MPM--Working Down What's Here

Greetings, my foodie readers. I'm almost done my October Bon Appetit spree. I even did a bonus last week and put the rib eye steak in the rotation--yum!

This week, I am determined to use what I have. I have some buying to do--mostly meats--but otherwise, it's time to clear the fridge and freezer, to fill them again. Chicken breasts are on major sale this week and I am stocking up; it's casserole season, and we have some older relatives I really need to cook for these days.

My job is winding down, though there will be one more flurry as I train the new guy in a few weeks. And another flurry as the reading season for the MBA applications gets started. Apparently, there's nothing like a meltdown on Wall Street to make MBAs look really, really desirable, so hopefully I've found the ideal recessionproof part time job.

And, of course, my mother in law had her knee surgery. It appears it went well, which is a blessing. But she is still immobile, of course. And I couldn't even go visit because my car died--and I mean dead-cold-died--on Thursday. (I paid to resurrect it. It was the starter. But hello, starter, goodbye, new dishwasher.)

So, here's this week...

Sunday: Sunday Roast Chicken from Guideposts. New for me. I'll let you know how it goes. Veggies are baked with it; I'm also adding a salad with pears and goat cheese, since I have some magnificent pears I'm eager to use.

Monday: Leftover chicken (I hope), plus the Bon Appetit butternut squash risotto

Tuesday: Asian Chicken Burgers (based on the Dinner By Design Asian Turkey Burger recipe, but chicken is what's in the freezer); potatoes or rice (we'll see how many I potatoes I use with the chicken); salad; broiled tomatoes

Wednesday: Mostly leftovers, but also the Giada orzo salad for my Mothers & More meeting. (It's Giada diLaurentiis night; everyone brings their favorite Giada recipe.) I feel terrible I didn't realize it was the start of Yom Kippur when we made the schedule.

Thursday: Autumn Pork Roast, sweet potatoes, broccoli (sweet potatoes will probably just be baked, but maybe mashed if I feel bold)

Friday: Unclear. Our nephews' band/football team is playing an away game very close to us so we might do that; or, if we can score a babysitter, a friend is hosting an awesome-sounding fundraiser at our local Co-Op. Either way, I'm probably not cooking.

Saturday: Unclear. Mark Bittman has a great turkey breast with cabbage two ways that I'd like to make with the humongous cabbage head I have here. But it's also almost our son's birthday, so we might swoop him away to some train-related event or attraction.

Sunday: My son's 5th birthday, so his favorite--tacos, of course--for 20! All family. Yikes.

Happy week everyone!