It’s that time again…the menu plan for week 92 is ready to roll. I am finding that I get the menus created and finalized way before adding the dribble that I add to each blog post. There are times that I feel like simply posting the menus and dropping the dribble. One post in the future I may do just that!
I am coming off a busy week and I am determined to spend more time on projects other than our courtyard garden. The “Secret Garden” Walk was a success and I can actually relax in the garden now. In fact, I am writing this blog in the courtyard listening to the cascading water in our fountain and the hum of the air conditioner (an interruption to real tranquility.) The morning doves swoop in occasionally to get a drink and I love listening to their soft cooing in the background.
Since I have this new ambition of tackling additional projects I have added pancakes to the morning fare twice during week 92. I have made THM friendly pancakes in the past but have not been happy with the outcome. Since I seem to be craving them, I have decided to try two very different recipes. Hopefully one of them will be successful enough to add to the rotation. One additional new recipe that caught my eye is a frappe so I added it as well. The mornings will be compiled of mainly E meals, which is a goal.
THM Pancakes THM E
Mint Chocolate Java Chip Frappe THM FP
Sourdough Pancakes THM E
The lunches planned for week 92 include several new additions along with some standbys. As a bonus the Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole will feed us for a third time. By the way…I love butterfingers. In fact just this past week I looked at them longingly in the grocery line as I checked out. You know, the place where you wait (when they need a price check). The place where they put the “pick ups” that you find it difficult to live without. If they ever put potato chips there I will be doomed.
Low Carb Butterfinger Shake THM S
Healthy Chicken Salad THM E
Creamy Broccoli Bacon Chowder THM S
Our dinners for week 92 will feature two new untried recipes along with two family favorites. Although the sausage and grape recipe is not on plan, we love it. For the garden walk I prepared fruit to serve and I have grapes left over which need to be used. The perfect excuse to go off plan, right? The pork loin and Bruschetta chicken are untried but look interesting. Although I did have a suggestion this past week to make only one new meal a week, I keep finding intriguing flavors that need to be tested. So much for the suggestion box. My life in the kitchen would not be as enjoyable if I was always fixing the same things.
Chicken with Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce THM S
Pork Loin with Wine and Herb Gravy THM S
Herb Bruschetta Chicken THM S
Now for a recap of some of the hits and misses from this past week. As I mentioned last time, my daughter prepared Mother’s Day Dinner for the entire family. She actually combined two separate recipes to create her Chicken Saltimbocca. It was delicious and got a big thumbs up from the entire family. She served it with roasted broccoli and finished the meal with French coconut pie. DELISH! Although the pie was totally off plan, we enjoyed if thoroughly, after all it was Mother’s Day. We plan to work on making it THM compliant. That should be an enjoyable endeavor.
Trisha Yearwood’s Coconut Pie (Totally off plan) but very worth it!
The sweet and sour low carb meatballs were a disappointment, at least to me, the other two diners enjoyed them. I am extremely particular about my meatballs so these will not be repeated. I was not a fan of the consistency plus they only provided one meal. (I had counted on a cook once/eat twice). Miss.
Sweet and Sour Low Carb Meatballs THM S
The poppy seed chicken casserole was a hit. It was a hit not necessarily because it was out of this world delicious, but because it was and E evening entree and we had RICE. We had rice and we had a fruit salad! This casserole was a success because we realized how much we miss a carb meal in the evening! It also fed us for 2 dinners and a lunch. (awful picture by the way.)
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole THM E
Turtle Pie. If you haven’t tried Edwards, you won’t be disappointed. 
The girls were in heaven and I even had a tiny sliver!
Meatball Parm Casserole THM S
Last but by no means least was the Muesli. Ina made this a week ago and I had to try it. I will make it often. I changed the recipe by obviously using no sugar. I used my homemade THM granola, deleted the honey and added just a little stevia. There was no reason to sweeten the strawberries, and I used fat free Greek Yogurt. I will make this often. I will actually make packets of the base for our road trips and just add hot water. Hit!
Homemade Muesli with Red Berries (Modified) THM E
So there you have it. A week’s worth of plans and a week’s worth of reviews. As I continue to peruse new recipes, I will also be cognizant of the requests for more repeats of the tried and true favorites. I am also finding that I can occasionally go off plan without guilt so that I can thoroughly enjoy the special moments of celebration and fun.
Here’s to another week of good healthy eating. Bon Appetit!
