Another week of homecooked meals. Since I failed to take pictures of our meals most days of this week, I thought I'd intersperse some random glimpses of the kitchen's most used areas.
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| Snack central homemade instant oatmeal and oatmeal packets from the salvage store (10 cents/box) a couple of packets of free pop-tarts (free with coupon) nuts, sunflower seeds, and raisins |
Friday
spaghetti with meaty tomato sauce (using fresh tomatoes, canned tomato paste, garden garlic, parsley, oregano)
steamed garden carrots
spaghetti with meaty tomato sauce (using fresh tomatoes, canned tomato paste, garden garlic, parsley, oregano)
steamed garden carrots
I just have to say this -- freshly dug carrots smell so wonderful when cooking. I only added a blob of butter to the finished carrots, no salt or anything else. So delicious.
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| I did remember to take a pic on Saturday |
Saturday
refried beans
homemade flour tortilla
tomato wedges
cheddar cheese
I asked my husband to make me an extra small tortilla, so I wouldn't have to grind my teeth down to chew. I was told to be very careful with the fractured tooth, because it could fracture further and cause some serious pain. So my husband obliged and made this cute little tortilla.
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| the fruit bowl area The tomatoes on the counter are ones that need peeling and using asap. Small bowl of garlic cloves are pieces leftover from planting garlic this week. I planted only the large cloves and saved the smaller ones for cooking. Avocados are great soft foods for minimal chewing. |
Sunday
tomato frittata
white rice
steamed garden carrots
One daughter is gone for the week cat-sitting. So dinner was much simpler. Fewer people to cook for means simple meals in my mind.
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| I love most things about our stove. It has an old-fashioned look to it. However, it burned out 2 igniters way too fast. The red pot in back is a Whirly-Pop for making popcorn. My daughter bought this on ebay and says it makes the best popcorn. You have to turn the handle the whole time the popcorn is popping. |
Monday
spaghetti sauce over pasta for family, over soft and crustless bread for me
well-cooked garden mixed veggies
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| Tuesday's dinner |
Tuesday
bean burgers, topped with homemade relish and mayo
mashed potatoes
more steamed carrots
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| Where we keep the flavored vinegars, cocoa mix, sugar canister, right next to the mixing bowl. |
Wednesday
homemade tomato soup
scrambled eggs
crustless soft bread for me, toasted homemade bread for family
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| Thursday |
Thursday
ground beef cooked with onions, garlic, fresh tomatoes, garden herbs, and a slurry of cornstarch and water to make a bit of a sauce, so I could serve it over
mashed potatoes
pureed kale soup
homemade applesauce, using our blemished tree apples
As you can see, I'm on a rather soft diet. Trying not to create a larger crack in that tooth by chewing anything harder than steamed carrots. I find myself just swallowing a lot of stuff whole, like the ground beef in the spaghetti sauce. It works for me. I'm finding lots of soft things to eat -- smoothies, avocados, cream of wheat cereal, ripe bananas, soup, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes. I do eat a few other more firm foods, but in total, I've been very careful with eating.
What was on your menu this past week? Have you ever had to prepare mostly soft foods for yourself or others? What foods worked well for you?
Have a great weekend, friends!
