Considering probably 75% of this blog used to be food focused back in the day, I still enjoy coming back to this topic a little more in depth every once in a while (and I know it’s also a highly requested topic from many of you, too!).
First up, let’s take a look at some recent dinners. Now that we’re back in the swing of school, I’m *trying* my best to keep on top of meal planning for at least a few nights a week. If I’m really on my game, I’ll try to plan a couple of larger meals that will give us leftovers for later in the week.
And if I’m really OFF my game, then the kids are getting chicken nuggets and the adults are searching around for whatever cooked meats/protein may be hanging out in the fridge. Or eggs. Or beer. I mean, you just never know.
Dinners
Here’s a look at a few recent meals that I remembered to snap some pictures of…
Grilled Pizza with side salads
Pizza on the grill will never, ever get old! We made a plain cheese and a BBQ chicken pizza and used our usual methods for cooking the pizza on the grill. Seriously, it’s so easy and SO good.
Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage with Peppers and Onions over Rice
It’s sorta ugly. Sorry. I have no particular recipe to link to for this one but it was crazy easy to put together. I cut up a few peppers and a red onion into larger chunks and drizzled them with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Then I also took a package of chicken sausages, cut them each into quarters, and tossed them around with the veggies.
Cooked ’em up for about 20 minutes at 375 degrees, and then decided last minute to use up some marinara we had in the fridge, so I tossed that in there too. We served it all over some brown rice and also topped it with some parmesan cheese. Nothing fancy, super easy, and quite tasty!
Also quite tasty is this Spaten Oktoberfest beer that you see pictured above there. Dare I say, this may just be my favorite Oktoberfest beer…???
Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes with veggies
I came across this recipe on Pinterest while searching for something different to do with some ground beef I had on hand, and it totally worked. It was another quick and easy (one pan!) meal that worked great for a weeknight. I’d recommend!
BBQ Bacon Cheeseburgers with…more of the same veggies
These burgers came out SO delicious, all thanks to Jay. He mixed the ground sirloin with this Taste of Inspirations Sweet BBQ mix he found at Hannaford, and I would 100% recommend grabbing yourself some for the next time you’re cooking burgers. Paired with some bacon, provolone, sauteed red onions, and BBQ sauce, this burger was in-SANE.
Balsamic Baked Chicken Breast With Balsamic Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese + Perfect Rice Pilaf
Jay took care of this meal from start to finish once again, and I’m fairly certain I informed him that he should be in charge of cooking dinner for the rest of eternity. Seriously, he is just so good at it! And my horrendous iPhone photos are not doing the meal justice, so make sure to check out the original recipes linked above. I want this meal every single week now(!!).
Breakfast
I’ve also had a couple favorite breakfasts lately. On the weekends, I always love a good egg scramble paired with a piece of toast with peanut butter.
My scramble is typically 1 egg + 1/2 cup egg whites (protein, FTW!); always with a drizzle of ketchup, and occasionally with a sprinkle of Everything but the Bagel seasoning.
During the week/at work, I’ve actually gotten really into oatmeal again! Granted, it’s nothing like the fancy bowls of oatmeal I used to make back in the day, but oatmeal out of a cup still tastes (almost) just as good.
Most of the time, I’ll make it with hot water, then add a splash of almond milk and a scoop of peanut butter. Depending on what else is available in the office, I might add a little granola, some raisins, banana slices, or trail mix. But if I can make some time in the morning later this week, I’m totally going for a batch of my favorite Voluminous Oats!
Lunches
Salads. I’m so boring. But I really just love me a good salad come lunch time!
On a good week, I will have cooked up a pack of chicken to add to my salads for the week. If we’re out of chicken, I’ll usually add deli meat.
My usual veggies/extras include spring mix, cucumbers, tomatoes, shredded carrots, red onions, feta cheese, dried cranberries, and avocado (as long as I have a good, ripe one!).
My go-to salad dressing lately has been the Classic Ranch from Bolthouse Farms, followed closely by an sort of balsamic vinagrette (I really like the Ken’s Light Balsamic). Good stuff!
Aaaand since this post is already getting long enough, then maybe I’ll save my favorite snacks for another day. Yay? Nay? ; )
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