Meals of the Week, Sunday May 10th to Saturday May 16th, 2026

 

 Here I am with another Sunday Meals of the Week post.  This is the day I generally share with you all of the main meals which I have cooked for myself and or enjoyed over the previous seven days.  A delicious recap of how I have been feeding myself!  Or at least I think it is anyways!

I was determined when I moved into my own place that I was not going to become one of those people who ate out of cans and boxes.  I know that is not always possible for everyone and I am not judging.  But while I have the ability and will to cook for myself that is what I want to do.  I am a person who loves to cook and I think I would be rather bored eating ready-meals and frozen dinners. So as long as I can cook, I WILL cook!

I know a lot of seniors get meals on wheels and the like, delivered to them.  I think it is great that this is an option available for those who need it.  They are usually quite healthy as well. Low in salt and sugar, high in protein, so trust me I am not judging.

Store bought ready meals are quite different and are usually very high in salt and sugar.  I want to stay away from that as much as possible. I am not perfect of course and do occasionally succumb to the lure of a frozen dinner, but by far and large I cook for myself.

I also hate waste so I always try to use up everything that I have as much as possible.  Its very hard sometimes, so I tend to shop for myself every few days now rather than once a week.  I find that the fresh ingredients like salad, etc. just don't last any longer than a few days.  I would rather go a bit more often and throw out less.

Things are a little bit more exciting at the moment as I have my daughter Eileen living with me until she gets a place of her own. I am really enjoying having someone other than myself to cook for!

If, along the way, I can inspire some of you with some of your menu planning, then that makes me very happy.  

Here are my meals for the past week. If I have eaten out or away from home, I have endeavored in to provide you with a suitable "like" recipe that you can make at home.  I hope you enjoy reading this post as much as I enjoyed eating the meals and writing it up!

 

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY, May 10th - Family Dinner at Cindy's

On Sundays we enjoy a delicious family dinner.  Usually we go to my sister's but sometimes they all come to mine. Cindy always cooks a delicious dinner.  Last week it was mini meat loaves with macaroni and cheese and buttered carrots. It was lovely as always.

In it's place I am sharing my recipe for Mini Meat Loaves. Classic comfort food — only smarter, smaller, and perfectly suited for today’s thrifty kitchens. Made with lean ground steak for maximum flavor and minimal fat, each little loaf bakes up tender and moist, with a zingy ketchup‑mustard glaze that caramelizes beautifully on top, and seasons the meat all the way through. 

They cook in half the time of a traditional meatloaf, make just four tidy servings, and use only everyday pantry staples. These are ideal for small households, busy weeknights, or anyone craving hearty, old‑fashioned goodness without the waste. Serve them with mashed potatoes and a vegetable on the side for a simple, satisfying supper that feels like home. 

MONDAY, May 11th - Horseradish Cheddar Tuna Melts

Horseradish Cheddar Tuna Melts are the kind of simple, satisfying comfort food that feels like a small triumph on a busy day. Made with just a handful of store‑cupboard staples, they deliver big flavor with almost no effort. The horseradish adds a gentle heat that wakes everything up without overpowering the tuna, and the fresh garlic gives the mixture a bright little spark of savory depth.

The tasty tuna mixture gets spooned onto toasted English Muffins, topped with cheese and then run under the broiler until the cheese melts into golden, bubbling bliss. These tuna melts are crisp, creamy, and wonderfully comforting. They’re small‑batch friendly, ready in minutes, and make a perfect light supper — especially with something crunchy on the side, like celery sticks or a handful of chips. On this occasion we had oven chips done in the air fryer.

TUESDAY, May 12th - Ina Garten's Vodka Sauce with Pasta 

On Tuesday we really fancied some pasta. This small‑batch Vodka Sauce & Pasta is everything you love about Ina Garten’s cooking — simple ingredients, slow‑built flavor, and a touch of luxury without any fuss. The sauce begins with sweet Spanish onion, garlic, oregano, and a pinch of heat, all simmered gently before being enriched with good tomatoes and a splash of vodka that cooks down until mellow and silky. A long, slow roast in the oven concentrates every flavor into something deeply savory and incredibly comforting.

