Meals of the Week, June 7th to 13th, 2026

  

Here I am again with another Meals of the Week Post. On Sundays I like to share with you, my dear readers, all of the meals that I have enjoyed eating as my main meals over this past week.  When you are a person that lives on their own there can be a tendency to eat out of tins, or to eat frozen meals.  I don't want that to be my life and if I can inspire one person to also want to cook for themselves, then I think that's a great thing.

My late mother lived all on her own from the age of 54 to 81 when my sister and her partner Dan moved in with mom. By that point mom needed someone to take care of her as she had dementia and was no longer to really care for herself. 

While my mother was able to she always cooked for herself.  Every day she had a meal that she prepared and that she enjoyed. The odd time it might have been a tv dinner or something from the freezer. She loved Big Macs and when they put them on offer, she would buy four or five, have one for her tea and then freeze the other four to have as a treat on another occasion. (I cannot imagine what they might have tasted like. 😟 I cannot think they would have been very good.)

At the moment I have my daughter Eileen staying with me until she moves into her own apartment. I know our days together are numbered, but in the meantime I am really enjoying our time together. This time has been a real blessing for both of us.

Usually on Sundays I have supper at my sisters with the family and every Wednesday night I go out to dinner with my father and his friends at a local eatery.  Other than that, I try to cook everything myself.  Food doesn't have to be complicated to taste good. I like to eat a wide variety of things, and I hate waste.

And with that all in mind, here are my meals of the week for this, the second week of June!  I hope that you will be inspired to want to try at least a few of the recipes yourself! 

SUNDAY, June 7th - Family dinner at Cindy's

Most Sundays we go to my sister's for a family dinner. Last Sunday was no different. Cindy always cooks a delicious meal.  She made a Chicken and Broccoli Casserole which we enjoyed with rice and we had lemon pie for dessert.

In it's place I am sharing my recipe for Turkey & Broccoli Casserole, which is pretty much the same. You can substitute chicken for the turkey. A cozy, comforting bake, this Turkey & Broccoli Casserole layers tender broccoli, soft sautéed onions, and juicy cubes of cooked turkey beneath a creamy sour‑cream-and-stock sauce for effortless richness. A crisp, golden topping of buttery herbed breadcrumbs and sharp cheddar adds irresistible crunch, turning simple, wholesome ingredients into a bubbling, flavor‑packed dish that feels like pure home‑cooked goodness.

This is something we enjoy after having a roast dinner. It is adaptable to either chicken or turkey.

MONDAY, June 8th - South Carolina Bird Dog Sandwiches

I made us a real treat for us on Monday. South Carolina Bird Dog Sandwiches.  I thought Eileen would really enjoy them, and I was right on that score! 

 What we have here is a toasty, buttered hot‑dog roll piled with crisp smoky bacon, hot breaded chicken tenders, melty cheddar, and a sweet‑tangy drizzle of honey mustard. It’s a quick, satisfying hot sandwich that delivers big flavor with minimal effort, making it perfect for easy suppers, picnics, or those days when you want something hearty without much fuss. A simple idea, but absolutely delicious.

Perfect served with some crisp vegetable sticks on the side, potato chips, or cold salads. Oven chips are also very nice.

TUESDAY, June 9th - Ham & Cheese Bow Ties

This is a cozy, small‑batch twist on classic mac and cheese, these Ham & Cheese Bow Ties wrap tender farfalle and savory cubes of cooked ham in a lush, garlicky cheddar sauce that bakes up bubbling and golden. It’s simple, economical comfort food — the kind that turns a bit of leftover ham into a creamy, satisfying casserole perfect for one or two. Pure, everyday deliciousness with that nostalgic “Big Blue Binder” charm.

I often pick up a thick ham steak which I will cut up to use in casseroles, etc. They are pre-cooked and all you need to do is to heat them through. I used this in the casserole.  We enjoyed this tasty dish with some green beans on the side and some biscuits.  What a delicious supper it was.

WEDNESDAY, June 19th - Dinner out with Cindy, Dad and Hazel

On Wednesday nights we always go out to a meal with Dad, Cindy and his friend Hazel. This week we decided to try a new place that has opened up just down the road from our regular place called DeeDee's Diner. It was quite an effort to get dad and Hazel to agree to go. They don't like change.

