Keto, keto wherefore art thou keto? I have been so far off keto that it is ridiculous. Son3 and DIL 3 had been at our house for nearly 2 months and I have ignored every single law of keto. Grains? Every day!. Peas and beans? You betcha! Sugar? It has been a diet mainstay. Son3 managed to lose nearly 10 pounds while they were here and I am pretty sure I found them. Well they left Sunday morning to get back to the city, and there is no excuse for me to not jump right back on the keto train.
And yes, I know this song has nothing to do with food, but as soon as I typed the words "keto train:" this is the song that popped into my brain, and would not leave me alone until I posted it here.
As usual my menu plan and reality took a deep departure form each other. Oh well, I tried (kinda)
What I thought might happen:
1. Stuffed baked potato, tossed salad
2. Grilled grouper, squash casserole, salad, green beans, rolls
3. Hamburgers with all the fixings
4. Risotto (Son3 and DIL3 say they are serious this time)
5. White BBQ chicken, caulitato salad, green beans
6. Veggie dinner: peas, okra, tomato slices, cornbread
7. Take out pizza, tossed salad
What actually did happen:
Monday: It was the first day of the meal plan and already I was punting. So much for my planning skills.
Refrigerator stuff. Ground chuck, bits and pieces of leftover veggies, onions, spices, and broth over mashed potatoes.
Tuesday: DIL3 had a photo shoot to update the pics for her portfolio. Turns out a photographer in Alabama (one whose photos have been used in Vogue) and childhood classmate of Son3 is much more reasonable than a shoot in NYC. Imagine that! Since they were out later and Son3 wanted his wife to have a taste of his favorite pizza joint from his childhood, they picked it up and brought it home for a late dinner.
Davenport's pizza, either veggie or pepperoni
Wednesday: DIL3 made us the most wonderful dinner. How nice for me and oh my goodness how delicious! It was almost like going to a restaurant.
Chicken, risotto with onions and asparagus, raspberry tiramisu.
Thursday: I forgot to take anything out of the freezer to thaw for dinner. Fortunately I keep packages of browned ground chuck frozen for nights like this.
Taco salad, black beans, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream toppings, leftover tiramisu
Friday: Son2 and DIL2 came over to eat with us, bearing ice packs for Son3 and DIL3's departure. We are sending them back loaded with frozen stuff: pulled pork, ground chuck, pork tenderloins, chicken breasts, blocks or cheese, butter and other assorted things. They will have to quarantine for two weeks upon their return, so we figured we could give them a leg up to avoid some grocery delivery fees.
Grilled steak, tossed salad, baked potato, rolls, pineapple cake
Saturday: Son3 and DIL3 loaded the car for their return trip while we helped them round up any errant items we could find. Meanwhile Son2 and DIL2 stopped by the house before dinner and stayed for the meal and conversations afterward.
Hamburgers with all the fixings, chips, leftover tiramisu
Sunday: Son3 and DIL3 left for home at about 11 this morning. TheHub and I spent the day doing odd jobs but mostly reading and watching the golf tournament. When it was closing in on dinner time and I had nothing planned, we did my next to favorite thing. Take out! We are old and we share one entree because it is more than enough for us and is much easier on the wallet. That being said, The Mandarin House portions are very large.
Kung pao chicken from The Mandarin House.
Possibilities for this week:
1. Crack slaw
2. Chicken Florentine over rice or caulirice, tossed salad
3. Squash croquettes, green beans, sliced tomatoes
4. Hamburger patty, green beans, tomato onion and cucumber salad
5. Grilled lamb chops, caulimash or regular mashed potatoes, broccoli
6. Seared scallops, tossed salad, baked potato (or none) rolls or keto rolls
7. Take out
Have a great week staying on plan, off plan, or with no plan!
And yes, I know this song has nothing to do with food, but as soon as I typed the words "keto train:" this is the song that popped into my brain, and would not leave me alone until I posted it here.
As usual my menu plan and reality took a deep departure form each other. Oh well, I tried (kinda)
What I thought might happen:
1. Stuffed baked potato, tossed salad
2. Grilled grouper, squash casserole, salad, green beans, rolls
3. Hamburgers with all the fixings
4. Risotto (Son3 and DIL3 say they are serious this time)
5. White BBQ chicken, caulitato salad, green beans
6. Veggie dinner: peas, okra, tomato slices, cornbread
7. Take out pizza, tossed salad
What actually did happen:
Monday: It was the first day of the meal plan and already I was punting. So much for my planning skills.
Refrigerator stuff. Ground chuck, bits and pieces of leftover veggies, onions, spices, and broth over mashed potatoes.
Tuesday: DIL3 had a photo shoot to update the pics for her portfolio. Turns out a photographer in Alabama (one whose photos have been used in Vogue) and childhood classmate of Son3 is much more reasonable than a shoot in NYC. Imagine that! Since they were out later and Son3 wanted his wife to have a taste of his favorite pizza joint from his childhood, they picked it up and brought it home for a late dinner.
