I guess I have been sharing my Meals of the Week posts with you for a month or so now. I hope that you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy putting them together. I do like to review the things that I have eaten over the past week. It helps to keep my meals from becoming boring and helps me to plan out my meals for the week to come.
I am determined not to be that person who lives on their own that eats nothing but highly processed ready meals, frozen dinners, takeaways or toast. I also don't like waste, so I have been downsizing as many recipes as I can to make only one or two servings.
Wherever possible I do give the links most of the time for full sized recipes for those of you with larger families. I do see a need however for smaller sized options for people who find themselves to be empty nesters or someone who is living all on their own for the first time in their lives.
If I can inspire you to want to cook for yourself, then I would consider that a job well done. I hope that I will and that you will continue to enjoy these curated posts. Also if you have any ideas of things you might like for me to cook or try or downsize in the future please do leave a comment below!
SUNDAY, June 18th - Father's Day
On Father's day we decided to treat my father to some Kentucky Fried Chicken. (This photo is not of that but of my Oven Fried Chicken, which is infinitely better!) I don't know why we do it, but we get it every year and every year we are disappointed. It just is not as delicious as it used to be.
I think that the KFC in the UK was tastier, or at least much tastier than the stuff we get at our local KFC here where I live. The chips are always disappointing, and the gravy was blah. They even got the coleslaw wrong. What happened to the good old KFC coleslaw that was delicious? This was nothing but chopped cabbage in a dressing with thawed cubed frozen carrots? The texture was all off.
In any case if you are wanting some delicious chicken do try my recipe for Oven Fried Chicken. It is coated with potato chips. You can use any flavor of chips that you like. Always crisp. Always delicious, no faffing about with frying.
We all enjoyed the TikTok Cinnamon rolls my sister made for dessert.
MONDAY, June 19th - Greek Chicken & Cucumber Salad
After the disappointment of the chicken from the day before I made my favorite grilled chicken, Greek Chicken & Cucumber Salad. It is a delicious recipe I adapted from the NYTimes for a chicken supper that is keto, low carb and diabetic friendly.
Downsized for two people, you have incredibly tasty marinated and flavor filled chicken thighs that I grill on my indoor grill, accompanied with a fresh and delicious cucumber, tomato and feta cheese salad. The two things served together are an amazing combination of flavors and textures.
TUESDAY, June 20th - Big Mac Tacos (Smash Burger Tacos)
I wanted to try something new so I downsized a tasty taco recipe that I had seen online. Big Mac Tacos. They were quick and very easy to make, and surprisingly filling! I used ground turkey instead of ground beef.
I created my own special sauce and topped the taco burgers with some process cheese, shredded lettuce and chopped dill pickles. I forgot the onions. Delicious anyways! I highly recommend!
WEDNESDAY, June 21st - Dinner out with Dad
On Wednesday nights I always go out for dinner to a local place with my father and his friend Hazel. This week my sister joined us. I ordered the one piece fish and chips, as did Cindy and Hazel. My dad broke with tradition and ordered the Chicken Crunch strips with sweet and sour sauce. He likes that every now and then. We all had ice cream for dessert.
I am sharing this recipe for Crisp Chicken Strips with a Honey Mustard Dip with you for this day. Nicely flavored and spiced, they are made from cut strips of chicken breast which has been coated in a delicious breading. I bread them early in the day to give them plenty of time to set up.
They are simply pan fried in a mixture of oil and butter. The sauce is a simple one, made from American mustard and clover honey. It makes a really delicious dip!
You can also find my recipe for a Beer Battered Cod and Twice Fried Chips here. It is a recipe of mine that was once featured in the Canadian version of Hello Magazine in an article they did promoting British food! I was quite proud of that!
THURSDAY, June 22nd - Grilled Chicken & Sauteed Potatoes with Broccoli Rabe
I had some grilled chicken leftover from Monday that I wanted to eat and so I created myself a delicious side dish using a vegetable that I had never tried before. Broccoli Rabe, or Rapini as it is also known. It was a delicious combination with fresh new flavors. You could substitute Kale or Mustard Greens for the Broccoli Rabe if you are unable to get it.
Broccoli Rabe is a type of broccoli that cooks and eats like a green. With an earthy, nutty, somewhat bitter taste, it went very well with the sweetness of the sauteed potato. I add some fried onion, garlic, and hot chili flakes as well, dusting the finished dish with some grated Parmesan cheese.
FRIDAY, June 23rd - Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich and Potato Chips
I had picked up some cube steak earlier in the week and I wanted to use it up. I decided to make myself a Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich. Chicken Fried Steak is cube steak which has been dipped in egg and a spicy flour mixture and then fried until crisp and golden brown on the outside, but tender and juicy inside.
I served this on a buttery toasted bun, with a tasty garlic pepper aioli mayo that I had made spread on the bottom and topped with some crisp lettuce and a thick slice of ripe tomato. This was fabulously delicious. Sometimes the heart just wants what the heart want.
