So, I didn't make the mac and cheese, but made homemade sesame ginger beef with tons of veg yesterday (over rice with a fruit smoothie) - it was amazing! My kids told me they liked it better than the local places...but sometimes, that's not hard b/c I know what veggies they like, and how much sauce they like, and what type of steak they like (this was flank-based), so it's almost not fair since I start out with an advantage. But, it's always sad to see a 13.5 inch pan filled to the brim gone by the end of dinner, with no leftovers, but that means they liked it! I also did not make the chicken tenders, but made cocktail meatballs on Thurs (spouse's request) while I made the rest of that day's dinner, so I'll move that to this week, too
...
This week starts Lent and our volunteering for dinners at the Church, so meal planning will be a little different. I also have 2 meatless meals (thus, I didn't mind skipping mac on Friday b/c it will now be Wednesday
)...here's the plan...
Sunday - Garlic Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin, Roasted Broccoli, Strawberries, Fresh Bread
Monday - Spaghetti with Meat and Veg Sauce, Proscuitto-wrapped Canteloupe with Balsamic Glaze, Homemade Garlic Bread (maybe)
Tuesday - BLTO Burgers (Cheese for those who can have it), Baked Fries, More Strawberries (they were 99 cents/lb, so I got 4lbs)
Wednesday - Dairy and DF Mac and Cheese, Sliced Apples and Pears, Fresh Green Salad
Thursday - DF Tikka Masala Chicken with Veg over Rice, Fruit Smoothies
Friday - Lenten Dinner Volunteer - Bringing 2 dozen deviled eggs (GF/DF/SF) and either a fruit soup or fruit salad (gonna buy for this Friday morning)
Saturday - OUT
So, I've mentioned elsewhere we are in ant/grasshopper mode here, so while things are getting a little nutty, we're doing some preparing, while still living our normal life, albeit one planned to be closer to home (aka, we're not overnighting anywhere
)...and with that normalcy, I'm still planning the youth group night for 50 Saturday (and we did last Friday's lenten dinner where my mango/pineapple/lime/conconut fruit soup shooters and deviled eggs were wild successes...and I came home with none of my leftovers...but with some great harvest bread, so I'll be using that tonight). I skipped the Wed/Thurs meal - I made Thai Red Curry Shrimp Wed, so didn't do the Indian curry Thursday (instead, I did hot dogs b/c that leveled my work load between the days
)...so, today is the Tikka Masala, but with lamb
...here's the plan...PS - Got amazing deals on Chinese eggplant and Taiwan spinach b/c people are people
...
Sun - Crockpot DF Tikka Masala Lamb with Chinese Eggplant, Baby Radish, and Onion with Great Harvest Bread and Clementines/Green Grapes
Mon - Meatloaf, DF Mashed Potatoes, Taiwan Spinach Salad with Green Leaf Lettuce, Roasted Button Mushrooms, Carmelized Onion, Bacon Bits, and DF Croutons, (Green Grapes for the ones who skip salad)
Tues - Beef Taco Bowls with Sauteed Onions and Bell Peppers, Roasted Pineapple
Wed - Aldi's Chicken Breast Sandwiches with Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Baked Fries, Roasted Asparagus
Thurs - Ginger Garlic Pork Tenderloin, Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus, Double Chocolate Banana Muffins
Fri - DF Pierogies with Carmelized Onions, Apple Sauce, Fruit Smoothies
Sat - Teen Dinner - Making Roasted Chicken with Raw Bruschetta, Roasted Carrots with Balsamic Drizzle, Macedonia, and DF/GF Rice Treats - very happy I planned mostly fresh, b/c grocery store runners seem to not want any fresh fruit/veg, so I think even if folks panic later this week, there will still be plenty of the fresh stuff to cook with...and I can shop very late, in case this somehow gets canceled last minute (which I don't expect, but who knows right now - better to have a plan, than not have a plan)...