I was a mad woman last week – frying up bacon, cutting up ham, grinding up black pepper. Instead of making the taco salad from the previous Menu Plan Monday, I kept making house salads. They were so good, I couldn’t stop myself.
After the Taco Pasta Toss flopped, I wanted something quick, easy, and delicious. That’s where all the salads came in. I normally don’t do this, but I have to tell you the ingredients.
- Romaine Lettuce
- Avocado
- Deli Ham
- Bacon
- Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- Croutons (Rothbury Farms, Garlic Flavored)
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Blue Cheese Dressing (Harris Teeter, Full Fat Version)
And no, I don’t have any measurements. The beauty of salads is adding as much or as little of each ingredient as you like.
Since I planned on putting carrots in my salad and failed to do so, I’m going to use them in a stew this week. As a matter of fact, I didn’t go grocery shopping today. As such, it seems like a good week to use what I already have in my pantry and refrigerator in my menu plan.
Monday/Tuesday – Bacon and Potato Chowder
Wednesday/Thursday – Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Friday/Saturday – Indian Chicken Curry and Mashed Potatoes
Sunday – House Salad
Rookie Cook Tip – Don’t use 93% lean ground beef for anything. Even after 6 or 7 hours in the slow cooker, it was still tough. It’s too, well, lean and too dry to be of any use.
Of course I’m not completely serious, but 93% lean ground beef won’t have to worry about me again.
Find other menu plan options on Menu Plan Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie.
Please let me know if you’ve ever cooked lean ground beef with any level of tender, moist success.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
mmMMmm stew sounds great. I have yet to find the perfect recipe.
Here's a link to my favorite stew of all times. Granted I only recently started making stew in December 2009, but this recipe is the best.
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/diy-…
I love the 93% variety…of course I've never used it in the crockpot so maybe that's why. Just brown it in the skillet if you decide to give it one more chance
I didn't think it possible for a slow cooker to make something worse, but I'll keep this in mind. Thanks for sharing!
Hmm, I am not a big beef person but I do use it alot for meals for my family. I just hate draining fat off so I usually prefer the less fat. I am a huge salad person — my fave. So I can see why you kept making yours!
Draining the fat off ground beef can be kinda disgusting, but I'm thinking it may be necessary to keep the meat as tender as I'm accustomed to. I really wanted to try the lean variety because it's healthier, and it was on sale. There are probably certain dishes it works better in.
I buy the 91% ground beef at Costco and it's fine. You get used to doing without the extra fat after a while.
I did the sme as you in not shopping this weekend. I have enough to last me.
So it's me. Or maybe it's the 2% less fat that's ruining everything. Hmm.
I'm actually relieved I don't have to go to the grocery store this week. I really need to focus more on loading up on groceries, especially meats, when they're on sale.
Your menu sounds delicious!
Thanks, Rona. I hope I get around to making everything on this week's menu plan.
You know about Rothbury Farms croutons!!!!! You have a new fan
These recipes look just great, beef in the slow cooker is just delicious! (when it's not 93% lean haha). Thanks for the recipe ideas, I think i'll try the chicken curry tonight!
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