Trying to plan long term with the latest weekly sales flyers.

For me, one of the most difficult things to deal with is What I Would like vs What is in the Pantry. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Magic Pantry. I try to keep it stocked with all the things I need to create the meals I enjoy but sometimes…

Lately I’ve been eyeing boneless pork chops on the sale flyer but … I’ll be honest, every time I try to make them, they come out dry. I’d prefer pork shoulder steaks. I also find myself contemplating a beef roast but … not enough to add it to the shopping list.

What do I have on hand? I have a pork loin roast, some ground beef, a package of meat balls, some Canadian Bacon, and a couple of small steaks. I also have a good variety of frozen vegetables.

So, I could create some sort of pot pie or a stew or maybe some version of quiche. I recently came across a couple of recipes using meat balls, and since I have some sour cream and a can of French Onion Soup on hand… maybe they could be something like a stroganoff?

I recently roasted some bone in, skin on chicken breasts and I have to say I haven’t enjoyed chicken so much in a very long time. It is easier to get boneless skinless breasts but really when you want something moist and flavorful, you need the bones and skin.

I am also restocking my spice drawer so I’ve been playing a bit with those flavors. They take a good piece of poultry or meat and elevate it in ways you often forget about. Add some potatoes and veg on the side…Yum!

I’ve also rediscovered an old favorite: oatmeal. I’ve had some in my pantry for a while and pulled it out as a change from the regular cold cereal. I have had fun playing with adding fruit from the freezer, some cinnamon, and even a touch of brown sugar to different batches. Who needs the prepackaged stuff? Not me!

As I contemplate the menu plan for the next month, I’m thinking about including some quick breads for a little something sweet and trying some new to me recipes that change up the regular rotation. As the budget gets tighter, this just seems to make more sense rather than find ways to spend on things that I can make myself.

What’s on your menu?