August 7, 2021

WEEKLY MENU 08.08.21

Summer is hanging on during the Weekly Menu 08.08.21~

Summer is hanging on during the Weekly Menu 08.08.21 ~ just like this Ladybug is hanging on to these flowers! Ladybugs (not a bug at all, really) always make me smile. Sometimes they make me laugh out loud, like in Jerry Seinfeld’s “Bee Movie” with the disgruntled male Lady Bug irritated with his name. I’m not alone with my liking of these insects – and they have a ton of symbolism and lore attached to them.

Coccinellidae (/ˌkɒksɪˈnɛlɪˌdiː/)^[3] is a widespread family of small beetles ranging in size from 0.8 to 18 mm (0.03 to 0.71 in).^[4] The family is commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in Great Britain and other parts of the English-speaking world. Entomologists prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as these insects are not classified as true bugs.^[5]
The majority of coccinellid species are generally considered beneficial insects, because many species prey on herbivorous hemipterans such as aphids or scale insects, which are agricultural pests.
Wikipedia

Lots of lore…

1. Counting A Ladybug’s Spots Will Indicate How Many Children You Will Have.
2. No spots? You May Meet Your True Love.
3. Ladybugs In Your Home? Good Luck Or…Maybe A New Baby!
4. Yellow Ladybugs Are A Sign Of Travel, Adventure, New Love Or A New Chapter.
5. Ladybug On Your Hand? You May Hear Wedding Bells.
6. Kill A Ladybug And You Welcome Bad Luck.
7 Common Misconceptions about Ladybugs and Love

One of the most iconic books about ladybugs is by Eric Carle. (Affiliate Links Follow – See Disclaimer Page for Details.)

But you can find anything ladybug if you look hard enough.

All Ladybug, All the time!

Okay, back to business. What’s for eats during the Weekly Menu 08.08.21? We’re mixing it up a little bit. Going old school Sunday dinner to start the week, Meatless Monday using one of the best summer produce items – corn on the cobs. And we’re getting my favorite summertime appliance out and fired up again: crockpot city, baby!

Okay, that one isn’t actually a ladybug, but it would fit right in!

Meatless Monday on the Weekly Menu 08.08.21 is a recipe I saw online by Christopher Kimball of Milk Street. (My favorite cooking show, currently.) The base is corn that is grated off the cob and incorporated into a sauce that ends up creamy and yummy looking without adding any cream! They boil the cobs with the cooking water for the pasta to add even more flavor. I am IN.

The “Patty Melts” on Wednesday are from a video I saw on Facebook. They look more like sloppy joes than anything else, and one reviewer called them “Chopped Cheese”. Regardless, they look yummy and super easy, so that’s Wednesday din-din.

Grilled Fish means no lingering odors inside…

This Tilapia recipe looks so good I went ahead and ordered a grill basket to cook it in. We’ll probably toss a chicken breast or two on the barbie as well – not everyone loves fish around here. The seasoning spice will work regardless of the protein!

If the weather permits, we’re headed out for another sunset happy hour on Thursday, so a nice crockpot meal is in order. Soup is always a little dicey during the summer, but using the slow cooker means we don’t heat up the kitchen, and our meal is ready to ladle as soon as we get home.