Meals of the Week, January 5th to 11th, 2025

 

Hi everyone and welcome to my Sunday Meals of the week post!  On Sundays I like to do a roundup of all of the main meals which I have enjoyed cooking and eating over the past seven days.  You all seem to enjoy seeing them as well, so that makes me happy!  I do hope that when I share these things you will also be inspired to cook some of these meals for yourself!

Living alone can really be challenge when it comes to cooking and eating. I know my next-door neighbor confessed to me recently that she does not cook at all anymore. She eats frozen dinners.  I was really sad to learn that, but I was not surprised. I think many older people living on their own do the same thing.

Sometimes it can seem like too much trouble to cook a meal for yourself.  Popping a frozen dinner into the microwave is so much easier, and often (with the really cheap ones) it can be much cheaper than cooking from scratch.  In all truth, however, those meals are loaded with sugar, fat and salt. They are not meant to be eaten on a regular or a daily basis.

I understand the appeal, however. I do hope that I never get to that point!  I have been sharing a lot of what I cook with my next-door neighbor recently. I really want her to eat much better and hate to think of her eating a steady diet of those nasty things. UGH.

I try to cook for myself every day, unless I am going out for a meal with my dad,  or over to my sister's for supper.

I usually eat my main meal in the early afternoon, again, unless I am eating with other people.  Then I will eat at whatever timer it is that they want to eat.  I find that eating earlier in the day is much easier for me. I suffer from GERD and hate going to bed with a heavy meal on my stomach. I usually only eat something light in the early evening, such as toast or cereal or a salad, and I try not to eat anything at all after 7 PM. (Oh the joys of getting older!)

Breakfast most days will be a protein shake. Occasionally I will cook myself some oatmeal or have some of my homemade granola with yogurt and date syrup, but usually it is the shake. I quite enjoy them, and I can sip away at them while I am working at the computer.

So, after having said all that, here are my main meals that I enjoyed over the past seven days. I hope that maybe you will want to enjoy some of them yourself!

SUNDAY, January 5th - Sunday Dinner with the Family

Most Sundays I have dinner with my family, meaning my sister, her partner Dan and my dad. It is usually held at my sister's home, but occasionally they do come here and that is enjoyable as well. This week my sister cooked mini meatloaves which she served with mashed potatoes and green beans.  She had Jello and whipped cream for dessert. (Sugar free, its my father's favorite!)

In its place I am sharing a recipe for Meat Loaf that I did as one of my Vintage Menus a few years back. If you check the link you will not only find a vintage recipe for a really delicious Meat Loaf, but also old-time scalloped potatoes, baked squash, carrots and a delicious apple dessert!

MONDAY, January 6th - Gammon Steak, Egg & Chips

I was feeling very nostalgic for the U.K. on Monday. I had spoken to my friend Tina and felt very homesick for my friends, etc.  I decided to cook myself a really British Comfort Food Supper of Gammon Steak, Egg and Chips. 

No such thing as gammon here however, so I made do with thick slice of ham leftover from New Year's and a fresh farm fried egg. I also used frozen chips which I did in the air fryer.  Steamed some peas and fried myself an egg in a bit of butter.  It was really delicious.  A piece of buttered sour dough bread to dip into the egg yolk, also the chips were mighty delicious dipped into that egg yolk as well!

TUESDAY, January 7th - Crock Pot Crack Potato Soup

Had a very busy day on the cards Tuesday so I threw something into the crock pot in the morning and then just let the crock pot get on with it.  Crock Pot Crack Potato Soup. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. 

Crock Pot Crack Potato Soup is a creamy, indulgent soup that combines some of the best comfort food ingredients!  Potatoes, grated strong cheddar cheese, crisp smoky bacon, ranch seasoning, and the indulgence of cream.  This is simple and really delicious. I enjoyed it with more cheese scattered over top, a few more bits of bacon and some chopped spring onions.  I had crackers with mine, but a crusty bread would also go down a real treat!

    WEDNESDAY,  January 8th - Savory Minced Beef Casserole with Dumplings

Usually on Wednesday nights we go out to dinner with my father.  This week we didn't as we were getting a snow storm.  Comfort food was in order.  I thawed out some ground beef and made a savory minced beef casserole with suet dumplings.  It is a small batch recipe which makes two delicious servings.

Ground beef as a base with a rich and flavor-filled gravy, oven braised with some crusty suet dumplings baked on top.  I shared half of it with my next door neighbor who was most appreciative!  We enjoyed with some boiled potatoes and steamed carrots!

THURSDAY, January 9th - Oven Baked Chicken and Broccoli Risotto

This was something I had not made in a very long time.  I do love a risotto from time to time but making one can be a bit laborious with having to baby sit them cooking on top of the stove. Doing an oven baked one is a lot less labor intensive.  The oven does all the work!

This east oven baked risotto is very colorful and very tasty. Creamy, rich and just stuffed full of tasty bits of chicken and crunchy green bits of broccoli. Of course, you don't have to use broccoli if you don't want to. You can choose to use another green vegetable such as asparagus, or green beans or even peas. All are equally as delicious! (Not to mention easy!)

I just enjoyed this as is with a bit of cheese grated on top and a cheeky slice of homemade garlic toast.

FRIDAY, January 10th - Sole Filets with Lemon & Thyme

On Friday I enjoyed some fish.  I love fish and would eat it more often if it wasn't so expensive.  I particularly love Sole. It is a beautiful flat fish with a lovely mild flavor. On this day I dusted it with some flour and cooked it simply with some lemon and thyme. This is one of my favorite ways to cook fish. All of the flavors are delicate and go together perfectly.

I enjoyed this with pan fries and some peas and carrots.  I do love peas and carrots together. They go so well together, and they go with just about anything as a simple side dish.

I have used up all of my sole now.  Time to buy some more!

SATURDAY, January 11th - Pork Chops with Cream Gravy

I took a pork chop out of the freezer on this day and had myself a Pork Chop with Cream gravy for my supper. I did use a pot of Instant Mashed Potatoes.  I buy the Idaho brand, and they are quite good.  They are perfect for someone who is on their own and are basically just dehydrated mashed potatoes. 

I love this pork chop recipe. It always tastes so good. The chops are tender and juicy, and that gravy is delicious.  I enjoyed with some frozen veggies.  This was the perfect meal to finish up my week!

And there you have it, my meals of the week for the second week of January, 2025. I think I ate rather well.  It's been really snowy so I have been trying to use up what I have in the freezer.

Thanks for visiting! Do come again!! 

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