Meals of the Week, December 31st to January 6th

  

Welcome to my first Meals of the Week Post for 2024!  Each week, on Sundays, I like to share with you, my readers, everything that I have cooked and enjoyed for my main meals over the past seven days!  From the feedback I have gotten, I think it is something you also enjoy. I like to share the recipes used and any menu suggestions for what I have enjoyed with the main course.

I don't always eat at home.  Sometimes I eat at my sisters, and other times I might have a meal out with family or friends. In those cases I have provided a "like" recipe that you can use in it's place.

Finding myself living alone at the age of 68 was not something I had ever planned on, but nevertheless, here I am!  After cooking for a family of seven for a great part of my adult life I am now totally on my own, which has presented challenges.  

First I had to learn how to downsize all that I cook, unless I am having company of course. I now cook mainly for one or two.  

Second I determined that just because I lived on my own I wasn't going to eat out of bottles or cans, or subsist on takeaways and Frozen dinners and ready-meals! I want to cook for myself healthy, all natural foods that are not full of salt and preservatives!

I think that is what you want as well, but we can all be lacking in inspiration from time to time. Hopefully these posts will give you some inspiration when it comes to cooking and meal planning. Whether you are on your own or simply a couple of empty nesters, or looking for something tasty to cook for your family, there is sure to be something here that you can enjoy!

I can promise you that none of it will be complicated.  At my age and stage in life I don't do complicated if I can help it. It will be affordable and it will be delicious! 

So here we go, my meals of the week for the first week of 2024!  Enjoy!

SUNDAY, December 31st - New Year's Eve Dinner

None of us are party animals anymore and would not be partying and so we enjoyed a simple supper of Oven Fried Chicken with Chive and Buttermilk Mash.  I love oven frying my chicken. Its not quite the same as deep frying but I try not to deep fry in the house if I can help it. This baked chicken tastes delicious.

This is a fairly simple and easy recipe, one which I have been making for years. No, it's probably not any healthier than oil fried chicken. It is rather tasty, and not quite as messy to cook, however.  Once in a blue moon, I cook it as a real treat! And trust me, it is a treat!

MONDAY, January 1st - New Year's Day Dinner at Cindy's

We had New Years Dinner at Cindy's place (Cindy is my sister) and New Year's Dinner for us always means Baked Ham.  That has been our New Year's dinner all of our lives.  She did make the appropriate side dishes. We had Scalloped Potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, and broccoli with it. Nothing fancy.

For dessert we had an assortment of Christmas leftover sweets. Whipped Shortbreads, gumdrop cake, fruit cake, mince pies, etc.

TUESDAY, January 2nd - Easy French Dip Sandwiches

If I had cooked my own ham then on Tuesday I would  have had Ham Leftovers, but I didn't and so I made myself some Easy French Dip Sandwiches in the Crock Pot.   I love using my crock pot for things like this.  Such an easy make, only a few ingredients, with the results of tender and juicy beef and a delicious gravy.

This is a small batch recipe and makes enough for two people with leftovers for another day, or for four not so hungry people.  I served it in a toasted garlic pepper hoagie roll and with some potato chips on the side.

WEDNESDAY, January 3rd - Old Fashioned Baked Hash

Usually I go out for supper with dad on Wednesday nights, but this week the restaurant was still closed. Instead, I used up some of my leftover beef  from the Beef Dips in a tasty hash. I have often made pan fried roast beef hash with my leftover meat and potatoes. It makes for a quick and easy supper. J ust chop everything up and throw it into a hot pan with some fat.  Cook until crisp and browned.  Yummy!

This version of hash is a tad bit different in that it isn't really fried, but baked. Yes, you heard that right!  Baked, not fried. It also makes use of your leftover cooked roast beef, and any leftover potatoes you might have languishing in the refrigerator, or any other veg you want to use up as well.  Did I mention it is delicious? No?  Well now you know!  This is incredibly delicious.

THURSDAY,  January 4th - Traditional Lasagna

I normally would not eat so much red meat in one week, but I had family visiting and so I made a large Traditional Lasagna to feed everyone. You can't go wrong with a lasagna. Most people enjoy it. Its easy to make and it feeds a crowd heartily.

This was served along with a salad and some garlic bread on the side.  Traditional partners. This was very well received, except for the squeamish one who opted for cheap hot dogs instead. Yes, there is no accounting for taste.

FRIDAY, January 5th - Chicken and Corn Chowder

Chicken and Corn Chowder is the perfect meal for a blustery cold Winter's Day.  This is hearty and delicious and very simple to make. This is something I have been making my family for years and something which they love.

Served in heated bowls with some crusty bread and butter on the side. For dessert we had lemon cake and ice cream.

SATURDAY, January 6th - School Cafeteria Pizza

What child doesn't love Pizza.  There may be a few, but most children do.  I love making this School Cafeteria Pizza for my grandsons. They adore it. It is such a simple pizza to make as well.  It goes together quickly and easily.

This School Cafeteria Pizza is not a top secret school pizza recipe. You can find various versions of it all over the web.  Its easy to make and so, so, so delicious!  This with some salad, and chips for the boys. Dinner was a success.

And those were my meals of the week for March 19th to 25th! I think you will agree, whilst heavy in the red meat (most unusual for me) it was a very delicious week!

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