - Schottische Fran Havero
via FoxyTunes