Monday, July 12, 2021

Menu plan Monday

 Adjusting our menu plan to suit just the two adults definitely takes some getting used to! The kids continue to have a fantastic time with my parents. I will be back in Portland to pick them up soon, although they are being fully spoiled & will likely be sad to return. ;-) 


  • Friday - We ended up going out to Greek food. We shared an entree, but had an appetizer & two salads. Fantastic meal, & lots of laughs
  • Saturday - We'd planned to have steak & caprese salad, but I found a recipe for zucchini fritters, & made those. We were so full from the fritters & salad that we skipped the steak
  • Sunday - steak & caesar salad
  • Monday - salmon (M) + chicken sausages (me) & coleslaw
  • Tuesday - barbecued chicken & caprese salad
  • Wednesday - salmon (M) & chicken curry (me). I'll see if I can convince M to make me rice to go with the curry
  • Thursday - barbecued chicken & caprese salad
  • Friday - we are likely going out to eat again

We have lots of fresh tomatoes & basil to eat up, hence the repeat occurrence of the caprese salad. Costco also had mozzarella on sale for $3, which was a great deal. We may pick up another container. It's one of our favorite & easiest side dishes, plus it's Keto friendly for M. 

What about you? What's on your menu this week? Are you using up any particular items from your garden?

17 comments:

  1. The best time to go out to eat is when there are just two of you! Take advantage of it while the guys are out of town!
    Right now, our meals are planned around our garden (green beans and squash). We are eating and freezing the garden harvest daily.

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    1. It's true - it's the time to take advantage of date nights! We are also planning meals around our garden for sure.

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  2. It all sounds great! I could eat caprese salad every single day and never grow tired of it. Have you ever tried caprese with peaches instead of tomatoes? I was so shocked the first time I had it, it's so amazing!

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    1. I make a salad that's very similar. I love it! https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/peach-mozzarella-basil-salad

      Highly recommend trying it.

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  3. Well enjoy as net winter we will be craving caprese and won't spend the money for the basil and the crappy tomatoes.

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    1. Exactly - the tomatoes you buy in winter are barely worth eating, let alone for caprese. I'm trying to convince M to let me get greenhouse covers for our raised beds, to extend our growing season.

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  4. We're enjoying the harvest from other people's gardens this week! We've got fresh tomatoes and potatoes. Sadly my basil plant finally gave up the ghost but maybe we can get a new plant this week.

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    1. Nice! Produce from other people's garden is the best. I've never grown potatoes. We mostly stick to plants & raised beds, & I think potatoes take up a lot of space. But, maybe I should investigate for next season.

      My basil has been unimpressed with the hot weather, so maybe yours is similarly overwhelmed?

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  5. It all sounds delicious. I hope you enjoy your child free dinners sans tacos this week. Lol

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  6. I'm with Anne. Even one extra throws curve balls in eating out. Your caprese salad sounds so good, and I wouldn't mind multiple repeats.

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    1. It really is pretty great. I could eat it quite frequently

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  7. I love so much that your teens continue to enjoy their grandparents time!

    A question regarding your tomatoes - how do you store them? On the counter or in the fridge? I'm always confused about how best to keep them fresh.

    Over here we are eating very simply because we are on a 10 week RV trip, and my travel trailer fridge is tiny. Premade soups and premade salads for the most part, though I'm always hoping to find a quality little deli in each new town to buy them at instead of the supermarket.

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    1. They really do! They make us a video (Marco Polo) every night, and we laugh at their antics & all of the fun they are having together.

      We store the fully ripened tomatoes on the fridge, and the "almost there" ones on a bowl on the window sill, to finish ripening. They typically fall off when picking others, or during the watering process, or what have you. I find they stay fresh in the fridge for at least a few days. Longer, as well, of course, but then lose that super juicy texture.

      Wow! Your RV trip sounds like so much fun. We're going to be near your home area this weekend (I think?) in San Clemente, to check out future retirement locations.

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  8. At which point we’ll be in Cannon Beach, near your prior vacation home I think. Talk about irony.

    I hope you LOVE the area as much as we do! From San Clemente to S Laguna Beach (NOT Main Beach!) it is so easy to move around, even in the midst of summer. And if you have time, be sure to swing by Old San Juan Capistrano for dinner or after dinner fun. Starting at Trevors On The Tracks, there is live music, wineries and great restaurants everywhere you look. San Clemente night action in Del Mar, Dana Point at the harbor. Ah,now I’m homesick!

    - Tamara

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    1. Yes, you will be very near where our house was at!

      I'm excited to check it out. The weather looks really cool while we're there as well (low 70s). Thanks for the recommendations!!

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  9. At which point we’ll be in Cannon Beach, near your prior vacation home I think. Talk about irony.

    I hope you LOVE the area as much as we do! From San Clemente to S Laguna Beach (NOT Main Beach!) it is so easy to move around, even in the midst of summer. And if you have time, be sure to swing by Old San Juan Capistrano for dinner or after dinner fun. Starting at Trevors On The Tracks, there is live music, wineries and great restaurants everywhere you look. San Clemente night action in Del Mar, Dana Point at the harbor. Ah,now I’m homesick!

    - Tamara

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