May 2021: Self Isolation Meals and Notes

Saturday, May 1, 2021

L - Bean and tomato stew/soup with toasted beer bread
D -

Sunday, May 2, 2021

L - Tomato, Bean, Veggie soup with spaghetti too! Toasted beer bread with butter and everything but bagel seasoning
D - Canned Chili and Beans with Crescent Rolls stuffed with cheese.
T - Peach Sherbert (Drained canned peaches and sweetened condensed milk)

Monday, May 3, 2021

L - J had leftover chicken pie, 1/2 hot dog, toast with peanut butter and marmalade, B & A had the tomato/bean/veggie/pasta soup/stew
D - Salmon with honey mustard sauce, asparagus, rice with sesame seeds, salad + wine!
T - Butter Pecan Ice cream, peach/mango sherbert with pecans, salted caramel sauce and whipped cream

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

L - Salmon with maple soy sauce, rice, asparagus and squash, salad

D - Shrimp Salad - Yum!

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

L - Taco Salad with ground round

D - Costco Ribs and Salad with tomato, mango, blueberries, pecans

Thursday, May 6, 2021

L - Egg Salad on English Muffins and Salad

T - Cake

D - Picked Up Chinese from place in La Mesa + Zucchini

Friday, May 7, 2021

L - B&J only had left over Chinese (Alex skipped lunch)

T - Cake

D - A had left over Chinese, B&J had three melons and cottage cheese

T - Went to DZ Akins and picked up dessert.  B had custard, J&A had eclair

Saturday, May 8, 2021

L - Chicken Salad with melon

D - Food pick up from DZ Akins, each selected a sandwich

T - more desserts from DZ Akins (from Friday pickup)

Sunday, May 9, 2021

L - Mother's Day!  Sour cream and blueberry crepes by A, Scrambled eggs by B, cut up melon  Delicious!

D - Salad with beer bread

In the afternoon, we went to park for a lovely walk with Buffy.  

I used to bring Alex to this park once a week while he was in k-grade.  We hosted a birthday party here for him.  We went to the first tables available as it was a little down hill for my folks to walk.  I know we had food and cake.  But even though the four Friday Group kids and their moms met us there too, I only remember the perfect gift from my parents.  It was a yellow ball - he loved playing with that.

This park is designed so people in wheel chairs can have fun on the paths and equipment.

Years later, I would bring my mom her when she was in a wheel chair.  I would somehow get the wheelchair over to his piece of equipment.  She would stand and reach up and walk while hold on to the rungs of the horizontal ladder.

A photo from cousin - her daughter's first Mother's Day.

Monday, May 10. 2021

L - Chick pea tomato soup

D - Chinese Food we picked up after taking Buffy for her vet exam.  Good selection of dishes, but not delicious.

In the mornings when I walk and chat with my friend P, I send her a photo of Buffy as we leave the house to let her know we are outside...

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

L - Left over Chinese - whole fish, walnut shrimp, salt and pepper chicken and rice

D - Left over Chinese - mostly beef and vegetable dish.  I made a sweet soy sauce that we put on to sort of cover the original sauce made by the restaurant and rice

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

L - Salad with tomato, cheese, avocado, leftover carne asada, + dressing made with jam O&V

D - Food from Drive thru - Mexican.  J tostada, B pork quesadilla, A enchilada plate

T - ice cream and rice pudding

We had such a nice time last Sunday on our walk that we decided to try going to a different park with Buffy again.  This time we drove to the park that was by my folks place.  So many people were there, but it is a large one so socially distancing was easy to do.  These little family outings have been our first since the shut in.  It's sort of a soft restart to normal life for us.

Thursday, May 13, 2021

L - Salad with tomato, cheese, avocado, leftover carne asada, and for B&A leftover pork quesadilla

D - Tuna Noodle Casserole + Salad  (A liked)

Hauling

Friday, May 14, 2021

L - Lentil Soup with Rice, Nan, and Blueberry Sour Cream Crepes!

D - Tuna Noodle Casserole + Salad

Saturday, May 15, 2021

L - Chickpea soup + English Muffins

D - BBQ Chicken Pizza + Salad (cashews and sweet dressing)

Dropped Christmas Swap Blocks off at the quilting group.

Sunday, May 16, 2021

L - Tomato Chickpea Soup with Quesadilla

T - Angel Food Cake with Cherry Frosting - watched Enterprise with B!

