Dinners September 10 - 14

Yes, this is my first post. Do I know what I am doing? No, of course not. Do I know what I would like to accomplish here? Well, yes, in a way, I do. I would like to keep my shopping list linked to recipes, so that I may remember why the heck I bought a whole pack of sage in the first place when it comes to Wednesday night, and my husband and I are starving and dead-tired from a day of teaching. I also would like to be able to share menu ideas with my friends who help inspire the age-old question of, "What's for dinner?". Plus, at least one friend asked how I organize meals for the week, because she is a teacher and a mother (wow!). Furthermore, I am health-conscious, local-food-conscious, as well as budget-conscious, so I am going to try and tie that all in as well. Right now it is September, and there is a wealth of delicious food in my own backyard to be consumed. Come December, some of my food will come from my pantry of summer stores.

Can I commit to doing this each week? Um, perhaps. I don't have children at home, but I do teach about 120 at school which in my book is just as tiring. (I know, I know...I don't have any late night scream-alarms...) Well, let's see if I do.

Friends, welcome. Please comment. Please share your ideas.

Now, what's for dinner?

Saturday - Sunday (We slum it around here on the weekend.)
Zucchini-quinoa fritters

Monday
BLT Pasta Salad

Tuesday
Beet Humus with Greek Salad and pita bread

Wednesday
Chicken Curry (no recipe...really making it easy with a Costco-bought Indian 3-pack simmer sauce)

Thursday
Vietnamese Noodle Wraps
I recommend you skip the "French-fried onions" and instead put in some fresh scallions. I also recommend you put in whatever fresh veg you have out in the yard. I will certainly do that myself.

Friday
Tofu Fries with Gingered Ketchup and Garden Salad

Shopping List

I already have this at home or in the garden:

zucchini

quinoa

eggs (from our lovely hens)

mushrooms (a lobster mushroom hand-picked from the forest floor)

soup stock (I always have this on hand either store-bought or in the freezer. I make my own whenever I purchase a whole chicken to bake. After we're done eating, I throw all the bones into the slow cooker along with some vegetables, peppercorns, and a bay leaf and let it slowly simmer overnight. Best soup stock ever!)

tomatoes 

pasta (not elbows, but penne will serve just fine)

leafy greens

mayonnaise

beets

tahini

lemon juice

garbanzo beans

cucumbers

feta

chicken

rice

curry sauce

bean thread noodles

carrots

mint

apples

scallions

spicy dipping sauce accouterments

rice paper wraps

ketchup

flour

Now from the store, I will need:

bacon

yogurt (Sometimes I get fancy-pants and make my own...I don't think that's going to happen this weekend since school just started and I have a bazillion things to do, so I will be purchasing whatever plain nonfat variety is on sale.)

kalamata olives

probably some more feta

pita bread (but we do have some whole grain tortillas that I may just substitute instead)

tofu

ginger

And, that my friends, is it. But is that the end of my grocery list? Of course not, don't be ridiculous! I still have to purchase normal things like toilet paper and cat food. But, as it stands, my list only has 13 items which with an average price of, um, let's say $5, that will add up to $65. What!? $65 for only 13 items! What the heck am I buying? 

Bon appetit!