Upside Down Cats

When I went grocery shopping yesterday I finally found some acceptable prices on certain meats. It seems like for months and months I've been returning home from the store having refused to pay outlandish prices for even modest cuts of beef, for instance. This week's menu includes some Porterhouse steaks which I bought for what I now consider a bargain price. So without further ado, I give you the meals I've planned in advance for the week ahead...

 

Pan-Seared Porterhouse Steaks, Baked Potatoes w/ Sour Cream, Bacon & Green Onion & Oven-Roasted Vegetables

Homemade Macaroni & Cheese & Oven-Roasted Broccoli Spears

Steak Quesadillas & Spring Mix Salad

Shrimp & Broccoli Stirfry over Steamed White Rice

Chicken Caesar Salad & Garlic Bread

Classic Pub Burgers, Onion Rings & Assorted Vegetable Platter w/ Ranch Dip

Bacon, Cheddar & Hash Brown Omlettes & Texas Toast

 

Maybe eating is becoming affordable again...that's one thing that is not a luxury - especially in this house!

It's been a busy and productive Sunday at home. Among my accomplishments today was planning the menus for the week ahead. Looks like good eating is in our immediate future...

 

Breaded Tilapia Sandwiches, Fried Potatoes & Spring Mix Salad

Shrimp Egg Foo Young, Steamed White Rice & Oriental Broccoli & Celery w/ Almonds

Cheesy Chicken, Pasta & Broccoli Casserole

Italian Sausage w/ Bow Tie Pasta in Vodka Sauce & Spring Mix Salad

Chicken Souvlaki in Pita Pockets & Greek Potatoes w/ Spinach, Garlic & Walnuts

Pancakes, Sausage Links & Clementines

Beef Sandwiches w/ Cheddar Horseradish Sauce, French Fries & Assorted Vegetable Platter w/ Ranch Dip

Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel Sandwiches & Hash Browns

 

It sounds as if we're in store for another cold week, so I'm glad to be able to stay out of the weather and home in my nice warm kitchen!

With my four day weekend nearly behind me, I am reminded that, in fact, today is Sunday - the day of the week I traditionally post the menu I've planned for the week ahead. So here 's the plan...

 

Homemade Turkey Barley Vegetable Soup & Three Cheese Semolina Bread Dipped in Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar

Chili-Cheese Nachos & Spring Mix Salad

Turkey, Cornbread Stuffing & Broccoli Bake w/ Creamy Gravy

Kielbasa, Macaroni & Cheese & Creamy Coleslaw

Spinach & Sausage Calzones & Spring Mix Salad

Eggs Fried in a Whole Wheat Bread Frame, Hash Brown Potatoes, Thick Cut Bacon & Clementines

 

If this had been a four-day vacation, I'd definitely feel sad to see it end. Although the change of pace and priorities has been nice, I'll actually be glad to return tomorrow to the land of the (somewhat) gainfully employed. Here's to a great week ahead!

*Blogger's Note: During this past week I reached a landmark that I'll mention now...My 300th post to Upside Down Cats! Funny, I'd been anticipating it for a while and then it slipped by me, unnoticed anyway... Oh, well, not that it actually means anything significant; I just thought I'd mention it. I'm happy to say that I still enjoy blogging, more each day than the last. I hope my posts bring something of interest to my readers, but even if not, I'm proud of every word I've written here.

Anyway, let us get to the task at hand... Here's a sampling of the meals I've planned in advance for the week ahead. Regardez...

French Onion Burgers, French Fried Potato Wedges & Spring Mix Salad

Greek Chicken Breasts w/ Garlic & Lemon-Pepper Served Over Couscous w/ Walnuts & Oven-Roasted Broccoli, Cauliflower & Carrots

Seafood Benedict over English Muffins & Hash Brown Potatoes

Sour Cream Pumpkin Pie (My usual contribution to Thanksgiving Dinner at Scott's brother & sister-in-law's home)

Chili & Cornbread

Breakfast Grilled Cheese Sandwiches w/ Eggs & Bacon & Hash Brown Potatoes

Chicken-Fried Chicken w/Creamy Gravy, Mashed Potatoes & Corn Saute

Breakfast Skillet w/ Chicken-Apple Sausage, Fried Eggs & Creamy Gravy & Apple Cider

I am thankful for this blog and the opportunity it lends me to share myself with my readers. I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

With cool Autumn temperatures turning decidedly Wintry, I'll be enjoying my time spent in the warm kitchen even more than usual. I've planned a week's worth of meals in advance to keep ourselves full of good home cooking. Here's a peek at the food in our immediate future...