D - George's Kielbasa with Sauerkraut, lettuce and potato salad, watermelon

Monday, May 17, 2021

L - Madras Lentil Soup, Rice, Nan

D - George's Kielbasa with Sauerkraut (added another Kielbasa), zucchini, Salad with honey mustard dressing, potato salad

T - Angel food cake with frosting and chocolate chips

J worked on Buffy's Log Cabin and Power Bar Quilt Top

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

L - Combination soup - a little new and old in the pot + nan

D - Chicken Pot Pie + squash + salad

T - Brownie Cookies - made with DS!

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

L - Chickpea Coconut Milk and frozen leftover soup - celery carrot onion thai chili paste and franks

D - Stuffed Salmon (1/2 of Costco portion for each), Zucchini, Salad with dried cranberries and cashews

Thursday, May 20, 2021

L - Carry In Mexican

D - Tomato based soup with bagels/cream cheese + cherries

Look at the size of Alex's burrito!

Friday, May 21, 2021

L -

D - Stuffed Salmon, Green Salad, Cut Up Fruit

Saturday, May 22, 2021

L - Chickpea soup + bread, J had fruit salad

D - Spaghetti with sausage sauce, squash, salad, and garlic bread

Sunday, May 23, 2021

L - Carry in Cheers - We each go different sandwiches

D - Left overs A had spaghetti, B had his sandwich, I actually didn't like mine - A got me some Mexican on his way back from Project Wildlife (a dove hit our window and was knocked out.  He put in a box and drove over to them.  They will help if possible.)

Quilting Class.

Monday, May 24, 2021

L - Baked Spaghetti (Sauce, Noodles, Mozzarella Cheese, Mushrooms, Sausage) + Squash, Salad, Garlic Bread

D - Carry in - Rubio's

T - Ice cream

Quilting Lecture

Tuesday May 25 2021

L - Baked Spaghetti (Sauce, Noodles, Mozzarella Cheese, Mushrooms, Sausage) + Squash

D - Carry in KFC Chicken Dinner/biscuit/mashed potato

T - Ice Cream and split piece of cheese cake three ways

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

L - Baked Spaghetti (Sauce, Noodles, Mozzarella Cheese, Mushrooms, Sausage) + Squash Added extra sauce and canned string beans today)  

D - Stir Fry Chicken and Rice

T - Made No Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream and Polenta Almond Cherry Cake.  Tasted each - pretty good!

Walk with Buffy and P

Next time be sure to time the polenta cake so it is eaten while warm from the oven!  Make half recipe for the three of us.

Thursday, May 27, 2021

L - P/U K's Sandwiches - grilled pork and pastry treats

D - Cereal or/and pastry

T - No Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Walk with Buffy

Memories of nice visit with friends in Florida.

Friday, May 28, 2021

L - P/U Chinese

D - P/U Pork Bau or/and Pork Pie

T - Almond Cookie/Coconut Cookie and Ice Cream

Walked with P and Buffy, (Deal to work on some organization over the weekend). Exercise Jil - going to Wednesdays for June and July - then back to three days a week again. We picked up Meds for Buffy and then got Chinese Food from Cafe and a Bakery

Saturday, May 29, 2021

L - Scrambled Eggs with Mushrooms and Diced Ham, Kale Salad with Sweet Dressing + Tomato, toasted baguette

D - Left over Chinese + Salad

T - Polenta Cake and Ice Cream

Sunday, May 30, 2021

L - Left over Chinese for B&A, Cottage Cheese on lettuce with peaches for J

D - Struggle Meals Paella (we had chicken and shrimp instead of calamari and only chorizo sausage), very nice.  Will make again.  There are left overs.

T - Polenta Cake and the last of the Buttered Pecan Ice Cream

Laundry, lots of clothes on hangers to dry. Went thru everything in the bathroom, really organized and clean now. Need to get some new shelf liner and put up a shelf to keep the hair dryer and tooth brush off the counter. Started reorganization of food and spent morning cleaning things in kitchen (while waiting for Buffy's med times).

Monday May 31, 2021

L - Left over Chinese and Struggle Meals Paella for B&A, Cottage Cheese on lettuce with peaches for J

D - California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken + Salad

T - Ice Cream with cut up peeps and walnuts

Cousin's Easter Lamb Recipes - April 2021

 Easter Lamb

Leftover Lamb Curry

Cousni Note 4-17-21:  We are preparing for Rose’s baptism this Saturday.  Craig’s mother will fly in from Ft. Lauderdale and his sister and brother-in-law are flying in from LA.  So, I sit down to type the recipes and I never finish!  Please enjoy these.   The lamb recipe is from my favorite butcher.  Then I made the leftover lamb into the curry.  It was delish!

Baking with Son: Joe's Birthday Chocolate Poke Cake with Cherry Pie Filling and Chocolate Glaze

We missed baking on Joe's birthday, but we did make a Chocolate Poke Cake to celebrate.

