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Good morning, and happy Sunday! We’ve enjoyed plenty of snow days, sledding, and hot chocolate around here recently! All of the highlights from the past few days, along with our easy dinners, are included in today’s roundup of Our Week in Meals.
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For those of you who are new to the blog, Our Week in Meals is where I share a little bit about what we’ve been up to over the past week — as it relates to our dinners each night. This series gives you a glimpse “behind the scenes” at some highlights from our life, shows you how I balance a busy schedule with feeding my family, and offers a few new ideas for your own weekly meal plan.
First, though, a quick note to let you know that my latest recipe for Taco Dip is over on Taste of Home now! This crowd-pleasing party favorite is also a great addition to a regular Mexican-inspired dinner. I hope you’ll check it out and give the dip a try soon (it would be perfect for the Super Bowl this evening)!
Now, let’s back up to last weekend…
We woke up to our first real snowfall of the season on Sunday morning, so I made the coziest breakfast that I could think of: Amish Baked Oatmeal. Filling, satisfying, and delicious!
The younger two boys were out there early with me and the dog, and then Keith took all 3 of them to meet up with friends for sledding later in the afternoon.
Naturally, I served plenty of hot chocolate and washed many, many loads of wet clothes.
We had Beef Chili for dinner that night…
…with a side of Honey Cornbread. What could be better on a cold winter day?!
In total, we probably only got about 4 inches of snow, but it was enough to cancel school on Monday!
View from my parents’ house…
I took the boys to the big sledding hill at the school, but otherwise stayed close to home on another chilly day.
We had Teriyaki Salmon for supper, along with rice, broccoli and egg rolls. Way better than Chinese takeout!
Tuesday was more of the same — another snow day for the boys, another trip to the sledding hill to wear them out in the fresh air, more hot chocolate and a lot more laundry! Most of the snow had melted the day before, but what remained was a steep sheet of ice — which the boys thought was wonderful!
I have another great book to share this week! It makes me happy to hear from so many of you that have found Louise Penny’s mysteries after hearing me rave about them on here over the past year. I recently finished book #12 in her Chief Inspector Gamache series, A Great Reckoning, and I’d have to say that this was one of my favorites so far. They’re always well-written, and always page-turning stories that keep me guessing until the end. If you’re new to Penny’s novels, then I definitely recommend starting at the beginning with Still Life. You’ll fall in love!
I made Doritos Chicken Casserole for dinner that night, which I paired with corn and green beans. If it includes chips, the kids are bound to enjoy it, right?!
Blue skies returned again on Wednesday!
The boys and I jumped back into our “virtual learning” routine for the morning,
and then got outside for the afternoon.
I also baked my mom’s Lemon Bundt Cake for a sweet treat to remind us that spring is on the way! I’ll share her easy recipe soon, but in the meantime you can check out my Orange Juice Cake (which is very similar).
And dinner that night was an easy Crock Pot meal: French Dip Sandwiches. We paired the subs with side salads and potato chips!
Thursday was finally a quiet work day for me. The kids all returned to school for the first time in a week, so I buckled down and checked a bunch of tasks off of my to-do list.
I also managed to sneak in a walk before school pickup so that I could take advantage of the beautiful 50-degree day.
We had Baked Pork Tenderloin with Crispy Brussels Sprouts for dinner (although I’m really the only one who loves the sprouts!),
as well as baked potatoes.
I met my friends for a walk on Friday morning…
…and then headed up to Culpeper. While I was waiting for Teddy at the groomer, Keith and I had a Panera drive-thru lunch date. I also grabbed a few cookies for my three little sweethearts to have after school.😍
We don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby, but Sallie gave me a case of this Lemon and Ginger seltzer to try because she loves it. So refreshing! Definitely add this one to your next shopping list…
I served Italian Wedding Soup for dinner, along with a baguette that I bought from Panera earlier in the day.
Saturday was relatively uneventful, with the exception of a walk after lunch with Mollie and Adria. Otherwise, the day consisted of a grocery pick-up, house chores, and a visit from the plumber to install a new dishwasher.
Keith picked up takeout for dinner that night, so pizza was on the menu!
