This week’s menu is largely based on food we already had on hand.  For example, the leftover peanut sauce in our fridge happens to go smashingly with Salad Rolls (which I conveniently had most of the ingredients for) or the phyllo for the mini-quiches awaits its next use, or the rice from Dragon Bowl (the recipe is coming) transforms into excellent fried rice.

Aside from clearing out our cupboards, we have been scrutinizing our budget.  Planning our meals has helped me to use the food in our fridge and freezer wisely.  There was a time when the homemade peanut sauce would have languished in our fridge until it was thrown out or the phyllo would have gotten freezer burn because it ended up under the things we use most often.

To add to our budget considerations, we have sourced a few staples like excellent quality whole chickens at a bulk discount (hence the weekly roast chicken).  The plan, however, sometime goes off the track.  Last week I tried to thaw a frozen chicken quickly and forgot about it on my counter for the better part of the day (no more thawing on the counter…)  When I returned home and realized what I had done, I honestly gave serious thought as to whether or not I should cook the chicken for my family.  Cooler heads prevailed and the chicken saw my garbage can instead of my roaster.  In my travels about appropriate temperature of meat and best practices when thawing meat, I came across this handy website which will help when preparing this week’s chicken:

http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/eating-nutrition/healthy-eating-saine-alimentation/safety-salubrite/tips-conseils/food-steps-precautions-aliments-eng.php#a4

 

Menu Plan November 7 – 13

Saturday – Tacos

Sunday – Family dinner out

Monday – Salad Rolls

Tuesday – Pizza

Wednesday – Burgers, Roasted Mini Potatoes, Carrot and Zucchini Saute

Thursday – Mini Quiche, Salad and Raw Veggies

Friday – Roasted Chicken, Rice, Broccoli and Carrots

 

Grocery List

Pizza Sauce

Onion

Tomato

Peppers

Cucumbers

Mushrooms

Olives

Extra Lean Ground Beef

Mini-potatoes

Lettuce

Cheese (pizza)

Veggie boullion

Bananas

Pears

Kiwi

Berries

Cottage Cheese

Milk

Chocolate Milk

Greek Yogurt

Ham

Tofu