 

Homemade Fettucini Tossed w/ Garlic Butter, Chipotle Shrimp Skewers & Spring Mix Salad

Oriental Spare Ribs & Vegetable Fried Rice

Roast Beef, Turkey Salami & Provolone Sub Sandwiches, American Fries & Ramen Coleslaw

Seafood Risotto & Caesar Salad

Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Strips Over Couscous & Oven Roasted Vegetables

Sour Cream Cinnamon Struesel Waffles, Maple Pork Sausage Links & Orange Sections

 

And now on to the remainder of a supposedly relaxing Sunday.

Another Sunday has arrived and it's time once again to post the meals I've planned in advance for the week ahead. Autumn has finally descended upon us and so I'm in the mood for hearty fare. Here's some what I'll be making...

 

Breakfast Taco Skillet w/ Scrambled Eggs & Mexican Blend Cheese

Spaghetti w/ Homemade Meat Sauce & Mixed Greens Salad

Marinated, Pan-Seared Sirloin Steak, Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Steamed Vegetable Medley

Grilled Multi-Cheese Sandwiches on Buttermilk White Bread, Cross-Cut Fries & Assorted Vegetable Platter w/ Ranch Dip

Beer-Simmered Bratwurst w/ Carmelized Onions, Red Potato Wedges & Mixed Greens Salad w/ Hot Bacon Dressing

New England Clam Chowder & Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Sandwiches on Whole Wheat Bread

Thai Chicken w/ Rice Noodles, Broccoli & Bean Sprouts

Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches, Cross-Cut French Fries & Marinated Broccoli/Cauliflower/Carrot Salad

Scrambled Eggs, Sausage Links & Bagels

 

Wishing everyone a great week and great eating!

November already? Well, at least Halloween is over and soon the election will be too! What will occupy our minds after Tuesday...? As for me, I've got that NaBloPoMo thing to do and there's always dinner! As usual I have pre-planned my NaBloPoMo theme and of course our meals for the week ahead. Here's what's cookin'...

 

Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Enchiladas

Beef Patty Melts on Sesame Semolina Bread w/ Cheddar-Horseradish Sauce, Cross Cut French Fries & Assorted Vegetable Platter w/ Ranch Dip

Lamb Loin Chops, Walnut Couscous & Spinach w/ Olive Oil & Garlic

Chicken Kiev, Steamed White Rice & Broccoli w/ Olive Oil & Garlic

Deluxe Beef Nachos & Mixed Greens Salad

Cracker-Crumb Crusted Chicken Strips, Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Creamy Coleslaw

 

Wishing everyone a great November full of hopeful things to talk about and delicious things to eat!

Happy Birthday to this lady, my fabulous mother-in-law, Sharon. This year we get to celebrate with her in person...YAY!

I've got an idea...how about I bake the birthday cake?

Here's a preview...it's called Bonnie Butter Cake with French Silk Frosting. Oh, and don't forget the Oatmeal Butterscotch Walnut Cookies!

Today we celebrate all that you are, all that you give and all that you will be. Here's to many more celebrations throughout the years surrounded by your loving family.

I love you, Mom! You're more than my Sweetie's mother, you're my dear friend.

Wishing you the blessings of health, good fortune and happiness today and always.

Here's an unattributed quote I came across today that seemed perfect for the occasion:

"Birthdays are nature's way of telling us to eat more cake."

Enjoy!

We're in for our first taste of Wintry weather tomorrow. I've tried to be mindful of the weather as I planned our meals in advance for the upcoming week. That way the weather compliments the meal and the meal, in turn, compliments the weather. Here's a peek at what I'll be cooking...

 

Homemade Cheese Broccoli Soup & Multi-Grain Bread w/ Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar for Dipping

Chicken Fettuccini & Mixed Greens Salad

Italian Herb Chicken Breasts Roasted Over Potato Slices & Corn w/ Red Peppers & Green Onions

Fried Eggs, Thick-Sliced Bacon, Hash Brown Potatoes & Whole Wheat Toast

Lemon Pepper Shrimp, Buttered White Rice & Mixed Greens Salad

Cinnamon & Spice French Toast & Brown Sugar Sausage Links

 

Hopefully this chilly weather is just an early preview and we'll still have plenty of mild Autumn days for a few more weeks.

Here we are at Sunday night again! Time to plan and post our menu for the week ahead. Here's a taste of meals to come...

 

Beef & Rice Burritos, Tortilla Chips w/ Refried Beans & Mixed Greens Salad

Barbecue Chicken Bacon Cheeseburgers, Onion Rings & Ramen Coleslaw

Sausage & Spinach Calabrese & Caesar Salad

Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs, Spaghetti Carbonara & Escarole w/ Olive Oil & Garlic

Polish Sausage, Cross-Cut French Fries & Mixed Greens Salad

Breakfast Grilled Cheese, Egg & Bacon Sandwiches on Rye Bread

Breakfast Cornbread Bake w/ Eggs & Sausage Gravy

 

The weather report shows I got my wish...the forecast calls for a lovely shade of Autumn this week! Adios Summer at last!