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: I don’t normally cook on Saturdays, but Jim was leaving for a business trip early the next morning and I had thawed some shrimp earlier in the week that I needed to use. So I tried my hand at Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos. They were delicious, but frying that many shrimp in a skillet is a pain in the ass. Unless someone gifts me a fryer, I don’t see me making this recipe again, no matter how much we all enjoyed it.
• Sunday: With Jim gone, I could have taken the easy way out and ordered takeout. Instead, I tried yet another copycat Skyline Chili recipe in a six-year-long search to find one that truly tastes like the original. I have tried so many over the years. Some have been closer than others. Connor declared this one the closest yet and told me that he would accept this particular recipe as a substitute if he couldn’t have the original. Later this week, we are going to try it again over hot dogs to make homemade cheese coneys to really put it to the test.
• Monday: With Jim gone, easy recipes were in order. Tonight’s dinner was tacos. Regular beef (or black bean for Holly) tacos. No fancy accoutrements. No crazy prep or work instructions. It was perfect.
• Tuesday: With obedience class tonight, a quick dinner was necessary. So it seemed like a good time to try out the chili from Sunday on hot dogs to see if the flavor still matches the original. It turns out that it does not quite match. Which means I have a recipe to tweak. But Connor devoured three hot dogs and a side of chili cheese fries, so I think it is pretty darn close.
• Wednesday: Jim returned from his trip just in time to celebrate 21 years of marriage together. We ended up going out to a special event at a new restaurant that opened up over the winter. It was a Pig and Brew event, pairing pork from a local farm and beer from a local brewery. The food was ah-mazing, and the beer was excellent. Jim and I were so impressed with everything, especially the fact that all of the food is locally sourced. We already made plans to go back and try their regular menu. And maybe their crazy Father’s Day brunch menu.
• Thursday: It was another leftover/fend-for-yourself night, as we were all busy doing our own thing and sort of forgot about dinner. This is what happens when I am not home to steer my family, I fear.
• Friday: Another night where we all kind of scattered just in time for dinner. I had made a seven-layer salad for a potluck today, so Jim and I ate the leftovers. Jim in the meantime brought home some leftover chicken from his worked catered lunch. Connor are that, and poor Holly was left with a sandwich. The thing is no one complained. Sometimes, I think everyone likes these informal scrambles for food. It certainly makes my life easier.

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What was for dinner at your house this week?