Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
Good morning, happy Sunday, and happy Easter! We enjoyed spring break this week, complete with warm, sunny weather, a quick trip, and plenty of delicious food. All of the highlights from the past few days, along with each of our dinners, are included in today’s roundup of Our Week in Meals.
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.
This Week’s Recipes
Now, let’s back up to last weekend…
Sunday started with an early morning walk with my girlfriends at Mollie’s farm.
We then spent most of the day in Charlottesville, where Casey had two soccer games. Back home, we grilled salmon for supper,
which we paired with rice, dinner rolls, sauteed asparagus with lemon, garlic, and almonds,
and a house salad.
Plus a strawberry crisp for dessert. ‘Tis the season!
As far as books go, this week I really enjoyed The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware. This is another page-turner by The Queen of Creepy Mystery-Thrillers, including another favorite, The Woman in Cabin 10. Definitely a fun one!
Monday was the first day of the boys’ spring break, and it was a pretty quiet one at our house.
We planned a short getaway for later in the week, so we were home for the first few days. The boys entertained themselves inside and out (thanks to beautiful weather), Keith and I got some work done, and I made it up the road for a short walk.
Soccer practices were cancelled for the week, so we had slower evenings as well. It was a nice change of pace! I made one-pot chicken and spinach pasta for supper that night,
which we paired with roasted broccoli and garlic bread. Quick tip! Since I knew that the boys wouldn’t want spinach mixed in with their pasta, I served their bowls before adding the spinach into the pot. An easy accommodation that made everyone happy!
I spent most of Tuesday shooting recipe photos, while Keith worked, and the boys played soccer, basketball, and tag outside, and dug for bugs in the dirt. Hello, spring!
Gibbs played golf with another boy that afternoon, so we had a later dinner once everyone was back home.
We ate leftovers from the cooking that I did earlier in the day — a recipe similar to these easy burritos, along with tortilla chips, salsa, corn, and guacamole on the side.
Wednesday started with a walk with two of my girlfriends,
before the kids and I went into Charlottesville to meet my parents for lunch at the Sedona Taphouse. It felt like summer on the patio out there — the temp reached 88 degrees in Charlottesville!
We stopped at Crumbl cookies on the way home, since the kids have been asking to try this bakery. It did not disappoint! The sugar cookie with Cadbury eggs on top was my favorite.
I packed suitcases that afternoon, and we had Chicken Parmesan for dinner (Gibbs’s request!). I paired the chicken with spaghetti and marinara sauce, as well as a Caesar salad. If you don’t want to bother with making your own Caesar dressing, this is one of our favorite store-bought brands.
For the second half of the boys’ break, Keith planned a short trip up to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania — a perfect destination for my Civil War buffs! We left Thursday morning, stopping in Frederick, Maryland for lunch along the way.
Frederick is a cute little town near the Virginia and West Virginia borders, where we explored a few shops, popped into a candy store, and ate lunch at Pretzel and Pizza Creations. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich on pretzel focaccia, which was pretty good! The boys loved their pretzel-crust pizza, and Keith had a delicious steak and cheese pretzel calzone.
We then drove up to Gettysburg, where we spent the afternoon at the very impressive Gettysburg Museum and Visitors Center, before eventually checking into our hotel.
We stayed at the historic Gettysburg Hotel, which is located right in the center of downtown. The inn was lovely, and its location was ideal! Our room even had a fireplace in it…which we definitely did not need on this trip.
Ice cream at Mr. G’s for an afternoon snack…
…and dinner at The Gettysburger that night. I had the Chipotle burger, which was topped with bacon, cheddar, caramelized onion, lettuce, tomato, and chipotle aioli. Delish!
Friday was Day 2 in Gettysburg, and we started it off right with an early breakfast at The Lincoln Diner, which was right across the street from our hotel. Pancakes, ham, and hot coffee!
Keith paid about $10 to download a very cool app, which allowed us to do our own driving tour of the battlefields and historic Gettysburg.
You can go at your own pace, and the app uses GPS to give you directions as you drive, while also narrating the historical significance of specific locations. It was much easier than trying to read a map while driving, and it gave us the flexibility to make stops when we wanted to (or to keep driving when the kids got bored)!
Spencer was in heaven at the toy soldier shop, Keith and the older boys had a field day in the beef jerky store,
and I loved this combination of a German Christmas shop that was connected to a gourmet chocolate, ice cream, and coffee shop. What more could you want in one place?! Hah!
We paused midday at Ernie’s Texas Lunch, a cute little diner that has been family-owned for over 100 years.
The tuna salad and onion rings were great, and they brought out free homemade cookies and Easter candy for everyone at the end of the meal — scoring big bonus points from our crew!😊
That afternoon, we had fun exploring the Gettysburg College campus, which was walking distance from our hotel. The highlight of their trip? Playing soccer at the athletic complex, where we also watched the baseball team preparing for a game.
The crew wanted Chinese food for supper, so we found this restaurant nearby. We filled our plates with all of the goodness, went back for seconds, and left happy and full.
The Easter Bunny was waiting for us back at the hotel!
And that was a wrap on our trip! We grabbed donuts and coffee for breakfast on our way out of town on Saturday morning, and eventually made it back to Madison later that day. We loved visiting Gettysburg, but it’s always nice to return home.
We spent the afternoon unpacking, doing many loads of laundry, and restocking our kitchen with groceries. Dinner was intentionally very simple: grilled chicken thighs, paired with steamed broccoli, dinner rolls, and stovetop mac and cheese.
So there you have it — another week of easy meals…with a spring break twist! I hope that you’ve found a handful of new ideas to add to your own table in the days ahead. We’re looking forward to seeing family for Easter today, and settling back into the work/school routine. Thank you for joining us here, and have a wonderful Sunday!
