Another week has passed and I did go off the rails and hopped on board the crazy train this week, but I figured I probably would. Son3 and DIL3 arrived Wednesday night so all plans really went out the window. I try to accommodate their tastes and wants, and as I have mentioned before, I always have a huge stock of items in the freezer to choose from.
Original plans:
Veggie dinner: corn on the cob, butter peas, okra, sliced tomatoes
Spaghetti with meat sauce, tossed salad, garlic bread
Grilled lamb chops, (grilled chicken for DIL who does not eat lamb) rice pilaf, Brussels sprouts, sliced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers
Grilled pimento cheese sandwiches, coleslaw, pickles.
Veggie dinner: depends on what is at the produce stand
Hamburgers with all the fixings
White bbq chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, sliced tomatoes
And what really happened:
Monday:TheHub had bought a couple of potatoes to microwave, but he had not wanted them. When I noticed them they were about to sprout, so they needed to be used or would wind up being tossed. Potatoes au gratin, green beans, sliced tomatoes
Tuesday: There were several chores I had to do and really just lost track of the time. When ai got ready to cook I found some things I had cooked and frozen a while back. Bingo! A quick thaw and heat and dinner was ready.
Meatloaf, leftover au gratin potatoes, broccoli
Wednesday: Son3 and DIL3 were to arrive at 9 p.m. and I had the kitchen nearly spotless. There was no way I was going to mess it up cooking for us.
Take out hamburger from Jacks
Thursday: Son3 loves a good veggie dinner and DIL3 is game for just about anything.
Squash casserole, butter peas, okra, tomato cucumber onion salad, cornbread
Friday I had forgotten there was a neighborhood street party planned so that dictated our meal.
Assorted food from the taco truck
Saturday: Son3 was routing around in the freezer Thursday looking just to see what was in there when had found one fo DIL's favorite foods. I love knowing I can make one of her favorites while they are here so I took it out to thaw and cook later. Saturday was the perfect later!
Corned Beef, cabbage, new potatoes, carrots, sourdough bread
Sunday: A couple of months ago TheHub had gone on a fishing trip with some of his work cohorts. It was the first weekend of snapper season and they found a lot of them about 80 miles offshore. They divvid up the fish, and flash froze it is about 5 pound lots. I knew I would need more than just the two of us for dinner when I cooked it. Son2 and DIL2 were also going to be here so it was the perfect night to have it.
Fried snapper*, tossed salad, sourdough toast
Going Forward:
I am not making any menu at all for the week. I have some things I plan on using but how they are prepared and what side dishes will be served is truly anyones guess.
Lamb chops
Hamburger patties
Chicken tenders
Grouper and crab claws
Veggie meal
?
?
*My long time, good friend C. told me a new way to fix (yes I am from the south and we fix food sometimes) fried snapper. Dampen the fish slightly, season (I used Captain Anderson's house seasoning but plain salt and pepper would work but would not be as tasty) and dredge it in rice flour. I had a large skillet with about 1/2 inch of heated oil (about 350 degrees I am guessing) and just put the fish in the oil, piece at a time. Cook until the bottom is nice and crispy, flip and continue cooking until the fish is done and lightly browned. The coating was crisp and very light. It did not overpower the lovely flaky snapper at all. We served it with lemon wedges and homemade tarter sauce. It was incredible. Thank you C, though I will call you in person when I finish this post to tell you how delicious it was.
You did well on the non-meat meals this week. I'm looking to go more vegetarian as I honestly feel better for it but I'm slowly learning it doesn't always have to be something cooked - it can just be several sides right? But if you ever feel like jotting down your corned beef recipe I would love it. It's something I love but we can only get tinned corn beef over here and it just tastes like nothing in particular!
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I buy the corned beef brisket already brined so all I have to do is cut the package open and throw it in the crock pot. From there on it pretty much cooks itself.
ReplyDeleteI love veggie meals and a lot of the time ours is just leftover side dishes we have eaten a few days before. I am also a threat to freeze any sides and will pull them out, zap them and call it dinner.
It's nice when your guests or family will eat anything you make so you all can keep winging it. My daughter got fussier this summer for some reason. We are going to be eating down the freezer-partially to save some of the leaking funds, partially to avoid waste, and lastly to let me do a deep clean and start fall fresh.
ReplyDeleteMy freezer is so overstuffed I had to tell TheHub he cannot do any frozen food recreational shopping until we have eaten a decent amount from it.
DeleteNo Plan? Regardless, have fun, and eat well.
ReplyDeleteWe will have fun and eat too well!
DeleteWow, I need to step up my game! Our larder's looking mighty bare.
ReplyDeleteTom enjoys Snapper, but I don't remember having tasted it. C's recipe sounds like something even I wouldn't mess up.
I love snapper and the rice flour made a perfect coating for it.
DeleteBought okra today. I found the Pioneer Woman's recipe for okra. Now that I know you're from the South, please let me know how I can "fix" okra the Southern way?
ReplyDeleteLOL! To fix it you just need to slice it in rounds about 1/3 inch thick. Let it hang out in the bowl cut for about 10 minutes then coat it with cornmeal. In an air fryer you simple spray oil liberally over it and cook it on 380 for about 7 minutes. Turn (as best you can) spritz with oil, then cook at the same temp another 5 minutes.
DeleteAlternately put about 1/2 inch oil in a skillet, heat to about 350 degrees then pan fry on one side turning once then cooking on the other side. If you cook it in a skillet you need to drain it on paper towels or brown paper before eating it.
Thank you!
DeleteSounds like you are having a lovely time with family and lots of good food too!
ReplyDeleteI don't think that I have ever eaten snapper before, seeing as I am landlocked and all. But I do enjoy mountain trout and such with a corn meal coating. Will have to try the rice flour. Thanks!
We do use cornmeal for fresh water fish, but the snapper was fantastic with the rice flour
DeleteI am with your dil, I don't eat lamb. I cannot stand it, but now I can honestly say I am allergic to lamb. Your meals sound great. When I figure out what is wrong with my air fryer, I am going to cook okra for Tommy.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can figure out what is wrong with your air fryer. I use mine all the time
DeleteThe drawer will not go all the way into the fryer.
DeleteYour meals always sound delicious whether planned or not! I love fried fish, but, my daughter doesn't much care of it. I generally try to cook what she likes when she's here, but, maybe I'll just make some fried fish for myself, one of these days. Enjoy your visit with Son3 and DIL3. :)
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying their visit so much!
DeleteOf course you fix food. What else do you do with it? :)
ReplyDeleteI know there are folks who don't fix it. I think they are the same people who don't get someone to carry them to the store so they can put their groceries in the buggy.
DeleteI am southern and use "fixin" all the time. The men who I work with are like, "What did you say?" grin. These northern folks have not a clue. LOL
ReplyDeleteYour menu sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteYou had the kitchen spotless so you got take out. I love that.
ReplyDelete