Planning Changes

I've been sticking with my menu planning but with more happening on my calendar, planning changes happen. Very easy to shift things with Plan to Eat.

Pre pandemic I did not over schedule myself. I had a schedule but was careful about not pushing too much into my days. During the past 18 months, there has been almost nothing on my schedule and now with a few things happening, it sometimes feels overwhelming. Just breathe!

I haven't been grocery shopping since the 25th when we went to the farmer's market. I bought some produce since my freezer was pretty well stocked. I wanted to menu plan to make sure I used what I had.

Monday was an easy day and dinner was a made up recipe to use the grape tomatoes I had. I roasted onions, tomatoes, peppers in olive oil until saucy. I added garlic, red pepper flakes, capers, salt and pepper and cod fillets. Cooked until the fish was done and served over rice. Delicious. No picture. I forget I started blogging again.

Tuesday I baked some bread, one not successful, and made Instant Pot Meatballs (my favorite meatball recipe now). Dinner was garlic bread, meatballs and green beans. I follow the recipe pretty exactly except I do not have an instant pot. I used my stove top pressure cooker and this recipe works great. Leftovers too! No picture either!

On Tuesday I needed to make sure I understood how One Drive for Microsoft and Tracking for Word worked for a training class on Wednesday. So I did tutorials and made sure laptop and ipad were ready for a training class. I was taking the class, not teaching. Pressure cooker dinner for quick and easy. And delicious.

About a year ago I submitted a proposal for a consulting job with The Institute of Child Nutrition (I already conduct training classes for them). And then pandemic. But a couple weeks ago I was notified that I had been accepted and training would be this past Wednesday. Zoom training about content reviewing. I'm excited for potential work.

I have been fortunate to not worry too much during the pandemic, but like being useful and sharing knowledge. The class was great but ended at 6 pm, so dinner was forage for yourself. Husband had pork verde stew and I had scallops over pasta. We were both happy.

Thursday morning I attended women's group until 12, picked up bird seed and then attended a webinar thru the institute on beans, peas and lentils. Great info and recipe ideas.

Easy dinner of beefaroni (mom's) because I had green bell pepper, onion and lots of ground beef.

Mom's Beefaroni (from my childhood)

serves 6 easily

• 1 pound lean ground beef

• 1 whole green bell pepper chopped

• 1 medium onion chopped

• 29 ounces canned diced tomatoes undrained

• 15 ounces tomato sauce

• 2 cups elbow macaroni

• salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large skillet brown ground meat and onion until meat is no longer pink. Drain grease.

2. Add tomatoes, sauce, salt and pepper. Bring to boiling, reduce heat and simmer covered 20 minutes. (can also use whole tomatoes and smash them up)

3. Add green bell pepper and simmer covered 10 minutes.

4. Add elbow macaroni and 1 cup water. Cover and simmer stirring every 5 minutes until macaroni is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Add water if needed.

Friday my plan was pizza for dinner after I spent the day downstairs alone. So I fed the hummingbirds and heard so much crow noise. I called husband to come outside to see, he wanted to know what he'd be seeing, I told him I didn't know. He came outside anyway and we saw three hawks in the trees. Crow danger warning to other birds. And then yoga.

And then I read the pizza recipe on the plan. Dough - mix the ingredients and let stand on the counter 18 hours. I was reading the recipe at 10 am, after yoga. New plan.

Planning change. I mixed the dough so I'm ahead for Saturday pizza night. And started pot roast that was on the plan for Saturday. Luckily I plan ahead and the roast was thawed! And I had three or so hours for simmering.

I started the roast on the stove and popped it into the oven. And had leftover beefaroni for breakfast. And decided to menu plan for grocery shopping next Tuesday. I think I'm good with dinners until then. And moved going downstairs to do nothing to Saturday.