In an effort to be a whole lot more organized this year, and because everyone is always posting what delicious food they make, here is what I have been serving my family for the past week. I also envision this being a detailed account of how I fail miserably at meal planning when life gets too busy. But hey, it’s real life. Speaking of real life, I am not and never will be a food blogger. If I ever were to post food pictures for you, I apologize in advance for how awful they are.
- Sunday: After last week’s menu went awry, I was finally able to cook again. Tonight’s dinner was The Pioneer Woman’s most excellent Sour Cream Noodle Bake. It made plenty, even with everyone heading back for seconds. It is not too heavy either, which is a plus on these days which are not hot but not quite cold enough for comfort foods either. I served it with garlic bread and sat back to bask in the glow of my family’s appreciation. Plus, it was satisfying being able to eat real food again.
- Monday: Jim and I got a hint of what it will be like when the kids are in college tonight as Connor was at various practices until 8 PM and Holly was away on an overnight field trip. We had plenty of leftovers from yesterday, so there was no use dirtying up more pots and pans to make something new. It was a quiet dinner of leftovers and a peaceful night. Heaven.
- Tuesday: Holly came back from her field trip in time to get to her tap class late. By the time she and I got home from that, Jim and Connor had already finished the last of the leftovers, leaving the girl and I to eat sandwiches. I guess it could be worse.
- Wednesday: Our midweek respite from evening activities meant that not only could the kids go to bed early, but I had a chance to cook. Given the fact that Holly is still working to kick the cold that felled me last week, I kept dinner light but filling with Three Cheese Tortellini and Mushroom Soup. I added some French rolls and called it a night.
- Thursday: Connor was busy with cross-country and marching band tonight, while Holly had dance until 9 PM. Jim and I had a simple dinner of Mexican Street Corn Nachos, to which I added some marinated pork to make it a more substantial meal. I could get used to having to provide meals for just the two of us.
- Friday: Friday nights in fall mean football games. Tonight was the homecoming game. Because everyone had to be at different places at different times, we all grabbed what we could. There were lots of bowls of cereal eaten tonight.
- Saturday: Connor and his girlfriend are heading to the Homecoming dance this evening. There was talk at the cross-country meet this morning to crash the kids’ dinner and go out to the same restaurant as they are tonight. Either way, I know it is an eat-out kind of night.
What was for dinner at your house this week?
Consider the Pioneer Woman recipe and the nachos pinned! I think we’d love those.
You are going to LOVE the noodle recipe. I want to make it again tomorrow if I didn’t want to repeat it so soon. Let me know what you think?
A much better week for you.
My kid went to the homecoming came to sing, and then he was supposed to have a picnic with his girlfriend. My husband and laughed and said that we hope the girl brought food because Evan surely did not! And then, right when the game started we got a call from them asking if they could come back to the house to eat and watch a movie. I asked about the picnic and he said neither of them brought food. A match made in heaven! So they came back and had a gourmet “end of the week no food in the pantry” meal of hot pockets and fries.
Yesterday, with going to church twice and all, I wanted spaghetti and meatballs in the crock but no one wanted that. They wanted pulled pork so I made both but the pulled pork was cutting it close at 5 hours on high. We had to eat a little late because of it. But now I have massive leftovers and meatballs all ready to go for Tuesday night of this week.
We have a crazy week. Two choir concerts, book club, auditions if the girl gets a callback. I get to go to one concert, they get to go to the other and somehow I got duped into working concessions.
I totally failed on the cooking front last week. It doesn’t help that my house is just a disaster zone right now.
You got duped into concessions? I try not to respond to any requests for volunteers for that reason only. 🙂
Both the Noodle Bake and the Tortellini Soup sound amazing, and like something my husband would enjoy (he’s super picky, it has to have beef or be some sort of Italian dish). I’m adding it to my list!!
I made beef stew for the first time yesterday. It’s one of my husbands favorite meals that my mom makes, so I tried it myself, and it turned out really well. Adding another meal into rotation is a good thing!
The Noodle Bake has definitely become a family favorite. The soup was not so popular. I liked it, but it was missing something that would make it truly excellent. The good thing was that it is so low in calories and fat that you can eat a ton of it.
I’m so sad I’m not eating meat these days because wow, that sour cream noodle bake looks DIVINE.
It is so simple but so good. The Pioneer Woman to the rescue every time!