Davenport's pizza, either veggie or pepperoni
Wednesday: DIL3 made us the most wonderful dinner. How nice for me and oh my goodness how delicious! It was almost like going to a restaurant.
Chicken, risotto with onions and asparagus, raspberry tiramisu.
Thursday: I forgot to take anything out of the freezer to thaw for dinner. Fortunately I keep packages of browned ground chuck frozen for nights like this.
Taco salad, black beans, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream toppings, leftover tiramisu
Friday: Son2 and DIL2 came over to eat with us, bearing ice packs for Son3 and DIL3's departure. We are sending them back loaded with frozen stuff: pulled pork, ground chuck, pork tenderloins, chicken breasts, blocks or cheese, butter and other assorted things. They will have to quarantine for two weeks upon their return, so we figured we could give them a leg up to avoid some grocery delivery fees.
Grilled steak, tossed salad, baked potato, rolls, pineapple cake
Saturday: Son3 and DIL3 loaded the car for their return trip while we helped them round up any errant items we could find. Meanwhile Son2 and DIL2 stopped by the house before dinner and stayed for the meal and conversations afterward.
Hamburgers with all the fixings, chips, leftover tiramisu
Sunday: Son3 and DIL3 left for home at about 11 this morning. TheHub and I spent the day doing odd jobs but mostly reading and watching the golf tournament. When it was closing in on dinner time and I had nothing planned, we did my next to favorite thing. Take out! We are old and we share one entree because it is more than enough for us and is much easier on the wallet. That being said, The Mandarin House portions are very large.
Kung pao chicken from The Mandarin House.
Possibilities for this week:
1. Crack slaw
2. Chicken Florentine over rice or caulirice, tossed salad
3. Squash croquettes, green beans, sliced tomatoes
4. Hamburger patty, green beans, tomato onion and cucumber salad
5. Grilled lamb chops, caulimash or regular mashed potatoes, broccoli
6. Seared scallops, tossed salad, baked potato (or none) rolls or keto rolls
7. Take out
Have a great week staying on plan, off plan, or with no plan!
Sounds like a good plan anyway. Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteI plan, I stray, we eat anyhow!
DeleteI like the way you write. I feel like I was there (except that I didn't come away with a cooler full of food).
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeff. BTW I have some salami I found in the fridge this morning and it is going to turn into your Salami rolls this week.
DeleteSounds like a yummy week of meals eaten and a yummy week of meals planned. I am so uninspired when it comes to meal planning but it must be done I guess.
ReplyDeleteI am seriously uninspired but will cook anyway and most likely ignore what I planned.
DeleteIt all sounds delicious, Anne. I've been trying to incorporate more vegetables into our meals this week. I even had a green smoothie yesterday. So, Keto on my friend! :)
ReplyDeleteI need to use more veggies daily, but planned this week before looking through the fridge to see what was left. I might keto on next week instead of this week!
DeleteI bet the house is going to feel so empty now, after 2 months of having your son and his wife home!
ReplyDeleteIt will, but it was time for them to get back to their life!
DeleteI'm sure it was bittersweet to see your son and DIL off. Lucky them, to get a cooler full of food to enjoy when they arrive home.
ReplyDeleteTake care and stay well!
I was happy to be able to supply them with the foods. It also freed up some needed freezer space (and will make the defrosting process much easier)
DeleteYou had a nice summer visit! I have never heard of squash croquettes, but I can imagine how to make them.
ReplyDeleteThey are really good, but I have already changed my mind about having them and am making a squash casserole instead. TheHub and I decided to go swimming before dinner and since those have to be cooked right before serving I decided to go the other direction. It can bake while I swim.
DeleteGood luck.
ReplyDeleteYou will miss them, despite knowing it was time.
I already miss them, but I know they needed to get back to their lives.
DeleteI hope your son and DIL have a safe drive back. I'm glad to see that I am not the only parent who sends food back with her offspring! :D
ReplyDeleteGood luck with resuming the keto diet, whenever you start, this week or next.
The keto plan and I are waiting until next week. We are going to the lake place for several days and I am pretty sure it is against lake law to do keto there.
DeleteWe sent an entire giant igloo cooler filled with frozen stuff to go back with them. Son3 called and said the only thing that thawed was the top layer, which was blocks of different frozen hard cheeses.
No matter whether you follow a plan or not, I just impressed that you cook most nights.
ReplyDeleteI do cook nearly every night, unless I just don't want to. Some weeks the don't want to's happen a lot!
DeleteI've been trying to eat low carb too- just not keto- and I still eat tomatoes. I cook all my meals but eat leftover too. I've been trying to clean out my freezers too- mostly leftovers. I still have not found the keto bread at Aldi! I'd love a tomato sandwich with a tiny bit of ground beef. I am so not a meat eater but it's better for me than sweets. Good luck getting back on the wagon!
ReplyDeleteI do eat limited tomatoes with keto and have 4 loaves of the keto bread in the freezer. It has been at my Aldi for several months now. It is pretty tasteless and sponge like unless it is toasted. And it also makes a delicious grilled cheese sandwich.
DeleteKeto and I decided to wait until next week.