Derailed
So I had a plan for the week. And then it got blown to bits.
Let me expand. You've likely noticed my meal plan often omits Tuesday dinners. Well we're fortunate enough to have found a stellar small group here in the city. We meet every Tuesday night, and rotate the responsibility for bringing along a main dish. I usually like to sign up for our "turn" weeks in advance. Why? Cause I have every last characteristic of a German train operator, and must perform per a plan. However, this past week, it seemed the group was in a bit of a scramble to find someone willing to cook...
When hosting a crowd, I'd always rather over cook than under cook, so odds are good that I'll return with a few leftovers for the remainder of the week. I had already run to the grocery store for the week, so in an effort to avoid unnecessary waste, I took a quick look at my meal plan to see what meal components were freezer or pantry compatible. Yes, I prefer plans, but I also know running exactly according to plan each and every time is simply unrealistic. That being said, I usually like to include at least one recipe in which the ingredients could be stashed in the freezer or pantry until the following week - if, in fact, something comes along and derails my week's plan.
So I said "what the hell," and volunteered to bring dinner. See, I can be flexible!
Let me expand. You've likely noticed my meal plan often omits Tuesday dinners. Well we're fortunate enough to have found a stellar small group here in the city. We meet every Tuesday night, and rotate the responsibility for bringing along a main dish. I usually like to sign up for our "turn" weeks in advance. Why? Cause I have every last characteristic of a German train operator, and must perform per a plan. However, this past week, it seemed the group was in a bit of a scramble to find someone willing to cook...
When hosting a crowd, I'd always rather over cook than under cook, so odds are good that I'll return with a few leftovers for the remainder of the week. I had already run to the grocery store for the week, so in an effort to avoid unnecessary waste, I took a quick look at my meal plan to see what meal components were freezer or pantry compatible. Yes, I prefer plans, but I also know running exactly according to plan each and every time is simply unrealistic. That being said, I usually like to include at least one recipe in which the ingredients could be stashed in the freezer or pantry until the following week - if, in fact, something comes along and derails my week's plan.
So I said "what the hell," and volunteered to bring dinner. See, I can be flexible!
- Sunday: chicken pad Thai (+lunch leftovers)
- Monday: Swedish meatballs with green beans (+lunch leftovers)
- Wednesday: leftovers
- Thursday leftovers
Chili pot pie was on the brain from the week before, so I decided to whip up two 13x9 pans for small group, and readjusted the rest of my week's meals.
- lime
- bananas
- green beans
- scallions
- cilantro
- bean sprouts
- parsley
- red pepper
- green pepper
- onion
- sweet potatoes
- peanuts
- granola
- ground turkey
- chicken
- tamarind paste
- kidney beans
- Greek yogurt
- milk
- fat free half and half
- jiffy mix
- dish soap
- sugar
- brown sugar
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| Chicken Pad Thai |
I was looking to experiment a bit with some new Asian flavors, so I tinkered with pad thai. The mise en place can be a bit time consuming, so I'd recommend slicing and dicing over your weekend to make for a speedy quick weeknight dinner. I've attempted pad thai before, but I had always felt a bit disappointed. The sauce was never quite bold enough. After much trial and error, I think I've determined the real key is tamarind paste. Now, it's a bit pricey, but it goes a long way and keeps well in the fridge. This tart, yet sweet ingredient makes all the difference in the world!
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| Swedish Meatballs |
On the totally opposite end of the flavor spectrum, I was craving a comfort classic. Swedish meatballs are one of my favorites. The sauce can be fairly unctuous, so for a week night meal, I like to take a lighter approach. I substitute ground beef for turkey. However, I still use a beef broth for the gravy, so I think this sneaky swap still keeps a fairly meaty profile. And I find a touch of half and half goes a very long way - no need to drown the meatballs in cream.
I over shot the budget by just a bit, but I'll recoup the cost down the line when I pull those originally planned meal ingredients out of the pantry and freezer.
Total Grocery Cost: $105.37
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