Category Archives: menu plan Monday

My summer brain needs an autumnal reset

We’re less than a month from school starting, and I’m trying to remember how to do things like Make a Schedule and Wake Up at an Acceptable Hour and Plan Menus. We’ve been getting take out quite a bit lately, and I tried to focus on that last one over the weekend. Here’s what I came up with:

Monday: Thai Basil Chicken Bowls

I love Pad Grapow Gai, and this recipe looks like it’s going to deliver those flavors. I think it’s going to be a little quicker to make than others I’ve tried because it uses ground chicken instead of chicken breasts.

Tuesday: Breakfast for Dinner

Rockford presents pancakes.

Wednesday: Shawarma-Spiced Chicken and Rice

We had a Hello Fresh subscription for a good part of the last year, but I put it on hold for the summer. I thought I’d be putting more thought into cooking and wouldn’t need the extra help. Ha ha, I was wrong. We’ve been eating sub sandwiches all summer. Oh well. Anyway, this is a Hello Fresh recipe that we never actually tried, but I thought it sounded good.

Thursday: Out

Poppy has been trying to get back in the habit of going to tae kwon do, but they don’t offer nearly as many classes as they did pre-pandemic. Which is totally understandable, but it makes it difficult to cook dinner on class nights. We’ll figure it out.

Friday: Out

There is no barrier to making dinner on Fridays. There is only tradition.

Looking for balance in our menu planning

Our first two meals this week are from Chrissy Teigen, which is always a good sign. We’re starting with a pretty healthy and delicious carrot soup, and we’re following that up with a decidedly unhealthy patty melt. It’s all about balance.

Monday: Carrot coconut soup

I briefly considered making our menu for the first week of 2021 all healthy and such, but then Rockford picked up Chrissy Teigen’s cookbook and said “Ooooo, patty melts” and here we are.

Tuesday: Crispy Bacon and Sweet Pickle Patty Melts

I briefly considered making our menu for the first week of 2021 all healthy and such, but then Rockford picked up Chrissy Teigen’s cookbook and said “Ooooo, patty melts” and here we are.

Wednesday: Breakfast for dinner

Probably pancakes.

Thursday: Pork tenderloin

I got a Spicewalla spice set for my birthday, and there are a few blends in it I’m not familiar with so we’ve been experimenting a bit. I’m going to use the ras al hanout as a rub on the tenderloin.

Friday: Out

We’ve been doing deli sandwiches a lot on our Out Fridays lately. I’m trying to think of an alternative this week.

I’m hoping the weather changes soon so Soup Day can make its triumphant return.

Monday: Big Salad
Tuesday: Tikka masala
Sadly, I don’t have any garlic naan from Trader Joe’s to go with it.
Wednesday: Breakfast for dinner
We’ve been making breakfast bowls lately, with a bed of scrambled eggs topped with some sauteed veggies and protein. Tonight’s protein is bacon.
Thursday: Pork chops
I very rarely make pork chops, because I don’t like them. But maybe I don’t like them because I don’t really know how to make them. It’s also my dad’s wife’s birthday (Happy birthday, Pat!), so I’m making a lemon-blueberry cake. Even though they live hundreds and hundreds of miles away.
Friday: Food from the outside world
Last week we had pizza because I had a coupon for some free Pizza Hut. I took some Lactaid and ate it, and it was delicious. I’m not sure what we’ll have this week, but mine will probably have 100% less daily. 🙁

Hungry for more? Check out the Menu Plan Monday linkup at Org Junkie.