Good morning and Happy Easter! Thanks so much for the recipes and sharing your trip with us, looks like you all had a great time!
Thank you, Ann. Happy Easter to you, too!
Thank you for the wonderful photos, and I hope you and you family have a Blessed Easter.
Thanks, Gina. Happy Easter!
I see from many of your Sunday Posts you like soft serve ice cream. If you have not been to Carl’s in Fredericksburg then you need to go. It is the best Frozen Custard I have ever had.
It has been on the same corner and in the same building since 1947. Plus it’s still owned by the same family.
While in Fredericksburg, spend some time strolling down Caroline Street. Very historic and lots of cute shops. Either grab lunch on Caroline St. or eat at the Mason Dixon Cafe ( or Diner.. can’t remember exact name) right across street from Carl’s. And, out near and across the highway from Central Park ( the massive shopping center) is Sequels. The best women’s clothes consignment shop I’ve ever been to.
I met friends from North Carolina there and we spent 2 nights at the Richard Johnston Inn right on Caroline St. I highly recommend that for an easy getaway Staycation.
While I’ve shopped in Fredericksburg for years, this is the first time I’ve spent anytime there.
We also took in a show…. Ragtime…. at the Riverside Dinner Theater. Excellent show.
Since I’ve been there before, we did not buy the lunch… just the show. Eat before you go. The food is not good but the productions are top notch.
Also, go just across the river to Chatham Manor. Historic house with an informational short movie and a great view of the town.
Hi, Debbie! Yes — soft-serve ice cream is one of my favorite food groups. 🙂
We spend a lot of time in Fredericksburg for the kids’ soccer, but we’ve only wandered around town and explored the sites once or twice. The historic downtown is so lovely, and your recommendations sound wonderful. Hope you have a great Easter!
Since you are in Fredericksburg often, You need to go to Carl’s. Trust me, you will thank me for it. I get the plain vanilla… the flavor is better than all other soft serves….and I get it in a sugar cone!!
I’m so excited to try it now!! 🙂
Good morning Blair!
Easter Blessings to you and your family!
What a fun-filled get-away, looks like a good time was had by all.
I really like all the food options you found, a little bit of everything for everyone.
And that Christmas gift shop with its combination shops…..a win-win!
Thank you for sharing!
Have a lovely day with family Blair!
Thanks, Dalila! You’re right — we enjoyed eating our way through Gettysburg! 🙂
Look forward to my Seasoned Mon email every Sunday.
Thank you, Patti! That makes me so happy to hear. 🙂
Happy Easter, Blair!
Gettysburg sounds wonderful! We are a family of Civil War buffs as well but have yet to make it to Gettysburg! On our bucket list!
Happy Easter, Cathy! I hope that you have a chance to get there — it’s well worth the trip. We were so impressed!
Happy Easter to you and your family! The boys are getting so big!
Thank you, Tylene! I know — where does the time go?!! Happy Easter to you, too!
A Very Happy and Blessed Easter to you and your handsome family!!!! Gettysburg should definitely be on every Civil War buff’s bucket list…and it seems you certainly enjoyed the full tour…as always love seeing the recipes, catching up with the boys – they are growing up so fast…and seeing the photos of lovely Virginia…88 degrees!!! – well we are very slowly getting warmer here in Ontario, Canada – it is 34 here this morning but to be around 75 by middle of the week before cooling down once again…snow is almost gone…have a great week…
Thank you, Wendy! I hope that this warmer weather finds you soon! Take care, and enjoy your Easter Sunday!
Wow, sounds like a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing your week. I love the idea of an app for a self guided tour! Happy Easter! Have a wonderful week.
Happy Easter Blair to you and your family! Enjoy the day with your family!
Looks like you and your family had a nice trip in Gettysburg. The app does sound like a great idea instead as you stated using a map. I will have to try that next time I plan a getaway.
I see lots of recipes I am going to make for the week. Thank you for all the great meal ideas!
Thank you, Kris! Have a wonderful Easter!
Happy Easter Blair to you and your family! Enjoy the day with your family!
Looks like you and your family had a nice trip in Gettysburg. The app does sound like a great idea instead as you stated using a map. I will have to try that next time I plan a getaway.
I see lots of recipes I am going to make for the week. Thank you for all the great meal ideas!
Thanks, Annette! Happy Easter to you as well! I hope that you enjoy the meals this week. 🙂
Happy Easter! Looks like a great trip and all the recipes.
Happy Easter, Maria! We hope you had a wonderful day and get to try some of the recipes.
Looks like a good trip. I remember lovely brick buildings in Morgantown, WV, and Alexandria, VA. I miss brick, wood, and stone buildings. Everything down here is stucco. I’m glad your boys are absorbing the history in Gettysburg. Such a monumental event in the U.S. and a topic which so many avoid. The old saying, those who forget history are bound to repeat it.
Thank you, Marion! That is such a great saying. We hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
Good morning Blair..Thought I would drop a note to say how much I look forward to your weekly post. I’m living in England and the photos you post are simply beautiful. I’ve tried several recipes which have gone down well with my family..I am also a mum to 3 boys ( older than yours ) so can relate to the endless soccer matches ( of course we call it football ). Particularly like to see your boys wearing shirts from the English premier league. Keep on doing what your doing… A big thanks from a friend from overseas
Thank you so much for your kind note, Louise! I love hearing from friends all over the world. My boys are very jealous of your English Premier League. They follow a number of their “favorite” players, and watch as much of it on TV as possible. In fact, we were just discussing the potential of planning a trip to come visit your country and watch a match in person next year!
You should definitely do it. I had little interest in soccer before I had sons now I’m almost as fanatical..x
It does look so fun! You might have us convinced.