1.  Make cake in 9 x 13 pan.

2.  Let it cook just a little while you microwave the contents of a can of frosting - 30 seconds was all it needed for us.

3.  While it's in microwave, we used a straw to make holes in the top of the cake.

4.  Then we poured the melted frosting on top of the cake and put in the frig to cool to room temperature.

5.. Opened a can of cherry pie filling, and poured that on the top of the cake.

6.  In frig again for a bit.

7.  Frost with Cool Whip and or whipped cream.

8.  Use nuts to write "Joe".

9.  Enjoy!

A piece for Joe!

Wishing Joe a happy birthday!

Chickpea Tomato Soup with Rosemary (Instant Pot, Slow Cooker and Stove Top)

 This was very good.

Chickpea Tomato Soup with Rosemary (Instant Pot, Slow Cooker and Stove Top)

PREP TIME: COOK TIME: TOTAL TIME: 10 mins 35 mins 45 mins

COURSE: Lunch, Soup CUISINE: Italian

This Chickpea Tomato Soup is an easy, hearty soup, loaded with chickpeas and vegetables in every bite. Stove, slow cooker and Instant Pot directions provided.

Ingredients

1 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced celery
2 garlic cloves (minced)
2 15 oz cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained (0r about 3 cups of soaked chickpeas)
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
3 cups reduced sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarians) 1 fresh rosemary sprig
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
fresh black pepper (to taste)
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese (plus extra optional for garnish)

Instructions Crock Pot Version

YIELD: 6 servings 5 from 37 votes

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic and saute until tender and fragrant, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to the crock pot along with the broth, tomatoes, chickpeas, parmesan cheese, and pepper. Add the rosemary, bay leaves and basil, cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

2. When done add the spinach. Remove bay leaves, rosemary sprig and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Ladle soup into bowls and top with extra parmesan cheese if desired.

Stove Top Version

1. Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic and saute until tender and fragrant, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the broth, tomatoes, chickpeas, parmesan cheese, and pepper. Add the rosemary, basil and bay leaves, cover and cook on low 30 minutes. Add the spinach, cover and simmer until wilted, about 2 minutes.

2. Remove the bay leaves, rosemary sprig, and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Ladle soup into bowls and top with extra parmesan cheese if desired.

Instant Pot Version

1. Follow same recipe as above except cook 15 minutes high pressure, natural release.

Serving: 11/2 cups, Calories: 215kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 2.5mg, Sodium: 387mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 6g
Blue Smart Points: 1 Green Smart Points: 4 Purple Smart Points: 1 Points +: 5

Printed from Skinnytaste: https://www.skinnytaste.com/chickpea-tomato-soup-with-rosemary/

Pizza: Mushroom, Onion, Broccoli, Asiago Romano Alfredo Sauce

DH and I made the nicest pizza last night.

Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust 13.8 oz (comes in a tube) - Set oven to 400 degrees and preheat oven then put dough on pan, and in oven until starting to brown - about 8-10 minutes. While waiting for the oven to preheat and crust to cook prepare the other items.

Costco Organic Crimini Mushrooms, 24 oz - wipe and slice each into around 6 or 7 slices. Put in a dry pan and cook down until starting to brown. Drain the resulting water - or save for a soup! I cooked all of them, used all except about 1/2 cup for the pizza.

Large Sweet Onion - slice and then cut to make small pieces. Heat another pan with some oil and cook the onion until it starts to turn light brown.

Broccoli - Cut into very small bits - microwaved to soften.

Galbani, Whole Milk Low-Moisture Mozzarella, 16 oz - 1/4 inch slice then cut each into 1/4.

Classico Light Asiago Romano Alfredo Pasta Sauce 15 oz Jar

Top the precooked crust with the sauce, broccoli, most of the cheese, onions, mushrooms, top with remaining cheese. Bake until the cheese starts to brown - about 8 - 10 minutes.

We had a little container of cooked bacon from Marketside Sunflower Bacon Crunch Chopped Salad Kit 13.4 oz so sprinkled that along with seasoned pepper on the top.

Served with remaining half of the Sunflower Chopped Salad Kit - added some tomatoes.

We all enjoyed - only have two pieces of 12 left!

Baking with Son: Brownies

 We made brownies tonight.  With cream instead of water, and added walnuts to the pan. Used a knife to tuck them under the batter.  Very tasty!

Baking with Son: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

 We made delicious Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - just from a mix so not a lot of anything.  We timed the baking correctly though so the cookies were soft in the middle.  And we did bake something.  So that is good.

Easter 2021

 We have no usual for Easter dinner.  This year decided to try to make a special old fashioned meal to remember.

