Another Empty Pantry - Vanquished!

I just returned home from over a week on the road, first with my NYC vacay and then with a work trip. In planning to be gone, I think the last time I went to the grocery store was mid-October. So wouldn't you know it, but I came home at the end of the week to absolutely nothing.

Come the weekend, I was very excited to be able to go and stock back up at Publix. I sat down and made a menu for the week, which is what I want to give a shout-out to my Mom about today!

Mom always made menus when we were kids. Some weeks, we would follow the meal plan to a tee, having each meal on its planned-out night. But sometimes, the casserole wouldn't get made on Tuesday, and Thursday's meal of tacos was substituted and we had the casserole on Thursday instead. What mattered was that all of the ingredients were in the house, ready for whatever night worked best. It was her secret to making time for great homemade meals after arriving home from a day's work. It saved money and time - only one, maybe two, trips to the grocery store, and no extra purchases of food that might go to waste.

So eventually I moved out on my own, and have been slow to get into that mindset. The recent economy has cut down on my eating out though, so I have motivation to try out the countless recipes I have hoarded over the years from Cooking Light, YumSugar, the AJC, friends, my family, etc.

I am trying to get a head-start on a healthy week, so here's what's on my menu for this week. And do share - what's on your menu? We can be creative with each other!

Sunday: Tilapia Provencale with orzo and spinach (this was amazing, and so healthy. Yum! Recipe to come soon.)
Monday: Chicken Tamale Casserole (I pulled this out of Cooking Light a year ago, and finally am going to try it!) with lima beans.
Tuesday: dinner at a friend's.
Wednesday: Leftover tilapia and orzo.
Thursday: I am thinking breakfast for dinner or pasta, something low-key and in-stock. TBD.
Friday: dinner out (we have some gift cards that I can't wait to use for some meals on the house!)