Back from vacation and husband is ill, so we really needed a low-effort way to get through this week. I pulled out a half-batch of pasta fagioli from the freezer which is perfect for just such an occasion! It’s from a recipe which is meant to be an Olive Garden copycat, and it just makes so much that even with half a batch, we get two or three meals from it. (The pasta part doesn’t go in the freezer, you make that “fresh”).
Tonight will be baked chicken, broccoli, and whomp biscuits.
Had a big (for me) brunch with my mother-in-law this morning (3 egg omelet with cheese and locally made pork green chile and home fries - I couldn’t eat more than a couple of the later, just too much.
As such, I didn’t want a fat heavy dinner (or lunch), so tonight was some kicked up ramen.
Defrosted about 5-6 oz of shell on shrimp, tossed the shells in a small pot and simmered to make a quickie stock. Added a package of some Nissin Raoh Soy Sauce Ramen (this version has a LOT of salt, but only about 20-30% of the saturated fat!) of my normal Shin!), then cooked the shrimp in the near-finished broth. Added about 3 green onions I had from another dish, and a couple of cloves of spicy pickled garlic as a topping. Since we’re seeing the beginnings of fall weather with highs today of only 74F, it wasn’t too hot to enjoy.
Split pea soup, doctored up with kielbasa, green onion, a bit of the oil from a jar of chili crisp, and some croutons for fun.
Also a bit of leftover spinach/artichoke dip w/pita chips, but most of that will keep for tomorrow.
One or two chocolate-covered freeze-dried strawberries (found 'em at Walgreens) for dessert.
Since today is not only National Taco Day but also a Tuesday, I went with enchiladas. Close enough.
I had a pizza with olive oil, kalamata olives, artichokes, roasted red pepper, mushrooms, goat cheese, basil, and a lot of crushed dried red peppers, drizzled with balsamic glaze. It was scrumptious.
Last night was ribeye steak, roasted asparagus, roasted carrots, and baked potato. Tonight I’m having leftovers.
Cold squash soup (with sour cream & croutons) while heating up a semi-spicy beef empanada.
Triscuits with brie & marmalade, & a cuppa hot tea for starters.
A roast beef sub with white cheese, the two halves nuked in the microwave and then adorned with Dijon mustard and reassembled. To be had with the leftover spicy Korean noodle salad I had yesterday.
We ate out at a nearby diner. Liver & onions with bacon, mashed potatoes with gravy, canned green beans (yuck), lentil soup, and strawberry ice cream. All of that was included with the liver & onions. I ordered off the senior menu because I knew it would be a ton of food, and it was still a ton of food! I have enough left over for another full meal. Except for the green beans, it was very good.
Oh my gosh, I haven’t seen liver and onions on a menu in ages. We just came back from a trip and every time we stopped at a likely place, I’d check.
There actually is a place near us that serves it…a Mexican restaurant! We’ve never been there, and I’m not sure I would have the nerve to start with the liver if we went.
Tonight’s leftover liver. I think it’ll hold up well. I finished all the sides, though so I think I’ll nuke a Yukon gold potato to go with it.
Last night (and tonight): ground beef browned in a pot with onion and garlic, then set aside. Into the pot went tomato paste, a little veggie (better than) bouillon, a whole chopped green cabbage, three grated carrots, coriander, salt, paprika, black pepper, and a touch of cumin.
Cooked the cabbage with the lid on until just soft enough, then added back in the beef/onion. More black pepper and a little cider vinegar to taste.
Ate it over/mixed with rice. Add heat as desired, though I used enough black pepper that it has a little bite on the back end from that. Spouse added Choula brand smoky chipotle hot sauce to hers, which I might do tonight- seems like a perfect flavor match.
Pre Snack: frozen strawberry bits with little frozen yogurt “pearls”
Snack/start: mashed taters’n’gravy, and corn. (I forgot to order a biscuit! 
)
Main: Two fried eggs: one tucked into a slice of bread (e.g. One Eyed Jack) and the other just over-easy in a lotta butter. Cholula sauce was definitely involved.
Dessert: hot cuppa Earl Grey, coupla Triscuits with brie & bitter marmalade
McDonald’s
I live on a boat in a boatyard and getting to market is a BIG deal. No food delivery around here… WalMart might send someone out, I’m not sure. I can only do it about once a week… buy as much produce which I will be able to use, and then…
… I buy a bag of McDonald’s. Enough to refrigerate it and ration it in the coming couple of days. It is my reward for otherwise buying and eating such wholesome foods. When you live alone on a boat, and your surroundings are very rustic, you have to keep yourself happy and amused and this is one of mine. I separate the meat from the patties, and put them in separate bags. McNuggets and fries, likewise. And I know how to re-heat them. A properly stored and re-vivified two day old McDonald’s hamburger can be surprisingly good.
Tacos al pastor on homemade tortillas, with sides of beans with mild red toasted chile sauce and some rice.