Menu Plan Monday

I didn't prepare all of my planned meals last week.  So we'll lead out with the one I just can't do without, especially since I baked a chicken yesterday while Chance was at church and he in turn, brought home deli fried chicken,lol.  Good thing I had a chance to plan menus while he was gone!

Monday:  Chicken Pot Pie, Peach Salad, Whole Steamed Green Beans, Cranberry Sauce, Vanilla Ice cream

I'd love to have a proper pastry crust for the chicken pot pie, but I'm not really up to playing hard in the kitchen just yet.  I'll settle for that easy pour on topping of 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, half a stick of butter.  It makes a nice thick gravy over the chicken and vegetables and is so good.

Tuesday:  Italian Pepper Steak Sandwiches, Chips, Fresh Grapes   

Years ago Daddy told Mama about a sandwich he'd eaten from an Italian vendor who sold lunches to workmen.  Thin slices of beef, peppers and onions with a special sauce on Onion rolls.  Well Mama was a great one for playing with food in the kitchen (now you know where I get it from!) and came up with an easy home version that Daddy approved of.  She used thin slices of breakfast steak and bottled Italian dressing to get the sauce just right.  Easy peasy and so good.  I have some thin slices of leftover roast and I'll use that instead.  Yummy!

Wednesday:  $ menu at the local BK before church and after a visit to the grocery and library.  We're combining errands here to save on gas. 

Thursday:  Pork Fried Rice, Homemade Egg Rolls, Homemade sweet and sour sauce, Canned Pineapple Chunks

This is an economical meal.  I'll use some pork chops that were more bone than meat to provide the pork, and whatever vegetables we have on hand to make the fried rice.  And pre-shredded coleslaw mix bought on sale to make the eggrolls.  I still have wrappers from our last  venture in making our own.  

That canned pineapple is going to do double duty.  The pineapple chunks will be our dessert, served chilled with a sprinkling of shredded coconut and  chopped maraschino cherries.  The juice I drain from the can will make the sweet and sour sauce.  I got this super easy recipe from the back of a bag of frozen egg rolls years ago.  Combine 6 ounces pineapple juice with 2 tbsps of catsup and 1 tbsp of cornstarch.  Mix well then cook over low heat until thickened.  Very tasty and who needs to buy a bottle of the stuff to eat with egg rolls when it's this easy?

Friday:  3Cheese Pizza, Green Salad, Ice Cream Sundaes    

I'm ready for a pan of homemade pizza.  This near the end of the pay period we don't have so many fresh veggies on hand.  So we'll have a green salad and skip the usual vegetable toppings on the pizza.

Saturday:  Split Pea Soup, Homemade Croutons, Brownies   

Chance requested this meal especially.  He wanted grilled cheese sandwiches to go alongside, but I'll save him a piece of cheese pizza if he feels he wants it.  I had a some meaty chunks of ham in the freezer and I cooked them with the bag of split peas. 

Sunday:  Loin of Pork with Pan Roasted Vegetables, 24 hour salad, Buttermilk Sheet Cake

Potatoes, carrots, onions are roasted with the pork loin.  A 24hour layered salad of lettuce, radishes, frozen peas, and mushrooms will be made Saturday afternoon.  And for dessert a Buttermilk Sheet cake.  Mama took the standard 'Texas Brownies' recipe and left out the cocoa and cinnamon.  It made a tasty, moist, tender vanilla cake.  With the boiled chocolate frosting on top it's very good, especially if served warm.