On the Menu
This week is all about getting by. Coming home after being away is always rough upon re-entry. On the Menu this week are a few easy favorites, a new recipe, and a dinner-in-a-bag. Everyone has weeks like this, it’s good to know you can still put a homemade meal on the table when time is tight and inspiration is running low. What are your favorite go-to’s when you are in a pinch?
Monday – Gnocchi and meatballs. Last summer when we in Italy, my kids discovered gnocchi. They love being able to order it at restaurants at home too. I love that Trader Joe’s sells it frozen in a bag with sauce and all. You sauté it for a few minutes, toss in some refrigerator or frozen meatballs and your dinner-in-a-bag is done. I make a green salad and slice some fresh veggies to round it all off.
Tuesday – Taco Bar. With baseball season in full swing, Tuesdays are all about eating in shifts. A few of us eat before practice, a few after practice. Tuesday dinner needs to be a make-it-yourself meal. Taco Bar night is perfect for the occasion. I make the meat with a homemade taco seasoning and put out all the toppings. It’s easy to eat in shifts and everyone can make it the way they like.
Wednesday – Summer Rolls. This is a bright and light way to get kids to eat their veggies. My kids love shrimp, but if yours don’t, swap it out for chicken. It’s a great way to use up leftover roast chicken. You can add most anything to these based on your favorite ingredients. This week we subbed the shredded carrots for the bag of shredded broccoli you can pick up at the market.
Thursday – Orecchiette with leeks + peas. This is a new recipe for us. I added roast chicken breast to the pasta for some protein to round out the meal. It was delicious, but I have to be honest here, my kids wanted nothing to do with leeks + peas in their pasta. Served it with butter and cheese along with the roast chicken for them. I cut the heavy cream into half 1% milk and half+half. It seemed like you could do all 1% nicely as well to cut the fat and calories down.
Friday – Baseball Game. When games end at 7:30pm and you have 11 families together well past dinnertime, it’s a saving grace that we rotate bringing dinner for all. Last week I brought burgers, salad and fruit. This week, I’m off duty!
Snacks – We need a new snack in our rotation and these quick chocolately energy bites look yummy.
I’d love to know what your favorite in a pinch family meals are for hectic weekdays!
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