Weekly Meal Plan // October 27-November 1

Halloween Week Meal Plan

Busy week ahead: Three cooking classes, a 6th grade parent coffee and prepping for a private cooking retreat next weekend. Throw in Halloween and the World Series and it’s the perfect storm. And brace yourself, Friday is the beginning of November. You know what that means. It’s time for Thanksgiving plans and holiday menus. Next week we email our November class schedule. Email Melissa to sign up for the newsletter. Stay tuned for Thanksgiving classes, a holiday cookie class exchange and a full calendar of holiday favorites.

SUNDAY

World Series!!! We’re watching at home with an easy menu of baked taquitos (you can either make my homemade version or Trader Joe’s frozen version), refried beans and a big green salad with super simple salad dressing. Go Astros!

MONDAY

I’ve been trying to eat at least one plant-based and vegan meal a day. The idea was spurred from Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversation with Suzy Amis Cameron. Most of us do not get enough vegetables in our diet and we eat too much processed food, sugar, animal protein and dairy. Check out the podcast — it’s an easy listen! All that to say, we’re having a vegan curried coconut lentil soup for dinner.

TUESDAY

It’s a busy day in our house, so I want something super easy. Pork chili verde can be made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. I plan to test this with pork stew meat instead of ground meat and serve it with a side of steamed white rice.

WEDNESDAY

I have a work dinner tonight, so I’m leaving my husband in charge. Anyone else have the “Charles in Charge” song playing in their head? If you’re not a child of the 80s and early 90s, read on. There’s no shame in steamed broccoli and spaghetti with Rao’s, but if I have time I’ll prep a spatchcocked chicken with carrots, shallots and potatoes that he can throw in the oven.

THURSDAY

Weeknight chili is our Halloween routine. Use good quality ground beef from the butcher, preferably grass-fed. Toast your pumpkin seeds after carving jack-o-lanterns and sit back and hand out candy.

FRIDAY

We have Friday night lights on the agenda — tonight our school plays their big crosstown rival. If you’re home and want to cook something delicious, make slow cooker French dip sandwiches and put your feet up.