The Weekend's Blessings

One daughter and I worked at a fundraiser luncheon over the weekend. Afterward, the woman in charge blessed us with enough leftovers for our Sunday dinner.

We enjoy working at these fundraisers. The work gives us time together, and with other women who we admire and respect. The work would be pleasure enough.  So, it's a bonus that they bless us with the leftovers.

Sunday night, I had enough of this month's leftovers to put together an entire meal for five people. We had assorted sandwiches, tossed green salad, a mixture of small amounts each of egg salad, potato salad and cole slaw, fruit salad, cookies, and potato chips.

Cheap & Cheerful Suppers for Valentine's Week

Friday

• pumpkin, chicken and potato soup (this was very good, so good there were no leftovers to freeze for Wednesday)
• cheese and avocado quesadillas
• cookies

Saturday

husband cooks

• brown rice
• marinara sauce
• cheese quesadillas
• carrot sticks

Sunday

• pot roasted beef
• carrots
• potatoes
• olives and pickles
• sparkling cider
• cookies

Monday

• quick beef and veggie stew made with the leftovers from Sunday dinner, plus some celery and canned peas
• fresh-baked whole wheat bread

Tuesday

• homemade cheese pizza
• canned green beans
• carrot sticks and bleu cheese dressing for dip
• canned pineapple chunks
• cookies

Wednesday

• leftover cheese pizza
• slaw made from green and red cabbage and celery, in a dressing of marked down bleu cheese salad dressing, blended with mayonnaise and chive blossom vinegar
• sweet potato casserole topped with mini-marshmallows (I'm not entirely sure if this was a side dish or dessert -- yummy either way!)

Thursday

• turkey, brown rice, celery, and cream of mushroom soup casserole (I used the turkey legs that I had frozen right after Thanksgiving)
• canned green beans
• leftover sweet potato casserole
• pumpkin cake

We rearranged our weekend plans, as my son's fiancee wasn't feeling well on Saturday. As a result, we had our celebratory dinner on Sunday. I had been thinking that I would bring something in for dinner, maybe take-out pizza and bagged salad (so I could work on a writing and advertising project which was due).  However, every time I opened the refrigerator, I saw an 11-pound hunk of beef that needed dividing into freezer portions.  This inspired me to make a simple pot roast, with potatoes and carrots. I saved us about $15 on the take-out, and was still able to pull together the dinner, although a little late. I'm glad that I made the changes that I did, as the beef was very appreciated by all.

I am steadily using up my supplies in pantry, fridge and freezer.  The canned goods have been extreme time-savers for me this winter. Looking at last night's dinner, I used a canned item in 4 different dishes. I am looking forward to the day when I can see everything in the freezer and pantry, without having to rummage around.

What was on your menu this past week? Do you typically have Valentine's dinner at home, or is this an eating out occasion for you? Have a wonderful weekend!