Hi everyone and welcome to my Sunday Meals of the Week post for the past week. Every Sunday I like to share with you, my dear readers, all of the deliciousness which I have enjoyed as my main meals over the past seven days, along with the recipes and any menu suggestions!
This is something I enjoy doing and from your feedback it is also something you enjoy reading. If I can inspire even one of you to want to cook for yourselves then that makes me happy.
I am an almost 70-year-old woman (70 in August) who lives on her own. Nobody here but myself and my two cats. Cooking and eating when you live on your own can always be a challenge. As a Senior I also have a limited income to adhere, to and with the rising costs of food, my food budget is something I really need to pay attention to. I cannot control many of the other bills I need to pay out every month, but it is within my power to control my food budget.
I like to make all of my own meals from scratch if at all possible. Not only is this cheaper than eating out, but it is also healthier. It is also cheaper than eating frozen dinners or takeaways. Penny for penny you are getting more bang for your buck and your meals cooked from scratch are also a lot healthier, being lower in fat, sugar and salt.
I try to eat a variety of foods and to vary my menus from one week to the next so that I don't get bored. Life is too short to eat boring food! So as long as I am capable of doing so I will continue to cook for myself and share the results with you!
I do eat family dinner at my sister's most Sundays. She is a great cook and I am thankful to be included. Her meals are always quite healthy and I always provide a "like" recipe to use in the place of what she has cooked.
Most Wednesdays, but not all, I will have a meal out with my father. I usually try to make healthy choices when I do, but I am only human and sometimes will have the fish and chips. I did not go out with him this week. We did however enjoy some very cheeky fried chicken the day before. Sigh . . .
Other than what you see here I keep things very simple. A protein shake for breakfast, my main meal in the early afternoon and for supper in the early evening I will have a bowl of cereal, or some yogurt and fruit, sometimes a sandwich or a salad. I don't like going to bed with anything heavy on my stomach.
In any case here is what I enjoyed over the past seven days. I hope some of it will be things that you will want to cook for yourself! If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to get in touch!
SUNDAY, March 9th - Slow Cooker Beef Drip Sandwiches
Normally on Sundays I will go to my sisters' place for a family dinner. I didn't sleep all Saturday night for some reason, probably fretting about the time change and not getting up in time for church. (That's me folks!) Anyways I was in no shape to go anywhere come Sunday. I spent most of the day nodding off in my chair. I did have some leftover beef and drip juice in the freezer which I took out and then reheated.
Thankfully I had some hot dog buns in the house. I enjoyed one of these with some oven chips, not potato chips like you see in the photograph. I hate it when I don't get enough sleep. I have no self-control when I am overtired. It's a good thing I didn't have any potato chips in the house because I would have probably eaten then all!
MONDAY, March 10th - Lemon and Chicken Soup
Once again I did not sleep all Monday night, probably because I had spent so much time dozing in my chair on Sunday. Have I told you yet how much I HATE the time change!! I fancied something simple on supper and so I made a delicious soup. This is a fabulously tasty chicken soup, with fresh flavors! It uses chicken stock along with lemon juice.
You might think the lemon would be overpowering, but it really isn't. It adds a lovely layer of flavor that is quite pleasant! It is delicious and hearty. A nice hot bowl of this with some crackers on the side and some tinned pears for after was all I needed. You could also have a sandwich with this if you wanted to.
Thankfully I slept pretty good Monday evening. I was exhausted.
TUESDAY, March 11th - Takeaway with the family
I had been going to treat everyone to a Big Mary sandwich on Monday (on Mondays they are on a discount), but because I was so tired I did not. Instead, I treated us all to a bucket of chicken for our supper on Tuesday night from Mary Browns. We like the chicken from that franchise. It's not greasy and it is Canadian. We enjoyed the chicken with some crispy taters, gravy and salad on the side.
In it's place I am sharing my recipe for Oven Fried Chicken with Chive Buttermilk Mash. I try not to deep fry anything a home and will do oven fried chicken instead. This is a family favorite with a lovely crisp and delicious coating.
I was really wanting some Tex Mex on Wednesday. I normally go out to dinner with my father and his friend Hazel but I had eaten a takeaway on Tuesday night so skipped this week. I decided to do myself a bit of a Tex Mex treat and made some Scrambled Huevos Rancheros Bowls.
Layers of spicy fried golden-brown potato, rich and meaty pinto beans and a lush and spicy scrambled egg topping. With some melted cheese, chopped bacon and spring onions on top and a side of grilled tomatoes and a toasty tortilla. This was hearty and filling. I didn't really need anything else!
I love stir fries and on Thursday I did myself a stir fry. 20 Minute Egg Roll in a Bowl, sized for two. (I shared half with the lady next door). This is a quick and easy supper to make, with ground turkey (although you could use beef, or chicken, or pork), shredded cabbage, carrots and some Asian seasoning/flavors. It tastes just like an egg roll without the fried wrapper. It is delicious!
I enjoyed a bowl of this with some steamed rice and a splash of plum sauce. You just have to have plum sauce with an egg roll!
Between work, taking my father out with his friend and then shopping with my sister I didn't have a lot of time to cook when I finally got home. I was starving though and so I did something quick and simple. Fish Fingers, Chips and Beans.
This is a favorite supper for many people in the U.K. and no small wonder. It is quick, easy and delicious, especially if you do the beans like I do. I add a few extra bits to make their flavor really sparkle. I did the chips in the air fryer this time. Not as tasty as takeaway chips, but not as fatty either! This was a delicious supper. If you are really feeling cheeky you can enjoy a slice of buttered white bread with this and make yourself a chip butty. Oh, so good. I resisted.
Yesterday I enjoyed Flat Meatballs & Gravy, along with some rice and veggies on the side. These have long been a family favorite of mine. These are the shape of little tiny ground beef patties, like flattened meatballs, flavored simply with grated onion, garlic and a few seasonings. Browned and then baked in a creamy mushroom gravy.
These are fabulously delicious and so simple to make. They also freeze very well. You can enjoy them with rice, or pasta, mashed potatoes, etc. Your family is sure to enjoy them! I promise!
And there you have it, my meals of the week for the past seven days. I think/hope you will agree that I ate very well! There was nothing really expensive or outrageous there! Simple food done well. That's my promise to you always.
Thanks so much for visiting do come again!
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.jpg "Meals of the week, March 9th to 15th, 2025")
Hello Marie
ReplyDeleteThank you for the inspiration from the meals you prepared and ate this past week. I quite enjoy fish fingers sometimes. The last package I bought was not good. Can I ask if you purchase fish fingers or do you make your own? I would appreciate knowing the brand that you do buy. Thank you.
I had fun this week with some of your previously posted recipes. I made Blender Banana Bread. It was super! That will definitely be my go to Banana bread recipe from now on. I also made the Peppermint Chocolate Cake, only i put a while peppermint frosting on it instead of the canned chocolate frosting. So moist. I definitely would make it for company.
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