Meal plan for September 24th – 30th
I’m waiting for my last batch of pears to process in the canner (20 total quarts). I’m beat, my back is sore, and I’m excited to go to sleep! I did watch quite a bit of high-quality TV on my Hulu queue though. Oh, and Sons of Anarchy on Amazon Prime. Dude, episode 1?! Who has seen it? That’s some fucked up shit right there! Tigg’s daughter?
Jack gets up at 6 am, so I’d like to go the heck to sleep. Church is going to be super fun. I’m picturing myself passing out during the sermon, and waking up snorting “I love Jesus” when the choir starts, all while wiping the drool from my chin. I’ll need to stuff the offering box just a little bit more to make up for it.
Saturday was a bit busy with a trip to the post office (Elaina, your birthday present is on the way…a week late. Go me.), a trip to a cousin’s house to finally meet her new baby (I was sick for 2 weeks) and teach her a little bit about baby wearing. Then off to my parent’s to hang out and help out. And by help out, I mean completely plug their garbage disposal and sink with macaroni noodles. Go me. Part II. Right as I was about to serve Jack some Trader Joe’s mac and cheese, I saw that the box had a pull by date of MARCH 2008. My parents are a bit hoardy. I threw it in the sink, and plugged everything in the process.
A quick look at Youtube, and I was clearing the “J trap” and flushing the sink out in no time. I’m not gonna lie…I was pretty impressed with myself. PS, did you know that Lowes has their own You Tube channel?
After that, we hit up Goodwill (kid’s books, an fabulous Spiderman puffy vest for the lad, and 8 canning jars), and then the grocery store for the week. Here is what my family will be chowing on this week:
Monday:: eating dinner at my in-law’s. It’s Jack’s first night of soccer, and the practice field is right by their house.
Tuesday:: mac and cheese (this didn’t get made last week because um, I forgot to buy the whole wheat organic elbow noodles. doh), salad, and fruit.
Wednesday:: Sandwich wraps, Pop Chips, and fruit. Soccer practice night.
Thursday:: Salmon cakes, grilled zukes, and fruit.
Friday:: Popcorn dinner. Love popcorn for dinner!
Saturday:: It is my mother-in-law’s birthday and we’re having all of her favorites. Speaking of which, does anyone have a great recipe for gravy? Never made it before.
Sunday:: My parent’s for family dinner.
I spent $30 at the grocery store, and will be buying $3.50 worth (half gallon) of raw milk tomorrow at our local farm.
The timer went off, and I’m hearing the lids on the jars already on the counter starting to “pop”. That is my cue, night all!
Sarah – you can use beef stock, broth might be a bit thin/weak. If you have time, get some beef bones, oxtails, or some other boney scrap and brown in a little oil. Salt and pepper and maybe a bit of thyme. Once brown, add water and cook off the bones and deglaze the pan for about 45min- 1hr. Strain into a clean pan. Defat the liquid… cool and scoop off fat if you have time. If rushed, use a fat separator or scoop out with spoon and pull off the last of the fat with paper towel, towel or brown paper. Now using a pint size jar, put in 1 cup cold water. Scoop 1-2 tablespoon flour on top of the COLD water. Shake (yeah, put lid on first) til flour “dissolves”. (Reshake if it sits any length of time – like corn starch, it’ll separate) Bring stock drippings up to gentle simmer, add flour slurry while stirring madly to prevent lumps. If you are coordinated enough, you can pour the slurry through a small seive to remove any undissolved lumps as you stir. Bring back up to a simmer and simmer til it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon – 10-15 mins – stirring constantly so it doesn’t burn fast and the flour is completely cooked. Taste and adjust seasonings (salt & pepper) if necessary.
How much flour you use depends on how much stock you have and how thick you like your gravy. I like mine thin. If it’s tooo thin, just mix another 1/2 c cold water with 1 Tablespoon flour and mix in.. being sure to cook thoroughly.
I know using a roux is the classic way to make a gravy but you can actually make a tastey and fat free (almost) gravy this way.
Good luck!
Wow! $30 sounds a lot better than what I just spent at PCC. 🙂
🙂 I’m kinda a gravy Goddess…
What else are you making? The type of Gravy is really dependent on that. 😀
Whoa, gravy goddess? I’m impressed! She wants a brown gravy, but I’m not planning to roast any meat. Can I just use beef broth?
Totally. I looove gravy. 🙂
I’d boil water and beef boullion cubes (I like making my own broth so I can make it to taste, rather than using the canned stuff.) Salt, pepper, etc to taste. I love to add a lot of Alpine Touch, but I don’t think you can get it anywhere outside of Montana…best seasoning mix ever…
Mix cornstarch and water and pour it into the broth after it boils. Add just a bit at a time until it reaches desired consistency. I usually add a little Kitchen Boutique afterwards so that it is nice and dark. 🙂
Love Sons of Anarchy. I’ve watched both episodes from this season. Poor Tigg 🙁 that was really sad. Are you wanting a white gravy or brown gravy?
Just finished the 2nd episode. Heavy stuff!
Brown gravy please!
I’m known as the gravy bitch at family gatherings. Take 2 tablespoons flour and brown in large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter. Whisk until it’s all incorporated. Begin adding stick, turkey pan juice, pan drippings, etc. You’ll need about 16-20oz. Or possibly more. Just add about a half cup at a time, keep whisking. I usually do it over medium low heat. If you run out of meat juice, I use water. When you got the right consistency, salt and pepper to taste. Then have a foodgasm. Because it’s the best gravy ever.
I’m so impressed that the gravy bitch reads my blog!!!
So, I’m not planning to roast any meats for this, so what do I replace for the drippings? Can I use beef broth?
Gravy is super easy, take your pan drippings then dissolve a couple tablespoons of cornstarch into a couple tablespoons of water, allow to bubble and thicken-salt to taste