Weekly Menu Planning -- April 2025

Cooking Discussions
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Hi, all! Cooking for 3 in Chattanooga, where all plans may change quite a bit depending on the preferences and appetite of the teenager who will be staying with us for the next couple of weeks. We’ll see if the same approach I used with my kids (“I’m going to cook what I have planned, and I’ll leave it to you to work around it”) flies with her :slight_smile:

Friday, April 11: Sausages with polenta, some kind of veg.
Breakfast: Krantz cake, aka babka
Saturday: Tuna pastries (I might do them as empanadas, TBD), spring vegetable salad
Sunday: Roast chicken, lentil pancakes and mango salsa from Extra Good Things, some kind of veg?, coconut macaroons.
Monday: Scrounge/takeout
Tuesday: Probably something from Family
Wednesday-Friday: TBD, probably a mix of meals out and easy meals that meet the teenager’s taste
Wish me luck! Have a good week (Happy Passover to those celebrating!) and happy cooking!

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43

Hello everyone it’s a gloomy day in Ottawa and it was raining earlier - at least it’s not snow. Even though we have had mostly sunny days this week, the constant presence of winter is really affecting my mood. I am tired of wearing my winter gear (yes I am still wearing my parka and winter boots today) and I am longing for warm sunny days so I can go for long walks and sit in the park.

On a positive note I had a couple of firsts this week. I went to my first drawing class last Monday and learned how to draw basic shapes and find muscle memory. And on Wednesday I went to my first yoga class but I left feeling really discouraged since the other students are much younger than I and they seemed to have previous yoga experience since they seemed to be familiar with the poses and they could keep up. I couldn’t do quite a few of them so the instructor showed me how to modify those poses so I could do them and I had to do some in a chair. I felt like the little old lady in the group but I think I will go back and try again next week. If I don’t stick with yoga I will have to find some other form of exercise to do since I want to keep active.

Onto this week’s menu:

Today: I had a film society screening last night so I went to one of my favourite Chinese restaurants for dinner first - conveniently located across the street from the movie theatre! I ordered a beef noodle soup which is very tasty but I think the bowl grew in size since the last time I ordered it :slight_smile: So I am not that hungry today so just bought some kimchi at the Korean grocer for lunch today so I can have something on the light side. I will have a Greek salad tonight.

Saturday: I will be staying at home today to do some chores around the house. Shrimp salad for dinner.

Sunday: Off to the art supply store. The drawing class I am taking requires buying supplies in advance however the supply list they emailed me seemed to have gone off into cyberspace somewhere so we tried again earlier this week. So this afternoon I will spend a lovely afternoon at the art supply store to pick up a sketch book and to pick out some coloured pencils, pastels and other sundries I will need for class. I have an eggplant languishing in the fridge so I will make an eggplant curry for dinner.

Monday: Off to another drawing class. I will have ratatouille for dinner when I get home.

Tuesday: Pork chop, squash, other veggie tbd.

Wednesday: Yoga again. I will have a chicken casserole and egg noodles for dinner when I get home. Veggies tbd.

Thursday: There is a vernissage at the Ottawa Art Gallery tonight and I have never been to any of their opening exhibitions. It seems like I’ve been to vernissages at every other gallery I frequent, just not this one. So I will head off and see a new exhibition they are opening and apparently refreshments will be served. I may or may not have a snack when I get home depending on how many refreshments they have.

I hope everyone is having a lovely week and I hope it is warm where you are.

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44

Hi everyone, hope you’re well. A calmer week here, which I enjoyed. Here’s what we ate:

Sun: LLD cooked. WFs crab cakes, mashers, salad. I love crab cakes, and this was a delicious meal.

Mon: leftover Jamaican chicken and potato stew, rice, salad

Tues: LLD had planned on going to a work dinner, then changed his mind at the last minute. He stopped and got himself a big sausage and some sides on the way home; I had the capellini with raw tomato olive caper sauce that I had planned.

Wed: Barefoot Contessa’s Montauk seafood salad over Boston lettuce; homemade focaccia on the side

Thurs: carry out

Fri: tortellini with salami, peas, and toasted pistachios (variation on a recipe in I Dream of Dinner)

Sat: date! Going to a newish Spanish place in town. Walking distance, so we’ll both be having wine tonight, woohoo!

I hope spring has made it to you all. Wishing you a calm, happy, delicious week.

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45

Hello to everyone from the Twin Cities of MN where my city thinks it’s spring as the plows have been removed from the trucks and the barrel fairy has her minions placing road construction barrels and signs at the sides of the roads again. The Skate show was last week so a week of eating here and there and all over the place is in our past for now. The show was great, girls had fun, and I (prepped) and sold 292 roses for the club fundraiser. I could have sold another 50 but a friend told me to not get anymore this year. Also, the pink roses were mean- they had all the little thorns like raspberry bushes that you didn’t notice till they stabbed you. Back to a normal week for now, Actuals and plans for 2 adults and 2 growing girls. . .

