Meals of the Week, May 4th - 10th, 2025

  

Here I am again with another Meals of the Week post, this one for the first week of May.  We had a real mix of temperatures this week. A few days were quite balmy and humid, but we had another few days that it was quite cold if you were out in the wind. So I am still enjoying a bit of comfort food.  That is what this time of year is like. Very transitional.

We will soon be complaining about the heat and eating nothing but salads and cold coalitions, but in the meantime, I am enjoying some lovely comfort food and simple dishes that are not only simple to make, but inexpensive for the most part, as well as being delicious.

I have challenged myself as a single person living on my own to eat as best as I can. I don't want to be that person who eats out of packets and cans. I want to eat good food, honest food, and food that isn't filled with salt and preservatives, so I want to cook my own meals from scratch, as long as I am competent and capable enough to do so!

Most Sundays I will have dinner with my family and in those cases I have included "like" recipes that you could use in their place. This week I also had dinner out once with my father and his friend Hazel. I have included a "like" recipe for that occasion as well.

I aim to make all of my meals simple, nutritious and fairly budget friendly. As a Senior on a limited income, I need to watch my pennies, and I know many of you are in the same boat.

Challenging myself to do so is inspiring to me and I hope it will be inspiring to you also!  Maybe you will also want to cook good, economical, and tasty meals for yourself also.

This is only my suppers. I do also eat breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is usually toast or cereal, sometimes yogurt granola and fruit.  Lunch is a sandwich most of the time, sometimes cheese and crackers and fruit, or sometimes  a delicious salad. I do so enjoy my salads!

So here we go, my meals from the past week. Enjoy!

SUNDAY, May 4th - Sunday Dinner at Cindy's

I usually have Sunday dinner with the family every week. My sister, her partner and my dad. Sometimes (most of the time) we have it at her place, sometimes they come here. This week it was held at my sister's and she made a delicious meatball and pasta bake, with some salad and bread on the side.  Quite different than her usual roast.  It was delicious.

In its place I am sharing my recipe for a Dump & Bake Meatball Casserole, which is very similar to what she did. Mine is a small batch recipe, but it can certainly easily be multiplied to feed more people. Serve with a salad and some garlic bread and everyone will be more than happy!

MONDAY, May 5th - Fajita Chicken Breast Casserole

I found myself on Monday with a packet of diced bell peppers which needed using up and so I made this Fajita Chicken Breast Casserole.  Chicken breasts are seasoned all over with a homemade fajita seasoning and then placed into the bottom of a casserole dish and topped with some cheese. This gets topped with a mixture of peppers and onions. More of the seasoning gets sprinkled over top of the vegetables before baking to juicy flavor-filled perfection. A final layer of cheese is sprinkled over top and then the casserole is returned to the oven just to melt the cheese.

If you are doing low-carb or Keto, this is a perfect dish for you. If you are not, simply add some rice and some flour tortillas. I enjoyed with flour tortillas and some sour cream.  No rice for me on this day. It was quick, easy to make and very delicious.

TUESDAY, May 6th - Tomato & Rice Soup

I had quite a busy day on Tuesday with blood tests, etc. I made myself a simple supper of Tomato & Rice Soup.  I love LOVE Tomato & Rice Soup. It is hearty and delicious.  I used to love the one that came in the can when I was a child.  It had bits of spinach in it. 

This is one of my favorite soups.  I love tomato soup. Making it from scratch is a life changer, and when you add some rice and other bits to it, it really is delicious.  I enjoyed this simply with some crackers and was a very happy camper.  

WEDNESDAY, May 7th - Dinner out with dad

On Wednesday I went out to dinner with my father and his friend Hazel.  We went to the Big Scoop which is a local eatery.  It was very busy.  A bit too busy for my liking, but they are doing well, so good for them!  Dad had the Grilled Haddock, Hazel had a small eater, Turkey Dinner and I had the small eater Hot Turkey Sandwich.  I was the only one who didn't have chips.  I could never eat a whole of this kind of sandwich, but I did find myself wishing I had the chips instead of the mashed potatoes.  (I was trying to be good!)  Turkey and gravy between two slices of bread and more gravy ladled over top.

In its place I am sharing my recipe for a Hot Chicken Sandwich. Same premise but with roast chicken and a delicious homemade gravy on some sour dough bread.  I like to serve it with some fried potatoes and a vegetable.

THURSDAY, May 8th - Tater Tot Casserole

I was feeling rather sorry for myself on Thursday after having had a very bad haircut that I was not very happy with. Thank goodness hair grows is all I can say. Far shorter than I had asked for, but without my glasses on I cannot see at all what people are doing.  

I indulged in a small pity party and made myself something really indulgent for my supper. Tater Tot Casserole.  Chili and hotdogs on the bottom (with a few bits, bobs and seasonings), topped with cheese and frozen tater tots. Baked for about 30 minutes or so, topped with more cheese and then baked for a further 15 minutes until lovely and bubbling and golden brown delicious. I enjoyed this with a delicious mixed salad, to balance out the naughty.  😋

FRIDAY, May 9th - Tuna Patties

Fish for Friday with some tasty Tuna Patties.  I love any kind of fish patty or fish cakes.  This is a real store cupboard favorite with me. You can  use tinned salmon if you prefer. Also very good.  Crisp and buttery on the outside, tender inside, these went down a real treat with a dollop of Homemade Tartar Sauce on top. 

This week I served them with steamed brown rice and vegetables, but a favorite way I really like to enjoy them is with mac and cheese. I was trying to be good diet wise.

SATURDAY, May 10th - Chicken Tikka Masala

Saturdays were always curry nights in the U.K. People love a good Chinese or a Curry.  One of the first things I cooked in my chef's course over there was Chicken Tikka. I was really new at cooking curries then.  I fell in love with all of the curries of the U.K. with the exception of a Vindaloo. I cannot tolerate anything that is too spicy these days. The joys of getting older.

This recipe is from one of my favorite chef's Tamasin Day-Lewis and is a simple to make and incredibly tasty version of the UK's favorite curry.  Not too spicy, creamy and delicious!

I enjoyed with some steamed basmati rice and some mango chutney on the side. I was wishing for some Peshwari Naan bread. Oh, how I miss Peshwari Naan. It is my favorite of all the Naan Breads. It has a filling of coconut, raisins and almonds. I will have to try the recipe linked and see how it compares. Watch this space.

And those were my meals of the week for this, the first real week of May 2025.  I think I ate rather well. I did eat away from home twice, but I tried to keep it fairly healthy at the restaurant. My brother is due to visit for a week at the end of the month, and I dare say we will probably be eating out a few times at his favorite places then! I am trying not to overindulge too much before then!

I hope you will be inspired to want to cook at least a few of these delicious meals.  If you do and you enjoy them, let me know!  

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