Halloweek Planning

Our Halloween tradition since buying this house has been to host a small pre/post trick-or-treating party. I generally make something to throw in the slow-cooker and we have a little something before and after the goodies have been gotten!

Of course, middle of the week Halloween bodes horribly for kids and their schedules, but we will not let that deter us!

This week:

Sunday: Tortilla Español (I use the recipe from the Cook This, Not That cookbook, which has some surprisingly good recipes. I appreciate that they are generally quick and easy and relatively healthy.) I do confess that I used double the olive oil this time and it was worth it. I also had to do some pan con tomate. I used this recipe loosely, but I used my blender to blend up a pint of mini tomatoes with a heavy dash of salt and some olive oil. That plus some ciabatta bread was perfect.

Monday: Quinoa Enchilada Casserole (This is a house favorite. I’ve been making it for years!)

Tuesday: Halloween! I will be making chili (I don’t use a recipe, I just kind of do my own thing, but maybe I can share how I do it?) and baked mac n cheese.

Wednesday: Leftovers! I’m heading out to a concert with some friends, so the fam will eat what’s in the fridge.

Thursday: Trying out Mark Bittman‘s vegetarian pho. Wish us luck! I’ll report back next week.

Friday: We are grabbing dinner at the Mexican restaurant down the street. It’s a fundraiser for the kids’ school, so a no-brainer to end the week! (Remember, by Friday I’m lazy!)

Saturday: I’m thinking some sort of pasta. Will report back. (I’m a little bit more lax now that I’m enjoying my sabbatical, so sometimes I come up with stuff on the fly!)

Happy Halloween!

Ahem…is this thing on?

It’s been awhile, my friends. Almost a decade. It took another baby, a career pivot, then another, then deciding on a career break to get me back here. Here I am. Still on my same ish. Planning. Cooking. Did I mention I MOVED? (The kitchen is still small.) Wait, did I mention that I’m not even a lawyer anymore? Does this blog title even make sense?

It’s me, unfiltered, drinking a “Life Event” wined on my wonderful porch two days into my sabbatical!

But, it’s the job loss thing that has me back here. I have time on my hands. Those kiddos are in school all day, I’m allowing myself a little break, and here I am…menu planning. Kids need to eat, I suppose.

Another new life update? Beebs has become a vegetarian. I’ve always dabbled (meatless Monday anyone?), but this is a new challenge. I basically cook almost entirely vegetarian now, so I’m constantly looking for new veggie-friendly recipes. Let me be honest, friends, there have been A LOT of misses. Still, we persist. I feel grateful that she decided to go vegetarian during soup season. (Who else is here for midwestern fall food likes soups and chilis?)

Since I have this time on my hands, I figured I’d dust off this old blog and start sharing my meal plans with you all. (All one of you. Maybe my mom still follows? Shoot, she has a new email address, maybe not.) Screaming the meal plans into the void it is!

This week:

Sunday: Comforting Tuscan White Bean Chickpea Soup (I cheated and bought a bread, but for posterity sake, make this bread to go with any of your soups this fall. It’s tops and so easy.)

Monday: Slow-Cooker Tofu Butter Chicken I loved this one. Kids thought it was maybe a bit spicy. But slow cooker? Yes please. Served with rice and some of that great mini naan bread you can get from Aldi.

Tuesday: Tacos are still the theme…probably doing some taco bowls with faux taco meat, rice, sweet potatoes, and quesadillas for the kids.

Wednesday: Leftovers! Also known as if it’s in the fridge, it’s fair game.

Thursday: Mark Bittman’s Braised Lentils. We find a ton of recipes in his How to Cook Everything Vegetarian cookbook. I highly recommend. They are not the most simple recipes, but the flavors are incredible.

Friday: By this time of the week, I’m lazy. Pizza it is. Or leftovers.

Saturday: I didn’t get that far. Check back next week!

Nice to be back, my friends. I’ve missed you!