I can’t believe it’s still summer for friends on the east coast whose kids don’t start school until after Labor Day. We are in the thick of it and honestly it feels great to have a routine again. My oldest gets back from her freshman retreat today and I can’t wait to get the scoop. I can’t believe my baby, who was 20 months old when we moved to Houston from San Francisco, is a freshman in high school. What happened? Here’s a weekly meal plan to help you sail through the week.
SUNDAY
Spaghetti with Marcella Hazan’s luscious tomato sauce. This is a simple sauce that is perfect for a busy weeknight. We made a similar iteration of this sauce in my cooking class last week, and I’m working on posting my version on my site. Not that you can improve upon Marcella’s version, but I like it just as well with a little less butter and more tomatoes. Don’t shoot me. Serve with a big green salad tossed with super simple salad dressing.
MONDAY
Meatless Monday! If you need a fresh batch of ideas, this brainstorm from Bon Appetit is a good starting point. I’d love a zesty tortilla casserole without the chicken or beef. Use Trader Joe’s frozen fire roasted corn and frozen fire roasted peppers and onions for this — so easy! Kale guacamole and a chopped salad with ranch dressing on the side.
TUESDAY
I have a fun giveaway starting today, so if you don’t follow me on Instagram be sure to! We have a crazy night, so something in the slow cooker is necessary. Whole chicken in the slow cooker is easy to put together and just as tender as rotisserie chicken. I like to serve it with some type of sauce, like red pepper romesco. Roasted sweet potatoes make a great addition, or just throw a bunch of sliced carrots into the slow cooker for the last couple hours.
WEDNESDAY
Pork chili verde in the InstantPot with warm corn tortillas (or quesadillas) on the side. This is a one pot meal full of vegetables and a tangy broth. If you make a recipe with ground meat in your InstantPot the meat tends to clump together; after the meat cooks, use a potato masher or a pastry blender to break it up.
THURSDAY
We have our first school games of the season: A middle school football game on one side of town, and at the same time on the opposite side of town a JV field hockey game. Soooo. That makes for a complicated dinner situation. And by Thursday I’m usually wiped out. Honestly, I think we will warm up leftover soup from Wednesday and make quesadillas out of leftover chicken from Tuesday. If you’re feeling energetic, make this easy and delicious Korean beef bowl.
FRIDAY
We made it to Labor Day Weekend! If you’re entertaining this weekend, try some of these Smart in the Kitchen favorites!
Spinach Salad with Pesto and Peas
Grilled Tamari Honey Drumsticks
Tri tip with Chinese Black Bean Sauce
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