• InstantPot Copycat Honey Baked Ham - https://easybudgetrecipes.com/instant-pot-honey-baked-ham/ 10 servings Calories: 289
  
  
• Funeral Potatoes - https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/funeral-potatoes/
  12 servings Calories: 303 calories

• Campbell's Mushroom Soup String Bean Casserole - https://www.campbells.com/recipes/green-bean-casserole/  6 servings calories 155 calories 
  
  
• Strawberry Pretzel Salad - https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14244/old-fashioned-strawberry-pretzel-salad/ - 10 servings 
  Per Serving:
   
  433 calories
  
  

Calories from MyFitness Pal Meal = 289 + 303 + 155 + 433 = 1180

Plan for Preparing the Meal

1.  Make the pretzel crust.

Food process pretzels until about 2.5 cups.  It never ground down to meal - still could see the pretzels.  Add 2 T brown sugar.  Melt about 12 T butter.  Add and pulse until it comes together.

Press in the bottom of the 9 x 13 pan.  Bake at 350 for around 12-15 minutes. Cool to room temp.

2. Food process about a pound of strawberries.

In a bowl put 6 oz of strawberry jello powder and mix with 1 c boiling water.  When mixed, add 1 c room temp or cold water and add the strawberries.  Put in frig to chill and start to thicken.

3.  Put about 30 oz of frozen hash browns on the cookie sheet to defrost. 200 degrees for around 6 minutes. (Or remember to put the potatoes in the frig to defrost over night!  Set it up so they can drain too.)

4.  In a large bowl, mix 2 c plain Greek yogurt, 1 ~10 oz can of cream of chicken soup, 6 tablespoons of melted butter, 1t salt, 1/2 t pepper and 1t dried onion– in a bowl and mix them up.

5.  Add the 30 oz of potatoes, and 2 c of shredded cheese (I used sharp cheddar). Mix and then Put in baking dish. (I used 11 X 7 dish - very full)

6.  Crush about 2 c corn flakes, combine with 4 T melted butter and put on top of the casserole.  Cover and refrigerate while working on other things.

7.  DH made the string bean casserole.  Rinse and then drain 2 (~15oz) cans of canned string beans.  Combine with 1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup or 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup, 1/2 cup milk, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1/3 c French's Onion Rings, Salt and Pepper to taste. Put in 8 x 8 casserole. Cover and refrigerate while doing other things.

8.  Combine 8 to 12 oz of softened cream cheese with 1 c of sugar.  Fold in 8 oz of whipped topping. "Frost" the cooled pretzel crust - be sure it seals the crust completely.  Then put the partially thickened strawberry jello mixture on top. Cover and refrigerate.

9.  In a small bowl, combine 1/3 - 1/2 c pineapple juice, 2 - 4 T brown sugar, and  2-4 T honey.

10.  Slice ham if needed.  Make a foil bowl (I made by forming over the instant pot bowl.)  Then put 1 1/2 c water in the bowl and place in the instant pot and put the trivet in too.  Put the ham in the foil bowl - and use a turkey baster to put the sweet mixture in between the slices.  Then put the bowl with the ham in the instant pot.  Cut back foil if needed.  Spoon a little brown sugar on the top of the ham.  Pick the option for High Pressure for 20 minutes.  I bought 7 lb unsliced but precooked ham from Costco.

11. Preheat the oven to 350.  Set the table.  Put the potatoes in the oven for 25 minutes.  Then add the string beans to the oven for another 20 minutes.  Add the rest of the french's onions (about a cup) to the top of the string beans after stirring them.  Keep both in oven for another 5 minutes.

12.  Remove casseroles from the oven and the ham from the instant pot and put on platter - slice completely thru as needed.

13.  Plate the meal.  String beans, funeral potatoes, and copycat honey baked ham on plate and the strawberry mixture gets sliced onto a smaller plate.

Very nice meal - it helped a lot to clean the dishes during the preparation so there was not a lot of clean up after the meal. 

To remember for next time: 

• Could make all except the ham the day before.
• Pick something else for dessert or try refrigerating the crust before filling it, and making the cream cheese part with no-bake cheesecake mixture. https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/no-bake-cheesecake/
• Could take some of the ham juice and heat to thicken it and put on top of the ham - didn't think that was necessary this time.
• Would be okay to use different soups for the two casseroles.

This was a hearty meal with lots of leftovers!  I have asparagus to serve when the string beans run out - and green salad.  

I don't remember what time I started making the meal - around 11 or noon I think.  We ate around 3 or 4pm and just had cereal or yogurt for dinner around 8pm.  I already put some of the ham in the freezer as I had to cut it to get it to fit in the instant pot!