Here I am again!  Another Sunday, another Meals of the Week Post.  This is the day that I like to share with you all of the delicious meals that I have enjoyed at home or out and about over the past week! It seems to be something which you also enjoy seeing and if I can inspire even one of you to cook something delicious then its worth it to me!

All of my life I have been cooking for families.  My mother went to work when I was 11 years old and it wasn't long before I was cooking for my parent's, sister and brother. At first it was just reheating things which my mother had already prepared, but eventually as I grew more confident I branched out and began actually cooking things myself.

From there I graduated to cooking for a family of my own.  I raised five children and managed to put a delicious and nutritious meal on the table for them every night.  I also loved to entertain and we often had guests for supper as well, so I had plenty of training when it came to cooking for crowds!

I had worked as a pastry chef in my younger years and once my nest emptied I went back to college and trained as a proper chef. I then spend a number of years as a personal chef cooking for a family once more.  Oh how I enjoyed those years Cooking at the Manor. Living in a beautiful spot in the southwest corner of England, and stretching my cooking capacity to levels I had never thought I would. 

I never thought that I would one day be living all on my own, but here I am. I am determined that I will not eat out of cans and boxes.  As long as I am capable I want to cook delicious meals for myself My mother lived on her own for many years prior to the last years of her life, and she cooked meals for herself every single night. She is my muse and inspiration.

If I can inspire you who find yourselves as empty nesters or as one who is living on their own, then I am happy to do so. Here are my meals from the past week.

SUNDAY, August 13th - Birthday at Cindy's

Usually on Sundays I have a family dinner with my sister, her husband and my father. Sunday was my birthday so my sister cooked me a slap up meal of Oven BBQ'd Ribs and Roasted vegetables (brussels sprouts, potatoes, sweet potatoes) along with fresh beans from her garden.  

My sister makes the best Oven BBQ'd Ribs.  I have made them for you on here before and you can find the recipe for them here. They are tender and juicy and succulent.

For my Birthday Cake she made me the most amazing Lemon Cake. It was  a  triple layer beautifully flavored lemon caked, filled with homemade lemon curd and frosted with a fabulously delicious lemon butter cream frosting. She had decorated it with cute lemon marshmallows.  You can find the recipe for this wonderful cake here.  It was one of the nicest lemon cakes I have ever eaten!  I felt very loved. Thank you sis!

MONDAY, August 14th - Chicken & Bacon Caesar Melt

I had some leftover chicken which needed using up. I felt like having a sandwich for my supper, and had not made one of these in a very long time.  This is a simple and yet delicious sandwich that everyone loves.  It is very easy to make, as is surprisingly hearty. You can make one or you can make a dozen. 

A garlic butter toasted hoagie bun is loaded up with Caesar dressing,  thinly sliced red onion and shredded lettuce, hot shredded chicken which has had plenty of cheese melted on top. Onto this goes crisp rashers of smoky streaked bacon and slices of ripe fresh tomato.

Now that is what I call a very tasty sandwich. I enjoyed it all on its own, but you could add some potato chips on the side for the very hearty eater, or a cup of soup.

TUESDAY, August 15th - Cold Plate 

I had some cold cuts which needed using up in the refrigerator and so I made myself up a cold plate. Cold plates are something which I love in the summer months. They can be as fancy or as simple as you want to make them. On this day I chose simply to have some sliced ham and yes, cold leftover chicken (to use it all up) with some sliced tomatoes, cucumber, a sliced boiled egg, some tossed salad and some sliced cheese.  I  also had a baked biscuit with the plate.  

Have you ever made 7-Up Biscuits? They are really easy to make. Light and fluffy on the insides and golden brown and crisp on the outsides. I love them with things like salads, cold plates and soups, and I have been known to enjoy a cheeky one or two for my breakfast with jam and butter!

WEDNESDAY, August 16th - Dinner Out with Dad

On Wednesday nights I always go out to dinner with my father and his friend Hazel.  We go to a place called the Big Scoop. The food is not the greatest but its not the worse either. Dad wasn't feeling very good this week. He had Haddie Bits and Chips, but could not finish it. Hazel had Fish and Chips. I had a BLT.  It was not too bad.  Not quite as good as my World's Best BLT, but quite passable. 

