How can it already be Sunday again! This week has just flown past, and here I am once again sharing a Meals of the Week Post with you!
This is something I decided to start doing about a month or so ago now. Not only does it help me to keep track of everything I have eaten over the past week, but it helps me to plan my meals for the next week, so that I don't end up repeating myself too much!
I had a pretty busy week, but it was a very rainy week off and on, so a bit of comfort food still figured here and there. I also took a meal over to my daughter and her husband as a bit of a treat for them. My daughter has had an earache this week so was not feeling too well.
Even on a day when I was not feeling entirely well myself (rain and arthritis = a very bad combo) I managed to make myself something pretty decent to eat for my tea. Simple but filling and delicious.
Having found myself living on my own after having cooked for a whole crew and others for over 50 years, I am determined I am not going to be that person who eats out of tins or who fills up on ready meals. That is okay every now and then, but so long as I am capable of doing so, I want to cook proper meals for myself.
I hope you don't mind me taking you along. Perhaps I can inspire you as well and give you a few ideas on what you can cook as well. I promise you nothing is extremely complicated and it is all delicious! I did eat a lot of chicken this week, so must take care to get in a bit more variety next week!
SUNDAY June 11th - Chicken Cordon Bleu
I had my usual Sunday Dinner at my sisters. This week instead of a roast dinner she did Chicken Cordon Bleu which we enjoyed with wild and white steamed rice, roasted asparagus and roasted broccoli. It was those frozen cordon bleu things that you can buy ready made from Prime, but I found a really lovely looking recipe that you could use to make your own on Carlsbad Cravings. I am going to give that a try sometime and downsize it for two people. The photo above is one I made on The English Kitchen about 7 years ago now. Also very good and linked above next to the date.
MONDAY, June 12th - Croissant Turkey Club Sandwich
My arthritis was playing up really bad on Monday so I took the simple route. Supper was a cup of soup and a Croissant Turkey Club Sandwich. I love club sandwiches, with thinly sliced deli turkey, crisp smoky bacon, sliced tomato and crunchy shredded lettuce. You could also add a slice of cheese if you wanted to. Harvarti is awfully nice with this. I loved the Harvarti we used to get in Germany.
This sandwich reminded me of the cold meats, cheeses, fresh brochen, etc. that we used to get at the breakfast buffet in Germany when we travelled there. Yes, I am a sandwich for breakfast kind of a girl.
On this night I enjoyed this sandwich with a few cheeky potato chips, a rare treat. I buy my potato chips in these large bundles of small single serve bags. That way I don't have to worry about them going stale before I can finish eating them, plus it keeps me in check and I eat a more reasonable amount!
TUESDAY, June 13th - Mini Quiche for Two
I had not had quiche for dinner for a very long time. Mostly because I don't want to have to deal with a whole quiche. I downsized my favorite recipe and made a small six inch deep mini one, and then took half over to my next door neighbor Sheila who declared it totally delicious when she returned my container the next day. I used my Butter/Lard pastry recipe for the crust. I think homemade pastry is so much nicer than anything you can buy ready made.
Now that I am living on my own, I still make the full recipe for a two crust pie, but I divide it into four small flat discs, wrapping each one really well and then I freeze the discs in an airtight container. Homemade ready made pastry at my fingertips. It only takes about half an hour to thaw, and will keep in the freezer properly wrapped for up to six months. And it is enough for four mini single crust pies, or two mini double crust pies.
WEDNESDAY, June 14th - Dinner out with Dad
On Wednesday nights I always have dinner out with my dad and his friend Hazel. Sometimes my sister comes with us. This week was no different. I enjoy these meals out with dad. It was something I could only dream about doing when I was living in the UK. This week I had my usual small eaters Turkey dinner with coleslaw instead of a roll. Hazel had a one piece fish and chips. I was treating dad for Father's Day so he had a burger and chips. He couldn't finish it.
He would have been better off with this Pub Cheese Open Faced Burger! Not too much bread, lovely grilled and caramelized onions, melted cheddar spread and a tomato and lettuce on the side. This with a few oven chips would make a really great midweek supper!
THURSDAY, June 15th - No Fuss Chicken Dinner
On Thursday I cooked something to take over to my daughter. I did enjoy one serving of it myself. This No fuss Chicken Dinner cooks nicely in the crock pot all day. It is a perfect midweek dinner, especially for those days when you know you are not going to have a lot of time to cook. It tastes a lot like a chicken pot pie without the crust. Pop everything into the crock pot in the morning and just get on with your day.
I sprinkled some crispy fried onions on top for a bit of crunch when I served it. It had potatoes, carrots and a flavorful gravy along with the tender and juicy chicken. I cooked some peas and corn on the side for Eileen and Tim.
FRIDAY - June 16th - TikTok Feta Baked Pasta for two
I had been intrigued with this viral TikTok recipe for a while. I am not one to go with trends, but it really did look good and sounded dead simple. I decided to try it, but downsized it for just two servings. This was AMAZING! I couldn't believe how simple and easy it was to make. I channeled two separate recipes and created one by using bits of both.
I thought it would be ultra salty with the feta cheese, but it wasn't salty at all. The sauce was rich and creamy with lots of bits of tomato. I actually am still thinking about how delicious it really was!! You really need to try this. I enjoyed it with some crusty bread and a bit of salad on the side.
SATURDAY, June 17th - Cast Iron Roasted Butterflied Chicken & Potatoes
I was inspired by a new cookery book I had just gotten and adapted this Roast Chicken recipe for a father's day celebration. The cookbook was called The Prairie Kitchen Cookbook, by Kayla Lobermeier of Under a Tin Roof. I switched out the flavors a bit. Hers was a Buffalo Roasted Chicken. I am not overly fond of the spice of Buffalo chicken so I created a delicious BBQ rub to use on mine in it's place.
The chicken is butterflied open and rubbed with a tasty rub both under and on top of the skin and then placed on a bed of baby new potatoes, onion, and garlic in a cast iron skillet. Roasted to perfection and basted with butter at 20 minute intervals, the end result is a delicious moist and flavor filled chicken. Those potatoes get all sticky and filled with lovely chicken juice flavors as well. Altogether very delicious. I served with some baby peas and carrots on the side.
And there you have it, my meals for the past week. I ate something delicious and yet simple every day. It was a really tasty week! I also now have some roasted chicken to use in sandwiches, etc. over the coming week and some bones in the freezer to make soup at a later date!
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com
Thank you for doing all the hard work of cutting recipes down so we who are just a couple (or those who live alone as you do), can cook and eat great dishes without having enormous leftovers to deal with. I enjoy reading your personal notes as well. I’m going to make the quiche this coming week.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome! I hope that you enjoy the Quiche! My next door neighbor thought it was most delicious! xo
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