Once blended smooth and finished with cream, fresh oregano, and plenty of Parmesan, the sauce becomes velvety, rich, and absolutely irresistible. It will make any pasta dish feel restaurant-worth and yet doable. I tossed it with some Penne noodles and served it with extra cheese grated over top, garlic bread and a salad on the side.  Simple ingredients put together in the most delicious way! 

WEDNESDAY, May 13th - Supper out with Dad and the family

Most Wednesday nights we go out to dinner with my dad. This week was no different. Eileen, Cindy, Myself, Hazel and Dad. We go to a local place that Dad and Hazel like to go to. The food is hit and miss. This week they had a steak dinner special on and so I treated Eileen and I to a steak dinner. We had not had steak in a very long while. It was a beef filet steak wrapped in bacon with chips, vegetables and garlic bread. Cindy had the fish and chips and both dad and Hazel had the baked Haddock dinner. Our steaks were actually pretty good. I was pleasantly surprised.  

In it's place I am sharing my recipe for Pan Seared Steak with Garlic Butter. This is the kind of simple, honest cooking that proves you don’t need bells and whistles when you start with a beautiful piece of beef. A good New York strip is seasoned generously, kissed by a hot skillet, and seared until it develops that irresistible golden crust that only cast iron can give. Then comes the magic — a bubbling pool of butter infused with fresh garlic and rosemary, spooned lovingly over the steak until every edge glistens and the aroma fills the kitchen.

After a short rest, the meat slices like velvet, juicy and perfectly cooked, ready to be draped onto warm plates and finished with a drizzle of that fragrant garlic butter. Paired with fresh vegetables or sautéed mushrooms. A restaurant meal made with the simplest ingredients.

THURSDAY, May 14th - Swedish Meatballs

We treated ourselves to red meat again on Thursday. (I am trying to get Eileen's iron up.) These Swedish Meatballs are an old favorite of ours. These are true comfort food . . .  tender, gently spiced and bathes in a rich, silky gravy. A blend of pork and beef gives the meatballs their signature soft, juicy texture, while allspice and nutmeg add the classic Scandinavian warmth everyone enjoys. Browned on the stove and then finished in the oven with a rich and delicious gravy which is enriched with double cream for the last 15 minutes of baking.

I have spent years tweaking this recipe into something which my family declares are the best in the world.  We enjoyed them with some buttery noodles and a tossed salad on the side.

FRIDAY, May 15th - Creamy Boursin Chicken

Juicy, golden-seared chicken cutlets smothered in a rich, velvety garlic and herb Boursin cheese sauce.  This is a dish using simple ingredients with maximum flavor! Perfect for a cozy dinner, served with fluffy mashed potatoes or buttery rice. You’ll want to lick the plate clean!

I didn't have any potatoes on the day so I had to make do with some rice. I added some cooked frozen petit pois on the side. This was a really delicious meal that went down a real treat!  I highly recommend!

SATURDAY, May 16th - Coconut Chicken Curry

I was really craving some Indian food and so I made myself a curry for my Saturday night supper. This simple Coconut Chicken Curry is a real favorite. It is light and fruity and not overly spicy.  I don't really do extra spicy food well these days!

Tender chicken simmered in a luscious coconut milk sauce, infused with warm spices, fresh ginger, and a hint of citrusy orange zest. Finished with mango chutney and fresh herbs, it’s the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and aromatic. We enjoyed this with some simple steamed rice and veggies.  No such thing as poppadom here.  Sigh. I wish there was!  I miss them!  They always go down so well with a delicious curry!  We enjoyed simply with some steamed rice and some sliced cucumbers and tomatoes on the side.

And there you have it, those were our meals of the week for the past seven days!  I think we did really well. We had a delicious week filled with lots of the things that we love to eat. You can't beat that!  I truly hope that you will be tempted to cook a few of them yourself!

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