Its hard to measure up to my World's Best BLT. Seriously.  With a Basil Pesto Mayonnaise, crisp bacon, fresh ripe tomatoes, house dressing and lots of lively fresh rocket leaves . .  . and a crusty baguette base . . . this is a simple sandwich that is anything but simple. This is bound to become a firm favorite and much requested sandwich.

THURSDAY, August 17th - Honey Mustard Pork Chops

On Thursday I felt like having a hot dinner and so I made myself a quick and easy Honey Mustard Pork Chop which I enjoyed along with a baked potato and some green beans.  The pork chop for this is rubbed with some spices and then flash fried on top of the stove, ready to finish off in the oven with a delicious honey mustard glaze.

Perfectly cooked, tender and juicy with beautiful flavors, this really went down a real treat.  I only baked one, but the recipe is for two people. You can also easily double it to feed more.

FRIDAY, August 18th - Cheesy Rigatoni with Tuna & Broccoli

I fancied some fish on Friday and so I baked a small batch of my Cheesy Rigatoni with Tuna & Broccoli.  The basic recipe is for a Baked Rigatoni with four cheeses. It is rich and indulgent. Tender pieces of rigatoni pasta in a delicious cheese sauce composed of four different cheeses.  A recipe from James McNair.  

I added some flaked albacore tuna and tender pieces of broccoli.  More cheese is scattered over top prior to baking to golden perfection. I froze half to have another time and enjoyed this days portion with a tossed salad and a crusty roll. 

I have small foil containers that I freeze things like this in. They have foil lids as well. Easy to take out and just pop into the oven when and as I want a quick and easy meal. Just pop into the oven frozen and covered (350*F/180*C) for about 35 to 40 minutes, until heated through and bubbling. I take the lid of for the last 10 minutes or so of bake time.

SATURDAY, August 19th - Cabbage Rolls

I took some cabbage rolls out of my freezer and enjoyed two for supper along with some rice and a vegetable on the side. Everyone always loves my cabbage rolls.  Even me. In the old days I was often asked to bring them to Pot Lucks. They have a beautiful sauce, which has a sweet and sour quality to it.

Now when I make them, I make the full recipe and then freeze them in small containers, each one holding 2 to 3 cabbage rolls.  Just pop into a 375*F/190*C oven for about 45 minutes, covered and dinner is served.  

I tend to buy my rice these days, already cooked.  You can get pouches of ready cooked rice in a variety of flavors. Tilda makes it as does Uncle Ben's. They are the perfect size for two people, or one with leftovers.

And there you have it. My meals of the week for the past week. I think you will agree, it was, once again, a most delicious week!  Hopefully you will be inspired to want to cook one or two of the recipes for yourself of your family!

This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan@aol.com 

 

Family Dinner Day and this week it was a meal with a bit of an Oriental slant to it, Crock Pot Mongolian Beef.  I love Crock Pot Meals on a Sunday.  Everything just gets popped into the slow cooker early in the day and it cooks all by itself until supper time.  The smell of this is amazing.  Ginger, soy, garlic and brown sugar, with a bit of heat from crushed red chilies.

You can totally adapt the heat to your taste.  This is delicious served with steamed rice and some vegetables on the side. The leftovers make a fabulous  Fried Rice.

MONDAY, July 24th - Curried Beef Fried Rice

I used the leftovers from the roast to make myself some curried beef fried rice. It actually worked out very well.  I love fried rice. You can make it from just about anything. Some cooked vegetables, or raw carrots, frozen corn, peas, onions, cabbage, cauliflower. You name it, it goes!   

A bit of scrambled egg, a bit of meat and Bob's Your Uncle!  Dinner is done!  I like a bit of sauce on mine sometimes.  Usually I like to pour a bit of Ketjap Manis on mine, which is a thickened sweet soy sauce. I make my own from scratch.

TUESDAY, July 25th - Cold Ham and Sweet & Crunchy Corn Chip Salad

We have had a hot and sticky week weatherwise.  I wasn't feeling overly hungry on Tuesday so I had myself some cold sliced ham and enjoyed it along with a salad.  Sweet & Crunchy Corn Chip Salad.  I love this salad which is the perfect mix of crunchy, sweet, creamy, smoky. Bacon, Cheese, lettuce, dried cranberries, corn ships and a poppyseed dressing. What's not to love!

