So, last week, Kelvin was in the gorgeous state of Colorado elk hunting. I was a single mom for 10 days, and I have to say, it stinks! Single parents, you have my greatest respect and honor. There will be big jewels in your crown...HUGE! Anyway, I made up a great menu and had every intention of cooking everything on it. Then, single parenting and broken down cars and spur-of-the-moment celebrations and sheer exhaustion set in, and I only made about 3 of the seven planned dinners. Yay for 3! The chicken pot pie was SO SO SO gooood! I will never buy a can of cream of anything to put in my pot pies again. Sarah's Chicken pot pie recipe was the bomb.com! Like I suggested in my post last week, I skipped the individual pies, and made one big one with a pie crust on top and bottom. It was much simpler and less clean-up. I made the chicken pot pie on Saturday instead of Wednesday. On Wonton Taco night, I made them, but we went to Kelvin's cousin's victory celebration at a local Mexican food restaurant. He won the city council position for which he was running! Yay Chris! We ate the tacos for lunch the next day. Because I've been working on logos and other stuff for Emma's Bayou Bash, I didn't get to the store to buy what I needed for dinner Wednesday or Thursday. On Wednesday we stopped by the local pizza joint and picked up a couple of their yummy $5.99 pizzas (I think they really are good) and had a picnic in the car on the way to church. I was proud of myself for only eating two pieces. I've been known to go a little overboard on the whole pizza eating thing. I was so tired by the time Thursday rolled around, I don't think I even ate dinner. I bought Subway sandwiches for the kids. Friday was a free for all. Saturday the stars aligned, the heavens opened up, the angels sang, and Kelvin finally arrived back home! He had this bad boy with him...
That animal is humongous! Kelvin and the other guys with him had a successful hunt. His Facebook post said, "Elk Hunt 2013 in Western Colorado. Non-guided, four hunters and three elk. Good weather, good friends, good food and a good haul." I'm so glad.
So, Saturday I made the chicken pot pie and Sunday, I made steak out of the stew meat that was so good you wouldn't even believe it. Kelvin brought home some onions, potatoes, and apples, so I made a yummy salad with apples and feta cheese and an apple cider vinegar dressing, as well as an adaptation of this yummy Sausage, Apple, and Red Potato Skillet. I didn't have the red potatoes, so I used regular ones. I also cooked it in the skillet for a little bit then roasted it in the oven on about 420 degrees until the potatoes were soft, because Kelvin had a fire going, and I wanted to enjoy it.
This week, I plan on making some of the stuff I didn't get to last week. Here it is...
Monday
We had smother fried deer meat with rice. It was so good. It was really the first time I can remember making the meat that way. Here is what I did...Heat a little oil in a skillet. Salt and pepper and sprinkle both sides of tenderized round steak with garlic powder. Then dust both sides with a little flour. Fry in the pan for about three minutes on each side...not too long. Remove from the skillet and add about a tablespoon of butter. Add about 1/2 cup of flour (give or take) and stir around until it's all incorporated with the butter. Add chicken broth or water until it's the consistency you like your gravy. Add the steak back to the pan in the gravy and cook on low heat, covered for about 5 minutes. If your steaks are thick, you might want to cook longer. Serve over the rice. Man, it was good! It's definitely not an eat-every-day kind of meal, but it was good.
Tuesday
We're having stir fry. I'm trying to use what's left of the deer meat from last year that's still in the freezer, because y'all, that big 'ole elk is going to take up some space! I'm adapting this Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry recipe I found on Pinterest. We also have some zucchini and yellow squash that needs to be eaten, so, I'm slicing those babies and throwing them into the mix too!
Wednesday
That infamous stew I keep ranting about, will hopefully be simmering in the crockpot. We're supposed to have some cooler weather tomorrow, so stew sounds real good! Of course, I'll be using deer meat instead of beef. I bet you could even make it vegan with lentils or something! If you do, let me know how it turns out.
Thursday
Meatloaf muffins that I didn't get to last week. Maybe I can even use the meat grinder and ground some of the deer meat in the freezer to make the ground meat for the recipe! That would be sah-weet! I'll let you know.
Friday
Leftovers or something quick and easy. We're having family pictures made. We'll probably eat after pictures. The sun is setting sooner and sooner these days, so we can't be late since the photo shoot is outdoors.
Saturday
The Creamy Pasta with Veggies from last week. Luke has a playoff soccer game and maybe two, but I hope we get to make it out to a benefit for a local family whose wife and mama has brain cancer. I'm sure the BBQ will be great. Please say a prayer for Andria.
Sunday
We're hosting a our church small group for a party after church. We're going to have Game Day at the Dunnams, so pray for good weather. I want to set up the washer and corn hole boards and have a fire going in the pit for s'mores, and tables set up with dominoes and good food. Not exactly sure what we're making, but I bet it involves deer meat! ;) Maybe some baked potatoes with all kinds of toppings??
I would love to know what's on your table this week. Share in the comments below. :)
