People are forever asking how I manage everything with such a busy schedule. I love to cook, but I don’t always have time to do so in the manner I would like. This weekly journal is a way to keep it real and show that while my intentions are good, sometimes life and all of its activities get in the way of serving a delicious, home-cooked meal and that it is perfectly okay.

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• Saturday: After getting up at 5:30 AM to prep for an all-day dance competition, the last thing either Holly or I wanted to do when we got home was to cook dinner. Jim was busy working on finishing the basement floors along with his brother, so Holly and I stuck with leftovers and sandwiches. It wasn’t the greatest meal but it did the trick.
• Sunday: Because I was home, I wanted to make something a bit extra for dinner tonight. So I threw a pork roast in the oven with various spices that eventually turned into homemade carnitas. Holly spiced up some black beans, and we served everything with queso fresco, avocado, fresh lime wedges, and a choice of corn or flour tortillas. It seems like a simple meal, but it is so flavorful and simply delicious.
• Monday: Tonight was my brother-in-law’s last night with us. As a thank you for laying all of the flooring in our basement, Jim and I took him out to dinner while Holly was at dance class. We took him to our favorite local spot, which is always a hit with guests. The floors are wonderful, and so was the meal.
• Tuesday: Holly does not request recipes very often, so when she does I try to accommodate her requests. This week, she asked me to make a Mushroom and Wild Rice Soup. Since Tuesdays tend to be our meatless day, this was a perfect fit. It was good but bland. I would definitely add more spices to the soup and maybe a shot or two of Worcestershire sauce to liven things up a bit. Everyone else had no problems with it, so it wasn’t all bad.
• Wednesday: I have been craving fried rice lately, but I never remember to make it unless I have a formal recipe in front of me. I saw this recipe for Triple Pork Fried Rice on Pinterest and knew I had to make it. With Holly at dance, it was the best night to do so. I must say that this was an amazing recipe. I ran out of soy sauce and did not have any chili garlic sauce on hand, both of which would have put this in the outstanding category. Even without all of the sauce though, it was flavorful and filling. The flavors blended well together, and the little pieces of bacon made it extra. I do plan to make it again because it was so yummy but this time with that chili garlic sauce.
• Thursday: Thursdays tend to be the best nights for leftovers, so that is what we had. Leftover fried rice, leftover black beans from Sunday turned into quesadillas – there was a little something for everyone without being bland with the added bonus of cleaning out my fridge.
• Friday: Dinner was a quick bite out tonight, as we had to squeeze it in between Holly’s dance lessons and the beginning of a local high school production of Beauty and the Beast. Several of Holly’s fellow tap class students are in the musical, and it was important to Holly to support them. Plus, this high school’s theater program is AH-mazing; their productions of anything are can’t miss. So, Holly brought a friend, and all four of us watched the opening night after grabbing a quick bite of fast food before we hit the theater. Not necessarily what I wanted for dinner but needs must.

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What was for dinner at your house this week?