We are freshly back from our week long road trip vacation from Norfolk to Savannah.  Thursday we leave for a 5 day trip to Illinois.  I have 4 nights of meals to think about and a relatively empty refrigerator. Since we will be gone again, I do not want to do a restock.  My objective is to use what I have on hand.  My meal plan for the week will reflect just that.

I should mention that just prior to our trip I rushed to stash several of our leftovers in the freezer, some of which I am not certain were freeze worthy.  Since I will be busy unpacking, and catching up with mail, home, and childcare, I am planning to use the hastily frozen meals for convenience and to clear freezer space.

Sunday.  Pork Tenderloin and Glorified Cabbage

Monday.  The ‘Ole Buckeye has a dinner meeting.  I will have the Chicken Marsala. He wasn’t a fan.

Tuesday.  One Pot Pea and Bacon Pasta in Mascarpone Parmesan Sauce.

Wednesday.  Family Dinner.  Carolina Pulled Pork, Red Cabbage, and Sweet Potato Fries. (a tribute to our recent road trip through North Carolina.)

Thursday is a travel day and Thursday evening we plan to have dinner with our dear neighbor Gail.  I am so excited to see her.  The weekend in Illinois promises at least one meal of Dondi’s pizza.  The one thing I have missed most since our relocation in Norfolk is Chicago style deep dish pizza and  Dondi’s is the best.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Friday promises Thai food with Srisaang, my wonderful Thai seamstress who was with me for 16 years at A L’Amour.  I missed seeing her on my last trip home and I am so looking forward to catching up.

Saturday is the bi-annual Alligator Aquatics Reunion Banquet and although our son cannot be there, he will be inducted into the Arlington Alligator Hall of Fame.  We will be sharing the evening with some of our best friends, friendships created during our kids’ swimming years and maintained and preserved over the years.

On Sunday I hope to meet up with some of my old staff from A L’Amour for lunch and the evening will bring us back together with old friends.  Monday we will return home and resume our current life.  At that point it will be a new meal plan, a total restock, and a huge grocery run, not at the top of my list of favorite things to do.

In the meantime, here’s to good eating and great friendships.