Tues 8-Fri 11: I ordered a ton of Thai takeout for quick reheats for before/after rehearsals and performances. Some frozen lasagnas and enchiladas were consumed, lots of ez mac cups and basically we ate kinda not so good for a week. And sliced cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. Much diet coke

Sat 12: Last skate show performance. My parents in town to watch. Take out pizza after

Sun 13: Skate completion chair meeting. Brain hurt. They had leftover pizza, I acknowledged a drive through sandwich craving and had salt mouth burn for the rest of the evening

Mon 14: Tonight! Big kiddo skates. Leftover Monday continues. . . I hope there is enough. The respiratory crud has me worn out

Tues 15: Already called in sick for work- I don’t want to expose my residents and runny noses with a mask just suck. Freezer dive and a quick pop in to grab some produce in between mugs of tea

Weds 16: Both kiddos skate. Tacos, fish vs old school ground beef to be determined

Thurs 17: Hoping to grill out but weather depending

Fri 18/Weekend: Not sure yet. Something from Jerusalem cookbook for Easter

Take care everyone- If anyone wants an ear worm may I suggest “every rose has it’s thorn” vs “these boots were made for walking”

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46

Just realized I forgot to post over the weekend. It’s one of those weeks (months, quarters, years)…

Sun: carne asada mashed potato bowls - the steak was pretty good, but I just don’t get into mashed potatoes - even homemade - so, eh. DS is happily eating the leftovers for lunches this week.

Mon: chicken enchiladas (homemade sauce) with green beans on the side. I made a ton - one 9x13 and one 8x8.

Tues (today): ranch chicken fajitas and refried black beans

Weds: sloppy joes, carrot sticks

Thurs: encore presentation of the enchiladas but this time with broccoli!

Fri: DH and I are going out thanks to the Lucky Seat lottery. Not sure what DS is going to do but it’s likely to involve DoorDash and a reasonable chance of disappointment.

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47

Hi everyone

A short cooking week here after a long weekend away.

I baked a tiger (marble) cake and spanakopita bread for an early Easter gathering last weekend, and made extra of each for the friends I stayed with for part of the weekend.

This week, I want to use up the protein and vegetable glut in my fridge, and make something to take with me for the Greek Easter lunch with my friend’s family.

Ideas for this week (still running a bit dry):
– Roast chicken (thighs) + mashed potato & cauliflower + something green (and maybe a chicken pie made of leftovers)
– Thai red curry with salmon and assorted vegetables
– Kimchijeon or kimchi fried quinoa+rice (but not the insane bacon one from Koreatown :joy:) + added cabbage + fried egg
– Shortcut Afghan Bolani (flatbread stuffed with potato, scallion, and other things) to use up flour tortillas
– Chicken quesadillas with leftover roast chicken and the tortillas

Wish you all a good week, and a happy holiday to those celebrating Passover, Easter, and more!

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48

We saw the tiger cake and spanakopita bread (both gorgeous!) over on What Are You Baking? but how did they travel and how were they received??

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49

Thanks for asking – both went over really well, phew! – though the tiger cake was a sleeper hit (I was actually worried people had not liked it much).

Both were oil-based and got progressively better with age.

I called the spanakopita bread just plain cheese bread to the kids, and they loved it too, which was a surprise.

The sleeper hit part on the tiger cake I didn’t discover till a day later, when my youngest nephew exclaimed out loud how much he had enjoyed it.

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50

How rewarding!! I would love to have been able to taste both!

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51

I would gladly share if you were nearby!

The recipes are quite simple and easy to divide for a smaller quantity, if you want to try them out.

I’ve made half or quarter of the spinach loaf before, and a small marble cake that’s basically the same thing as the tiger cake (which calls for layering batters instead of dolloping them).

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52

Greetings, People.

Our out-of-country visitors did not materialize last week when their flight was cancelled due to technical issues. Now that they have arrived in the states, we are scheduled to host them for two nights this weekend. They have quite a bit planned to make up for the lost days, however, so Friday and Saturday dinner-hour is an open-window. I’m looking for something spring-like which can be prepared early yet hold up well, just in case.

FRI: Slow-roasted salmon. German potato salad. Swedish rye. A mixed-berry tart for dessert.

SAT: Fried ham slices. Potato and apple gratin. Roasted carrots. Dessert TBD.

SUN: Back on our own. Chicken-zucchini meatballs. Bucatini with basil pesto. Salad greens.

MON: Salmon Caesar salad.

TUE: Hot wings on the grill. Veggie sticks.

WED: Asparagus pizza – spring is here!

