The big challenge this week is to “eat from the pantry” (in other words, I’ve spent my budget…). This will not be a problem in most areas, as we’ve got a supply in the freezer of meats, some veggies and the like and there’s flour for bread and oats for granola. The biggest hurdle for me is planning vegetables at dinner that the whole family will eat.
And by that I mean my daughter. She really only enjoys green salads which are harder to come by at this time of year.
Especially when the food money has already been spent and last week’s lettuce is history.
In winter I would be happy with cabbage slaws, carrot salads, broccoli & bean salads, vegetable soups, and simple cut vegetable plates. Which pretty much puts her on a mono-diet of a few carrot sticks (she does like more vegetables, but peas and corn are pretty carb-y and fresh green beans are not in season). I pretty much split the difference and figure on the days we have a slaw, she can grab a carrot or something (though she still has to take a “Thank-You Bite.” Do any of you have do this with your kids, too?).
What do you all so for vegetables and salads in the winter?
Monday- Spaghetti with Roasted Tomato Sauce, veggies & dip (found Newman’s Ranch dressing in a clearance bin for $1- whoo!)
Tuesday- Chicken-Lime Enchiladas (held over from last week), refried beans & rice with salsa, cabbage & carrot slaw with a spicy vinaigrette
Wednesday- Pesto Stromboli, veggies & dip
Thursday- Roasted Beet Soup* (using up the last of the garden beets and red cabbage!), chicken & broccoli salad, Easy Artisan Bread
Friday- Teaching my daughter how to roast a whole chicken: Roasted chicken with potatoes (and I’m throwing in some cauliflower *smile*), green salad (I’m thinking we’ll have enough spinach and chard from the garden for this!)
Saturday- Burgers on homemade buns, oven fries, carrots (good thing we have a lot of these….)
Sunday- Leftovers or pasta after church; Sunday Tea in the evening
-Jami
*I just found this recipe from the December issue of MaryJane’s Farm magazine. It’s not on the web, so if we like it I’ll post it. It looks promising because it contains cabbage & carrots as well as beets…
I believe a cottage can be anywhere or anything (condo, ranch, farmhouse) as long as you have a "cottage mentality" which puts people above things, celebrates imperfections, embraces simplicity, and finds joy in everyday life. Thanks for joining me!
When my kids were little (they are now in their late 20s and living in Portland), we had a policy of “No, thank you servings.” They are now adventurous eaters with a mostly plant based diet. Like you, my daughter plans her weekly menu. I’ve never been so organized. This week I’m living off the contents of my freezer, but when I head to the store I’m going to buy some carrots and cabbage. Thanks for a great post!
Same concept, we just call it the “no thank you bite”. My daughter is very picky. The only veggie she wants to eat is green beans!
http://www.rebeccabany.com
I bookmarked the Pesto Stromboli last week too and put it on this week’s menu. Great minds….
HI Jami, the menu looks good…at first I read “fried carrots”? and I thought to myself, what is that? Then I reread and realized I was wrong…oven fries and carrots
Have a great week and happy eating 
Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather 
OK- I couldn’t wait until Tuesday to tell you about this very cool online community garden opportunity at the Beekman House AND a contest that I think you are sure to win if you enter: http://beekman1802.com/how-too/gardener. They have a reality TV show that I have been following on the “green” network and I love their products!
I am also trying to stretch the days between shopping with more scratch cooking for our snacks. I always cook our meals but need to make some muffins and things for the kids to grab. As for picky vegggie eaters I usually serve two veg. dishes and expect one to be eaten but I always serve them both. My older kids now pretty much eat whatever I serve but my two year old is still saying yuck a lot. I keep serving it and no dessert if a decent amount is not ate. Just a gentle reminder and the plate returned from the fridge if they are still hungry. I don’t make them finish a plate though, Never thought that was important but just don’t want two bites of dinner and then have them think it is dessert time. All kids are different too. Parenting is tricky isn’t it? Sorry long reply.
procrastadabbler and Rebecca- Oh yeah, I think I’ve heard that before- I guess we just leave off the “no.”
Jenny- I’m looking forward to Wednesday.
Heather- you made me laugh!
Jennifer- I’ll check it out- thanks for thinking of me!
Sunny- great ideas- it definitely gets better as they get older.
Our veggies in the winter are largely what we’ve canned or frozen in the summer. When we do buy things it is cole crops and roots like cabbage, carrots, celery, turnips, beets, rutabagas, onions, potatoes, etc.