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Good morning, and happy Sunday! It was a good week around here, complete with school, work, kids’ sports, and a Preakness picnic. 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. Now, let’s back up to last weekend…

Sunday was Mother’s Day, and I started my day with an early walk with my friends at Mollie’s farm.

We got ice cream cones in Culpeper that afternoon…

…and Keith grilled hamburgers for supper.

Overhead image of a grilled hamburger with toppings on a blue and white plate

I paired the burgers with baked beans, our favorite house salad, and fries.

Close up shot of a ladle of homemade baked beans with bacon and molasses

Keith and Gibbs also put a fresh coat of paint on the porch swing…ready for the season!

Monday morning was rainy and cool, so I stayed inside to focus on the boys’ virtual school work, and then made a quick stop at Yoder’s Country Market. I grabbed our weekly lunchmeat and buttermilk, plus yogurt, cookies, popcorn, the dark chocolate-covered Virginia peanuts that Gibbs requested (yum), and a big wedge of Daisy cheddar cheese that my friend’s mom recommended. The cheese is really delicious — extra sharp and perfect for crackers or snack boards!

We met friends for a walk in the woods when the sun came out later that afternoon, picked Spencer up from school, and then ate an early supper before the boys’ soccer practice.

I was testing recipes for a BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza, so that’s what we had! I’ll share my favorite version on the blog in the coming weeks, which makes for a very simple 20-minute meal.

Tuesday was a lot like Monday — I helped the older boys with their remote schooling in the morning, took the dog for a couple of walks, and spent some time working on new recipes in the kitchen.

Dinner simmered in the Crock Pot all day, so mealtime was especially easy. We had Beef Barbacoa in tacos, along with chips, salsa, guacamole and corn.

Close up front shot of a bowl of Crock Pot Beef Barbacoa

I have another fun book to share with you this week! I’d heard rave reviews for Shiver by Allie Reynolds, so I instantly added it to my Amazon list. In this thriller, a reunion weekend in the French Alps turns deadly when five friends discover that someone has deliberately stranded them at their remote mountaintop resort during a snowstorm. It’s a page-turner, but I didn’t find it too scary. Just a light, quick read. If you enjoy this genre, then you’ll love this debut novel!

All of the boys were home with me on Wednesday, so in between school work, Zoom calls, and screen time, I did my best to get everyone outside.

Looking for frogs at the pond…

…and lots of basketball.

Before Spencer’s soccer practice that evening, we had Shrimp and Grits for dinner, along with coleslaw and cornbread. Then back out to the fields!

Front shot of a southern shrimp and grits recipe in a blue and white bowl

Clear blue skies on Thursday morning…

I took advantage of the quiet house while the kids were all at school, and stayed busy with computer work, a couple of dog walks, wrapping gifts for Casey’s upcoming birthday, and more of the usual house chores.

Gibbs and Casey had soccer practice that night, so I served Ranch Oven-Fried Chicken beforehand, along with steamed and buttered green beans and crescent rolls (from a can, not from scratch this time!).

Side shot of a plate of crispy oven fried chicken with a side of pickles and mac and cheese

A walk with friends on Friday morning after the boys went to school…

The rest of my day was a quiet one at home…plugging away at work and conserving gas by not driving around for optional errands. The gas shortage here in the southeast has been crazy this week!

We had breakfast-for-dinner that evening, so I served Baked Buttermilk Pancakes, crispy thick-cut bacon, fresh fruit and yogurt. The kids always love this meal!

Pouring maple syrup over a piece of easy buttermilk pancakes on a blue plate

Saturday morning was devoted to multiple soccer games…

My in-laws joined us for cheeseburgers and fries for lunch at home afterwards, and delivered early birthday gifts to Casey.

Later that afternoon, we headed over to our friends’ farm for a Preakness picnic.

They served crab cakes (in honor of the Maryland horse race), grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, coleslaw, corn on the cob, pickles and more.

I brought along a dessert tray, complete with my grandmother’s old-fashioned butterscotch cookies, chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, molasses cookies and no-bake peanut butter chocolate bars. Such a fun way to spend a Saturday evening!

That’s where I’ll leave it for now, friends. Thanks for joining me here today! I hope that you found some new inspiration for your own dinner table in the days ahead.

blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

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Square overhead shot of hands serving a chicken pot pie recipe with biscuits
Overhead image of a bowl of chili mac on a dinner table with cornbread
Hands serving a platter of sheet pan sausage and potatoes

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  1. GOOD MORNING BLAIR.
    I am a country gal. Raised on a farm in ROCHESTER , N.Y.
    My parents were imagrants from Germany in1927- 1929.
    We were a hand working farm family, raised everything , made our own butter , garden veggies, milk cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits, ducks, — well lived off the land.
    Walked 3 miles to and from a one room school house in all the north weather.
    I see your pictures and get homesick– not no much for the work– we kids worked hard- but the country side.
    My Don and I moved to Florida 22 years ago.
    I cook every night. Have family Holiday dinners, and try new recipes on them -.
    I will be watching for your lovely e-mails.
    Thank- You and God Bless
    ~~~~
    Shirley

    1. Hi, Shirley! Thanks for your kind note! I’m so glad to know that the photos bring back fond memories. 🙂

      Thank you for reading along with us, and I hope that you find a handful of new recipes to try. Take care, and have a good week!