SATURDAY, June 24th - Crustless Veggie Quiche
I elected to go meatless last evening and made myself a delicious crustless vegetable quiche. Eggs make a great supper every now and then. I love quiche, but I don't always want to eat pastry. (Well, perhaps need is a better word to use than want. I always want pastry, but it should only be a once in a blue moon treat!)
This also makes a quick and easy supper for two. Crispy tender vegetables are popped into the bottom of a buttered dish, and topped with some onion and grated cheddar. A rich egg custard is poured over top and then the casserole is simply baked until nicely puffed and golden brown. Delicious served with some oven chips, or a salad. (I had a salad on this occasion.)
And there you have it. All of the main meals I have enjoyed over the past week. Everything was delicious. Most of it was fairly healthy and none of it broke the bank! I do hope that my chosen options will somehow inspire you to want to create some tasty a healthy meals for yourself! I will be sharing my menus with you again at the end of next week! There is much deliciousness to look forward to!
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This may not be much to look at, and it may sound like an unusual combination, but I just have to tell you that this is one of the most delicious casseroles you could ever make for your family. Not only that, but it's also economical, easy and sure to become a fast family favourite!
All you need is an onion, a tin of baked beans, a pound of steak mince, a few odds and sodds and a couple slices of streaky bacon . . . seriously. It's amazing what you can do with just a few bits!
I do want to say though that you will want to use the best quality and leanest minced steak your money can buy here . . . you don't want a lot of fat in your beef when you are using bacon on top. I have used streaky bacon here, but you can use back bacon if you would rather.
To round out the meal I like to serve it with some fresh baked cornbread. We love cornbread in this house. It's not something that Todd ever ate before he met me, but he's a convert now and it is a simple bread that goes very well with these types of casseroles. You can find my recipe for that here.
A tasty coleslaw vinaigrette wouldn't go amiss on the side either. Just to add a touch of green. I have a really tasty Pineapple version here. I happen to think it's rather scrummy too. In any case Beef and Beans, Cornbread and Coleslaw is a real favourite meal around here. I do hope you'll give it a try.
*Beefy Beans*
Serves 4 to 5
Printable Recipe
Cheap and cheerful, hearty and most delicious. Don't let the unusual list of ingredients put you off. This is a winner/winner chicken dinner! I like to serve this with cornbread.
1 TBS olive or sunflower oil
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
450g of extra lean minced steak (about 1 pound)
1 (415g/15 ounce) tin of baked beans, undrained
2 medium tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped
50g of soft light brown sugar (1/4 cup packed)
1 TBS Dijon mustard
5 thick slices of streaky bacon
Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a shallow 1 litre casserole dish. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently until it begins to soften. Add the garlic. Cook for a few minutes longer and then crumble in the minced steak. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking it up with a fork, until the meat is beginning to brown and there is no longer any pink remaining. (To peel the tomatoes, cut a cross on the bottom and place into a bowl of boiling water for about 60 seconds, or until the skin begins to peel back where the cross is cut. Remove from the water and peel off the skin. It should come off very easily.) Season with the salt and pepper. Stir in the brown sugar, mustard and tomatoes. Cook for several minutes and then taste. Adjust seasoning as required. Stir in the tin of baked beans and mix to combine well. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Cut the slices of streaky bacon in half and arrange over top. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in the heated oven for 45 minutes, or until thick and bubbly.
Heat the grill. Uncover the casserole dish and then pop it under the grill for a few minutes to crisp the bacon. Serve hot, with or without cornbread for sopping up all of that tasty goodness.
My sister shared this recipe with me on facebook the other day. Lassy Buns. Delicious scone type/baking powder biscuit type of buns made with the goodness of molasses, cinnamon and a bit of cloves. This is a down East recipe and the type of bread which might be offered at baked bean suppers!
Bonfire Night, falling on 5th November each year, celebrates the foiling of Guy Fawkes’ Gunpowder plot as we all know. Traditionally marked with blazing bonfires and fantastic fireworks, it’s the perfect excuse for a feast for friends and family as you wrap up warm and head outside for an evening of rockets and sparklers.
Blitz the cornflakes until they are crumbs in a small blender. Pour into a bowl. Put the onion, milk, 4 TBS of the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder and egg into the food processor and blitz until smooth. Pour into the bowl with the cornflake crumbs and mix together. Crumble in the beef and mix well together. Divide the mixture between the buns, spreading it out with a fork to cover all of the surface, right to the edges to an even thickness.
Put the onion, oil and 2 tsp of water in a flameproof casseroe and cover with a lid. Cook gently over low heat for about 10 minutes, without allowing the onion to take on too much colour. Add the garlic, brown sugar, treacle, mustard, paprika and vinegar. Stir to combine. Stir in the beans and tomatoes, as well as the stock. Bring to the boil and cook for two minutes. Cover with a lid and then transfer to the oven.
Bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours. If at the end of that time you think the consistency is too liquidy, you can simmer over gentle heat and reduce the liquid to your desired consistency. Season to taste and serve hot with crusty bread or corn bread.
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