Weekly Menus: Week of 10/14/2012

Gentle Readers, what a whirlwind it has been. Hard to believe that it’s time to carve pumpkins, plan costumes, and eat a lot of deep-fried food. Well, the latter may be a unique Team Practical Cook tradition, but still. Full write-up of our visit is coming on Wednesday, but here’s a preview.

Deep Fried Mini Cinnamon Rolls with Bacon Sprinkles

As we also weighed in at the standards and measures center, you may notice that this is a bit of a detox week on the menu. The last few weeks of travel and the upcoming cholesterol check necessitate some communing with carrots.

Enough chatter, here are this week’s weekly menus:

Weekly Menus: 10/14/2012

The Four-Square Grocery Shopping List:

The Four-Square Grocery Shopping List: 10/14/2012

Which all adds up to:

Sunday: Salad and pasta
This will probably be a walnut/tomato/goat cheese fest. I’ll imitate the salad in the pasta.

Monday: Breakfast for dinner
Served with a big fruit salad, this is a guaranteed winner. Good opportunity to push eggs and feed the Youngest grits, her favorite. Trying to balance her favorites with a need for vegetarian meals (which she does not always love).

Tuesday: Leftovers
It’s turned a little cold, so I may thaw some stock, add the leftovers, and call it soup.

Wednesday: Polenta with mushrooms and spinach
One of my new favorite quick meals from Trader Joe’s, the sliced polenta serves as an interesting based for a lot of nutritious toppings.

Thursday: Salmon cakes
This is a vegetarian compromise. The Eldest probably won’t eat them, but I can serve her a faux chicken patty instead.

Friday: Beans and rice
A family favorite, I plan on making Cuban-style black beans and rice, freezing the leftovers.

Saturday: Dine out!
Perhaps it is tapas time?

What is your favorite fall meal? Pumpkin based? Post a comment below! The crickets won’t mind.

Send deep fried items, menu ideas, and cooking questions to practical cook at gmail dot com. Connect on Facebook: The Practical Cook Blog. (Thanks in advance for spreading The Practical Cook Blog word. Press “like” on Facebook today!)

On Wednesday: The Deep-Fried Review of the N.C. State Fair or I Can’t Believe I Ate That.

Weekly Menus: Week of 9/9/2012

Gentle Readers, where does the time go? Old people used to say that, so I suppose I’m now in their camp. It’s September, time for stews and soups and school projects. Nothing is more life-affirming than making dinner while The Practical Cooks Junior attend to homework at the kitchen table. It’s hard not to openly weep or just stare in happy awe.

The Eldest reading at the kitchen table, using the kitchen timer to clock the minutes.

The Youngest assinging herself homework, works in her workbook.

So dinner is about talking them through homework problems, or answering questions, or lively discussions about the day. (If you want a factual report, ask The Eldest. If you want to know how everyone felt about it, ask The Youngest.) We are still eating fairly simply, and focusing on the time together. This week is no different.

This week’s weekly menus are as follows:

Weekly Menus: 9/9/2012

And the Four-Square Grocery Shopping List:

The Four-Square Grocery Shopping List: 9/9/2012

Which translates into:

Sunday: Tortellini Soup
I’m going to try this with some veggie stock that I have. The Eldest has held firm to her convictions. Which is challenging as a cook, but awesome as a human being. Special thanks to the food professional in her life (you know who you are) who high-fived her for living her beliefs. That meant a lot.

Monday: Veggie Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries
Because they are awesome. That’s really the only reason. Vegetarian junk food, except for the fries, which I make from scratch.

Tuesday: Pizza and Salad
Because it’s delicious and easy.

Wednesday: Pancake Meal
We’re having a dinner guest, and trying out our 3-course savory pancake meal. It will start with a cornmeal pancake topped with black beans and sour cream, then a savory crepe with mushrooms, parsley, and Parmesan, finished with a sweet pancake dessert course. Potentially ricotta and fruit filled. That sounds pretty good now that I type it out.

Thursday: This will be crockpot surprise or leftovers, depending

Friday: Mexican
Spinach quesadillas for the win! Just add avocado and beans on the side.

Saturday: Dine Out!
I feel an adventure coming on here.

What are you cooking these days? Any school snack ideas? We took dry cereal and applesauce in one case, and Clementines in another. I’m always looking for non-Goldfish suggestions. Post a comment below! It’s wide open and waiting!

Send your strokes of brilliance, your challenges, and legitimate questions to practical cook at gmail dot com. Connect on Facebook: The Practical Cook Blog. (Thanks in advance for spreading The Practical Cook Blog word. Press “like” on Facebook today!)

Coming up Wednesday: My Favorite Cereal Bowls.