I thought the restaurant was quite nice, myself. It was clean and I enjoyed my meal. I had fish and chips, the one piece. So did Cindy and Hazel. Dad ordered the foot long hot dog and some French fries. Eileen had the Mushroom melt burger with fries. Cindy and I were both very happy with our meals, except the fish was a bit on the small side for the price. It was perfectly cooked and not greasy. (My piece was even smaller than the one you see above, about half the size.) We did enjoy it  Eileen really enjoyed her burger and fries.  Dad said his hot dog was too big and he didn't like that he didn't get any hugs from the waitress. Hazel thought her fish was too crisp for her liking. In any case they don't want to go back. A shame really because I thought the food was better than the other place.

In it's place I am sharing my recipe for Beer Battered Fish. A proper chippy‑style treat, this Beer Battered Fish fries up light, crisp, and beautifully golden, with a batter that stays airy thanks to a simple mix of flour, baking soda, beer, and lemon juice — all whisked into a thick, clingy coating that turns gorgeously crunchy in hot oil . Inside, the fish stays tender, moist, and perfectly flaky, exactly the way classic cod or haddock should be.

THURSDAY, June 11th - Easy Chili Mac & Cheese

I was exhausted on Thursday after not having slept really well on Wednesday night. I did not have a lot of energy to do anything much, let alone cook a meal. I turned to my store cupboard and rustled Eileen and I a tasty meal from within it's walls.

A cozy, quick‑fix comfort dish, this Easy Chili Mac & Cheese turns a simple boxed mac dinner into something wonderfully hearty and satisfying. Once the creamy macaroni is prepared, it’s stirred together with tomato salsa and a tin of chili con carne for instant richness and warmth . A sprinkle of mild chili powder adds gentle spice without overwhelming the dish . The mixture is then layered with plenty of four‑cheese blend and baked until bubbling, melty, and lightly golden on top — pure, unfussy comfort that tastes far better than the effort it takes. This was just the ticket.

We enjoyed this simply with some bread and butter and one of those bagged salads on the side. One must needs do what one must needs do.

FRIDAY, June 12th - Oven Fried Chicken with Chive & Buttermilk Mash

On Friday we had chicken by way of an old favorite. This oven fried chicken is everything we love about home cooking. Simple ingredients, big flavor and truly satisfying.  The oven fried chicken gives you all the crisp golden goodness of a classic fried chicken without the splatter, fuss or standing over a hot pan.  The pieces are dipped in melted butter and oil, rolled in a beautifully seasoned flour and baked until the coating turns crunchy with tender and juicy chicken inside.

Paired with the chive and buttermilk mash it is pure comfort on a plate.  Cloudy soft mash whipped together with butter, buttermilk and snipped chives for a gentle onion flavor. The perfect finishing touch. 

This is a meal that is hearty, homely and satisfying. We enjoyed this with our favorite vegetable, steamed broccoli, and were both two very happy campers.

SATURDAY, June 13th - Tomato Soup with Cheese Crusted Grilled Cheese

Eileen was feeling quite a bit under the weather and so I opted for something simple and comforting for our supper. We each enjoyed a cup of Tomato Soup along with a grilled Cheese sandwich.  The recipe shown here is for a Cheese Crusted Grilled Cheese.  It lifts a simple grilled cheese up to a deliciously higher level. This is a delectable toasty grilled cheese sandwich, not only with plenty of melting cheese in the middle of the buttery toasted bread  . . . but with plenty of melted and toasted cheese on the outside, coating it so that you be eating cheese from the outside in and from the inside out with a double cheese whammy!

Tomato soup and grilled cheese. It doesn't really get much more comforting than that tasty combination!  I sure hope that Eileen feels better soon. This has been a really difficult time for her. Please keep her in your prayers. I tried to get her a prescription yesterday, but the worker I contacted was not working. She (Eileen) only wants her workers to do these things for her. (She can be quite stubborn.) The CSS workers deal with all of their health issues, etc.  I wasn't able to take her to the Doctors as they are closed at the weekend and I couldn't get a prescription for her either as the ER in our town is also closed at the weekend. She did not want to drive an hour away to the one in Kentville. I sure hope she will be okay until tomorrow. (Monday) 

And those were our meals of the week, for this, the second week of June. I am enjoying having Eileen with me and am grateful for this time we have to spend together, although I know it will soon come to an end. 

In any case, I hope you will be inspired to want to make a few of these recipes for yourself!  

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