We Ate and We Didn't

I am looking out my window today and see a near perfect spring day. Though I know the weather can change on a dime I am still calling it spring. This is one of my favorite spring jazz tunes. Son3 actually played this as one of the songs on his audition tape when he was applying to school, so it is not just a great song but has good memories attached.

I am still trying to use what I have on hand vs. going to the store for anything but essentials. I am giving myself a little grace this month and if I see something for a decent price that I really want, I will go ahead and buy it guilt free. The same will happen for anything I see that is a true stock up price.

When I inventoried the freezer last week this is what I thought our meals would be:

1. Broiled or grilled fish, coleslaw, keto hush puppies (TheHub has been asking for either grouper or snapper)

2. Big salad meal, peanut butter mousse

3, Leftover pork chops, turnip greens, corn bread, applesauce or none

4. Chili, cornbread, coleslaw (weather dependent, it's been kind of hot here lately)

5. Cottage pie, with either coleslaw or tossed salad

6. Something cooked on the grill (possibly tuna steaks or T-bone) over couscous or caulirice, tossed salad, rolls

7. Take out

And this is what we actually wound up eating:

Monday: It was a rainy dreary day, perfect for staying at home and getting a lot done__or reading. Looking around my house it is fairly easy to see which choice I made. Fortunately I had all the leftovers from the doggy bag TheHub brought home the other night. All I had to do was a little slicing and warming, add some greens and a little balsamic to the sprouts, make the BBQ sauce and throw coleslaw together.

Sliced pork with keto BBQ sauce, Brussels sprouts and collards with a balsamic reduction, mashed potatoes or none, coleslaw.

Tuesday: It was a bleak cold windy day. I would have loved staying in with a fire in the fireplace and a good book. Instead I had to run a few errands and meet my cousin at Mom’s house. Lucky for me I started dinner in the crockpot before I left for the day. 

Chili, fennel slaw, and keto cornbread

Wednesday:  THeHub called and asked if it would be OK for us to go out to eat. He had a stressful day at wrk and just wanted to ride around a little then pick up anything except for what I had planned for dinner. We were originally going to go to Captain D's but their line was long and they are kind of slow. Instead we decided to go to our standby. Purple Onion's gyro salad

Thursday: Since TheHub did not want what I had planned for dinner Wednesday night so  I moved it to Thursday night. We are not wasting food here! Luckily I had not put it together Wednesday so Thursday's dinner was a simple assemble and bake process.  Nothing easier!         Shepard's Pie, coleslaw, pickle salsa

Friday: We did takeout as usual for our Friday nights. We feel a need to keep our traditional date night in a way that is comfortable for us. We have both had the second round of the vaccine, but I am still wary of the sit down restaurant experience. I know the kitchen is the same for take out and dine in, but at least with take out I can limit my exposure from other diners. A special thanks to La Fiesta's employee, Jenny, who makes takeout so simple with curbside delivery. (I forgot to take a picture)

La Fiesta's Pollo Loco or The Mexican Plate

Saturday: There was enough chili leftover to have it for dinner. I did not mind having a warmed over meal. (No point in taking a picture of a single bowl of chili)

Chili with beans or cauliflower florets, tortilla chips or cheese crisps

Sunday: We ate lunch late so we decided to forego dinner, except for a snack. (You all know what an apple looks like, and I know they are not keto but I wanted an apple.)

Apple, a slice of cheese and 2 pieces of keto chocolate

 

What's potentially up next?

1. Caulitato/fennel soup, dinner rolls, tossed salad

2. Meat loaf, mashed potatoes or caulimash, green beans, cornbread

3. Chopped chicken salad, dinner rolls

4. Broiled or grilled grouper or snapper, coleslaw, keto hushpuppies

5. Steak, salad, asparagus, baked potato or not.

6. Macaroni and cheese, or fakearoni and cheese, peas, coleslaw, keto cornbread

7. Take-out

Used for the week:

From the freezer

small pack collard greens (about a cup)

2 pieces keto cornbread

1 pack ground chuck

1 pound pack ground lamb

small pack green beans

2 packs frozen caulimash

From the fridge:

Leftover pork

leftover brussels sprouts

coleslaw

leftover instant mashed potatoes (I obviously have no shame)

leftover tomato paste (about 1/4 can remains)

condiments

eggs

cheese

fennel (purchased for the week)

mushrooms

chicken broth

keto steak sauce

lemon (purchased for the week)

cauliflower

John's coleslaw dressing

ranch dressing

From the pantry;

oils

vinegars, 

spices

herbs

condiments

red onion

1 small tomato sauce

2 cans tomatoes

swerve

1 can kidney beans

apple

keto chocolate

Added to the freezer: (I know I shouldn't but great deals happen rarely)

2 corned beef point cuts (Aldi purchase for 1.99 per pound)

2 pounds ground sirloin, browned (marked down for quick sale)

1 pack Trader Joe's turkey corn dogs (TheHub's purchase)

Added to food storage:

5 cartons of mushrooms, dehydrated

2 cans tomatoes (replacement for the 2 used)

Go have a great week on plan, off plan, or with not plan at all!