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, and happy Sunday! This week we saw a lot of spring showers, chauffeured the kids all over the state of Virginia for their activities, and enjoyed some delicious food at the end of each day. You’ll find all of the highlights from the past few days, along with each of our dinners, 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…
Just like Saturday, our Sunday was spent entirely on the soccer fields. Keith took Casey to Richmond for day #2 of his tournament, while I took Spencer to Fredericksburg for his two games.
It turned out to be a beautiful evening, so once we were all back home, Keith took advantage of the nice weather and grilled salmon for supper.
I made dill roasted potatoes on the side (tasted like Spring!), warmed a baguette from Panera,
and prepared a skillet of green beans and mushrooms. I lean heavily on quick salads and frozen veggies during the week, but sometimes it’s nice to take the time to cook fresh vegetables when I have a few extra minutes. Love this side dish!
Let’s chat books! This week I read The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand. I always enjoy her novels, and this one was no exception. It was a bit different than most of her others, though, as The Perfect Couple was more of a murder-mystery than a light beach read. It definitely kept me turning the pages, and (according to Amazon) will soon be turned into a series on Netflix. Fun!
Back to the routine on Monday morning!
The boys went to school, I went for a walk up the road, and then I spent the bulk of the day in the kitchen testing new recipes.
I took Spencer to soccer practice that evening, so Keith was in charge of dinner. On the menu: pulled pork nachos using the leftover pulled pork from the week before, as well as homemade guacamole. We also heated up a can of Mexican seasoned corn and beans, which Spencer really likes. About as easy as it gets!
Tuesday included a cloudy morning walk with Ashley and our dogs, followed by a day at the computer.
Keith took Casey to a late soccer practice that night, so I served everyone an early supper beforehand: braised beef with red wine and tomatoes on top of rigatoni pasta, plus garlic bread and a Caesar salad on the side.
I spent a rainy morning in Culpeper taking Teddy to the groomer and running a few errands. Keith and I had a breakfast date at Panera too, since we were having some work done at the house and needed to get out of the way.
There were two different soccer practices on the schedule that evening, so I needed an easy meal that we could reheat at various times when the kids were home. I thawed leftover ground turkey chili from the freezer, and served it with a pan of Jiffy cornbread with creamed corn.
The sun returned on Thursday, so I met Ashley for a walk after school drop-off, picked up groceries, and spent time at the house working and taking care of chores.
Before Casey’s practice that night, we had a cheesy chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole for dinner. Comfort food!
Friday started with Pilates in Culpeper, followed by cooking and photographing a couple of recipes in the kitchen.
I took Gibbs to his golf lesson after school,
and then served “breakfast for dinner” that evening: French toast casserole along with maple breakfast sausage and fresh strawberries.
It rained (again!) all day Saturday, Casey’s soccer game was cancelled, and we appreciated a rare unscheduled Saturday at home. I helped Spencer with a school project most of the morning, and Teddy snoozed in front of the stove while the boys watched Arsenal play.
I got the night off from the kitchen, since Keith volunteered to pick up pizzas for supper. Everyone was happy!
And there you have it, friends — another week of dinners! I hope that you’ve found something new to add to your own table in the days ahead. Thank you for being here, and have a wonderful Sunday!
Cast iron skillets…. I am constantly looking for a non sticking cast iron skillet for Billy. I have a Lodge that even though I have done the long seasoning in the oven multiple times and I use the Lancaster stuff after every use , his eggs stick. And he leaves plenty of grease in the pan from sausage or bacon cooked first. Then a lady told me that a cast iron skillet should be smooth as glass, not with a textured or rough cooking area. So I’ve been scouring antique shops running my hand on cast iron skillets. I found an old one in The American Barn in Gordonsville that literally was as smooth as glass. I had high hopes but Billy gave it 2 tries and his eggs stuck both times. So he continues to use the non stick fry pans. I don’t trust the coating on them for health reasons so that’s why I’m trying to find a pan he’s happy with. I have an 8 in. and a smaller one (cast iron) that holds just one grilled cheese sandwich that I inherited from Billy’s great aunt and they do not stick but they are to small for Billy to use.
So….. does the Smithey and/or Staub cook like a non stick pan? I don’t want to buy one or both and have them stick and he won’t use them.
Hi, Debbie! I have found that the Smithey, Staub, and Le Creuset all have a smoother surface to begin with than the lodge. That said, it still takes some time to really build up a completely smooth, nonstick surface. I think you could get them the way you want them eventually, but they might not come that way right out of the box.
I LOVE Pilates! I’ve been taking classes at the Y, for about a year. It really makes such a difference for feeling less stiff & more limber.
Yes, I agree Renee! It’s been fun to try something new and feel it “working!”
Hi Blair,
I have been reading your weekly blog for several years. I don’t post comments, but I thought you should know how much I look forward to your email each week.
I have tried many recipes and found they are really good. I have passed many of them along.
I really enjoy your beautiful pictures of where you live and your family.
I have read many of your book recommendations, and they have been great.
Thank you for all of your work on the blog. It has been a pleasure reading it.
Jen! Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind note. You totally made my day. Thanks for reading the blog each week, for trying the recipes, and for taking the time to let me know. Have a wonderful weekend!