WEDNESDAY, July 26th - Dinner out with Dad, Hazel and Eileen

On Wednesday nights I go out to dinner with my dad and his friend Hazel. Eileen (my oldest daughter) was with us this week.  I had the special, which was a club sandwich panini. It was not near as tasty as my own homemade Ultimate Turkey Club Sandwich, but someone else was cooking it so it made a nice change!

Dad and Hazel had Fish and Chips.  Eileen had Spaghetti with meat Sauce.  We were all happy. I had a slice of raisin pie for dessert (very naughty), Eileen and Dad had Coconut Cream Pie and Hazel had a slice of carrot cake!

THURSDAY, July 27th - Grilled Chicken with a  Summer Berry Salsa

Still hot so we enjoyed some grilled chicken with a delicious berry salsa. This salsa is filled with plenty of raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, a bit of zip from a red chili, some chopped coriander leaf, red onion, ripe avocado, and lime juice. Nice and zesty and goes beautifully with the mild flavor of the chicken!   The chicken is just seasoned with some salt and black pepper and brushed with some oil prior to grilling. 

This is a simple supper with lovely fresh tastes. If you wanted a heartier supper you could add some cooked rice or even a baked potato.

FRIDAY, July 28th - Crispy Chicken with Creamy Garlic Pasta

I know, chicken two days in a row, but my daughter and I both like chicken and this was a completely different way of cooking it than the day before.  Plus we were out and about and wanted something really quick and easy.  This is all that and more.  Frozen crispy coated chicken breasts are cooked and while they are cooking you make a delicious creamy garlic sauce to toss with freshly cooked penne.

The two together are really delicious.  Tender and juicy pieces of chicken and that creamy pasta. So good, and done in less than half an hour. You can't beat it for a quick meal. We enjoyed a salad on the side.

SATURDAY, July 29th - Quick Naan Bread Pizzas

We both love these Quick Naan Bread Pizzas.  They use a simple Naan Bread base. You can use a garlic one, or a plain one.  They are brushed with some of the oil from a jar of marinated artichoke halves and then topped with a variety of cheeses and the artichokes and plenty of green olives, and some fresh thyme leaves.  

These are really delicious.  You could go the traditional route and use pizza sauce and regular pizza toppings, but these make a tasty change from the regular.

Again we had some salad on the side.  We didn't want to eat too much because we were going to have a movie night with some crisp vegetable dippers and homemade Garden Herb dip and some hummus.  We also had some grapes and cheese.  Yummy!

And that was the week that was!  My daughter and I ate very well and enjoyed a nice fresh variety of things.  Today we are going to my sister's for supper and we have a whole new week of things to enjoy together coming up! She goes home on Saturday.

I can't believe it but here we are again!  Its Sunday and the day I like to share my meals of the week with you.  I have had a pretty busy week this week. I've had company for some of it, but that doesn't mean that I haven't still eaten quite well!

Some of my family has been visiting me from Prince Edward Island. My middle son, his wife and their three lovely boys!  Its been a busy week off and on and my house and heart have been very full!  The cats have gotten more than their fill of attention and I have been enjoying lots of love and hugs from my gorgeous grandsons and giving plenty of them back.

They were at a family camp until Thursday, so really I have only had them here to spoil on Thursday/Friday, but I did have them for a few days at the end of last week as well, so its all good!

My meals of the week posts, for those of you who are new to the page, is a post I do once a week and in which I share the various meals I have cooked and or enjoyed over the past 7 days.  As a senior baby boomer who now lives on her own, I have determined that I am not going to live on stuff from cans, frozen dinners or ready made meals.

I love to eat and I love to cook and I enjoy sharing what I have cooked. I am also on a limited budget so what I cook and eat usually falls within the parameters of affordability and because I am on my own a lot  of my recipes are small batched, and or easy to cut in half.  Its also summer and the heat is on, so this week, I did try to cook meals that were engineered to get me in and out of the kitchen quickly, with the least amount of heating up my house as possible!

I've been greatly encouraged by these posts. People who follow me on my Facebook page seem to enjoy them.  If I can cook inspiring meals, then my goal is to inspire others to do the same!  And in the most economical and delicious way as possible.

It also helps me to keep an eye on what I have been eating and cooking. Variety is the spice of life as they say!  And without further adieu, here is what was cooking in my kitchen over the past 7 days!