And that brings us to today. It’s raining right now, and we’re looking forward to an afternoon of Super Bowl-watching and game day snacking (of course)! Fried chicken, soft pretzels, veggies and spinach dip are all on the menu. Have a great week ahead!
Love all you do. Great mom who loves to cook for her Family and still has time for herself. Would not miss your site for anything. Those two boys are fortunet to to have such a Wonderful Mother and Father and a beautiful farm to grow up on. Thank you for all you do and in sending this to me every Sunday. The virus doesn’t help and I’m alone as my Husband has been gone almost a year. Blessing to you all. Pat.
I agree she is wonderful Mom ❤️
Thank you so much, Glenda!
Hi, Pat! Your kind note brought me to tears. It’s not easy, but your thoughtful words just gave me the motivation to keep it up — even when the days feel overwhelming. I’m thinking of you and praying for you during this time. I can only imagine how challenging this past year has been for you. Thank you for joining us here each Sunday. It makes me know that I’m bringing a little bit of joy to your inbox each week!❤
You are a very lucky blessed lady. Thank God for your
. Your boys are precious and your land is exquisite. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, Laurie!!!❤
Beautiful pictures!
Thank you, Allyson!
Great blog post. Always love to get your email each week! Love all the updates and pretty pictures!
Another coincidence–we were in Culpeper on Friday around lunchtime also (Martin’s)! One of these days we’ll pass each other…
BTW, don’t know if you were aware but Louise Penny has a great newsletter she sends out the first of each month. Just go to her site http://www.louisepenny.com. Or if you don’t want to receive another email, you can just read the newsletters on her site. She also has a great FAQ’s section and a pronunciation guide.
That’s funny, Norma! Yes — when you see me in Culpeper, definitely say hi! 🙂
Thanks for the tip about Louise Penny’s newsletters. I’m heading over there to check them out right now!
I am going to try the spinach stuffed chicken-we love spinach and does that ever look GOOD! Have you ever tried the Amish baked oatmeal with a different type of fruit-peaches or pears-and would they need to be uncooked and grated?? AND-thank you for showing your cutest little Teddy-pup in your beautiful pictures!! He looked very handsome in his Winter coats!!
Hi, Sherrie! Yes — I’ve made the baked oatmeal with blueberries (fresh or frozen — not thawed — work well), as well as with sliced banana. Really, almost any fruit would be delicious. Pears I would treat exactly the same as the apples. For the peaches, just slice them thinly or finely dice them and add them to the batter. They will soften even more in the oven, and you shouldn’t need to pre-cook them at all. Again, if using frozen berries, just mix them into the batter while they’re still frozen. Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Just now reading your blog, and I also enjoy receiving your email every Sunday! So many great recipes to choose from. Love seeing the pictures of your boys, dog, & beautiful farm. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much, Leslie! Have a wonderful week ahead!
Reading your “Our Week in Meals” is one of my weekly highlights. My kids are all grown up, but your blog brings back many wonderful memories of having a houseful and tons of chores. Thank you for sharing your life. Most people don’t realize the level of dedication needed to have a blog that has new material on a regular basis.
Thank you so much, Jannie! You’re absolutely right — it’s definitely a lot of work, but kind readers like you are the reason I do it. 🙂
Take care, and enjoy the rest of your week!
Hi, Blair
I just discovered you and your wonderful blog! I can’t tell you how much I enjoy reading about you and your lively family and seeing the picturesque area where you live.
Your recipes are great, so simple and delicious. I made the Honey French chicken breast last night and got rave reviews.
Also, I recently discovered Louise Penny and now I’m a fan. I live in Montreal, not from from Louise’s home in Knowlton(Three Pines in her books). Louise is going to be a guest speaker on a local popular web series for seniors, on Friday, Feb. 12 @ 6:00. This series is called “Author Conversations” and I’m sure her insights will be inspiring to younger people, too. I’ve included a link.
Thank you so much for sharing.
https://www.thesuburban.com/arts_and_entertainment/arts/author-louise-penny-the-next-guest-of-popular-web-series-for-seniors-were-all-in/article_d6c40114-6b24-11eb-b87c-773ba6d48416.html
That’s amazing to hear, Barbara! I bet it’s so neat to read her books and know the area so well. What a treat! 🙂