THUR: As I plan on making stock on Friday, dinner on Thursday will be a couple of roast chickens. Veg TBD.

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53

Hello friends. This week I am posting a day early since I have a busy next few days coming up. I have now finished my second week of sketching class and yoga and I am enjoying both. I am learning sketching techniques and while I may never become a Picasso I am developing an appreciation for the time and effort artists put into their work. I went to my second yoga class last night and focused more on doing the poses rather than keeping up with the students. I actually feel better after stretching and breathing. I have to do mostly chair yoga which makes me feel old but I figure most people my age (60s) are probably at home watching tv so I am one step ahead! So I will continue going to yoga class and persevere. Onto my menus for this week:

Today: I am hoping to go to a vernissage after work but it will depend on my energy level at the end of the work day. I’ve been out late two days this week and even though my brain thinks I’m still 20 my body reminds me that I am not :grinning: So I will either have wine and cheese for dinner (if I go out) or pasta (if I stay home) so dinner will be a surprise.

Friday: Time to take out the spring clothes. Yes I am actually going to do it. We are still in our parkas this week so I will still keep out a few long sleeve blouses but the truly winter clothes in my closet will be replaced by summer clothes. That’s it, I’m declaring it spring! Dinner will be a pasta with kidney bean sauce and a salad on the side.

Saturday: Off to the pricey butcher to pick up Easter dinner then the deli down the street, which has a lovely pastry section, so I will go there for Easter dessert. Dinner will be the last salmon fillet in the freezer and a Greek salad on the side.

Sunday: Happy Easter! I will have my take out dinner: ham, scalloped potatoes, candied carrots and green beans. I am hoping to score a cheesecake with raisins from the nearby deli. If not, I’m sure I will find something appealing.

Monday: Another day off! I might go to see a matinee movie (The Ballad of Wallis Island looks interesting) or maybe a museum visit. No sketching class today because it is a statutory holiday. I will make a pot of masoor dal with spinach for dinner. I will have one serving for dinner and put the rest in the freezer to reheat on either a Monday or a Wednesday when I will be getting home late.

Tuesday: Pork chop, squash, one other veg tbd.

Wednesday: Off to yoga again! I no longer feel discouraged so I will continue onward. I will have fried cabbage and noodles for dinner.

Thursday: Something involving spinach. I will have spinach left from the dal I will be making on Monday so I will think of some way to finish it up.

Happy Easter and Passover to those who are celebrating. I hope you spend a lovely weekend with those close to you.

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54

Cooking for 3 in southwestern Ontario

Thursday:
Green Thursday soup

Chicken enchiladas with canned green sauce, using rotisserie chicken I had thrown in the freezer.

Friday:
Fish to be determined, maybe I’ll make Shrimp Saganaki. Maybe some Greek lentils/ fakkes.

Saturday:
Mac and Cheese

probably also an animal protein for the DCs

Sunday:
Breakfast: maybe eggs with smoked salmon
Tsoureki buns

Dinner : roasted leg of lamb, spanakopita, roasted potatoes. Maybe I’ll make some devilled eggs.

Easter Monday: leftovers

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55

Great meals. I am really inspired by your yoga class. I need to do it! I will be 70 in August and I have three joint replacements: one half knee that will be 26 next month and 2 hips. So I am challenged and also really need the stretching!

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56

I’ve always made sure to get exercise so I can stay healthy as long as possible. My dad did his morning exercises every morning until well into his 80s so I am using him as my inspiration. I’ve worked with people in the past who have developed health issues as a result of poor eating habits and lack of exercise and I don’t want to end up like that. And it’s never too late to start.

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57

I was gifted a box of big, beautiful artichokes so these will feature this week. The biggest one was dinner last night.

Lunches: artichokes with various dips, tuna salad with little gem leaves and Campari tomatoes

Saturday: meatloaf, cheddar mashed potatoes, braised green beans

Sunday: steak with zhoug and/or toum, creamed spinach, small red potato or braised carrots

Monday: leftovers from Saturday

Tuesday: leftovers from Sunday (may get bumped for Taco Tuesday out with a friend)

Wednesday: artichoke, salmon fish cake

Thursday: pasta with artichoke-merguez ragu (freezer)

Friday: repeat Wednesday

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58

It’s not pretty, and at the current rate of execution, some of these will never get made. Nevertheless she persisted.

For three in Asheville, NC w/diverse dietary preferences and needs…thank God I got a week off of cooking! Much needed.

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I’ll also be incorporating hard-boiled eggs throughout the week. :sweat_smile:

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59

That hair! :star_struck:We got Spring Onion’s haircut eons ago, to my dismay, and it’s barely growing back. He needs his surfer/rocker hair back.

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60

Yes, the hair!! I love it!

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61

The hair, the joy, the concentration, the intentional focus! A joy for me! Thanks!

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