SUNDAY, July 16th - Roast Chicken with Herbs

Sunday Dinner with the family. Every Sunday we eat dinner together as a family.  Sometimes my sister hosts and sometimes I do.  Its always a wonderful opportunity to get together as a whole family and enjoy some good food and company.

This week we had this delicious Roast Chicken.  A fabulous herb butter is rubbed all over and pushed under the skin, resulting in a tender and juicy roast chicken with maximum flavor.  The juices make for a wonderful gravy as well. We enjoyed it with a variety of vegetables.  

Dessert was just sugar free jelly with some squirty cream on top. Everybody was happy.

MONDAY, July 17th - Roast Chicken Soup with Barley & Parsnips

I  took advantage of the opportunity to make a delicious chicken soup from the chicken bones and leavings from Sunday.  There was just enough meat on the bones to make this wonderful soup and it was a somewhat rainy and dull day. I love a hot bowl of soup on a rainy and dull day and this is a real favorite.

With a flavor filled full bodied stock, filled with hearty barley, bits of chicken, cabbage, parsnips, onions, etc. this is a delicious soup. It does make four servings, but I always make sure that I save the extra soup in single serving portions  (air tight freezer containers) and pop them into the freezer. Easy to take out and thaw any time I want to treat myself to a bit of chicken soup comfort!

TUESDAY, July 18th - Easy Baked Penne with Sausage

Tuesday felt like a pasta day to me. When I was married I hardly ever got to treat myself to pasta as my husband did not like it at all. I am enjoying the freedom now to be able to eat pasta any time I wish.

This quick and easy casserole goes together in minutes and uses only a very few ingredients. Italian sausage with a tasty marinara sauce, tossed together with penne pasta, slathered with two kind of cheese and baked to perfection.   I enjoyed this with some homemade garlic toast and a side salad.  Delicious!!

WEDNESDAY, July 19th - Pan Seared Steak with Garlic Butter

I had gotten a nice looking steak on offer and cooked myself a steak for my supper. I ate half on the day with some vegetables and mushrooms and used the other half as a Steak & Pasta Salad for lunch the next day.

Being able to use this steak for two different meals made it more than worth the $10 price tag for the steak, with each meal only costing me $5 for the meat. You can pay more than that for a burger at a restaurant and not blink an eye.

This steak is juicy, tender and beautifully flavored. I cooked some mushrooms in butter to go along with it and steamed some fresh local beans and broccoli as well. Who needed a potato?  Not me!

THURSDAY, July 20th - School Cafeteria Pizza

My son and his family were back from Camp and we made School Cafeteria Pizzas!  This unique pizza has an easy pourable crust. I always make my own sauce to go on top of it and we vary the toppings according to who is there and what they like! 

This with a salad made for a really tasty supper.  Ice creams at the farmers market behind my place for after's went down a real treat!

FRIDAY, July 21st - BBQ Burgers and Hot Dogs

On Friday we all went to my sisters for BBQ Burgers and Hot Dogs. She has a big yard for the boys to run around in and lots of space and it was our one opportunity to get together as  a family while my son was here as they were leaving on Saturday.   My son did the BBQ-ing and we had an assortment of salads, potato chips, etc. on the side.  

I picked up some ice cream treats for the boys to enjoy for after's as well.

This photograph is of my recipe for Tina's Burgers. I have a friend in the UK called Tina. She makes the best burgers ever. Nice and juicy with bacon and sliced tomato, lettuce and a fried egg. Apparently this is an Aussie thing and I can tell you they are fabulously delicious.  If you can eat a whole one of these, then you are a better man than I!

SATURDAY, July 22nd - Pasta with a Butter, Onion & Tomato Sauce

I didn't really feel like cooking anything complicated at all on Saturday.  I made myself a delicious bowl of pasta with my favorite Butter, Onion & Tomato Sauce.  Simple and delicious. This dish only really requires 4 ingredients.  A jar of some really good Italian peeled tomatoes.  A package of pasta. Some butter and an onion.  Its so easy to make and sometimes you just want easy.

A sprinkle of cheese on top, a small salad on the side and I was very happy.

And those were my meals for the past week. As you can see I did eat very well!   I hope you will be inspired to want to cook some of these recipes and tasty up your next week! 

This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com