What’s for Dinner? – Week Starting 14 July 2018

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People are forever asking how I manage everything with such a busy schedule. I love to cook, but I don’t always have time to do so in the manner I would like. This weekly journal is a way to keep it real and show that while my intentions are good, sometimes life and all of its activities get in the way of serving a delicious, home-cooked meal and that it is perfectly okay.

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Saturday: It was not necessarily a lazy day, but it was certainly a day in which food was not a priority. This is how Jim, Connor, and I found ourselves at a local burger joint that always gets rave reviews (Holly was at a friend’s house) at 8 PM. The burgers were delicious, and it was nice to get some alone time with Connor – who has announced his goal is to not come home next summer.
Sunday: In lieu of something on the grill or slow cooker, I went with a quick and easy pasta dish. This Blushing Penne Pasta was certainly simple, although I was not quite a fan of the flavor – or lack thereof. Connor asked for the leftovers, so I may have been the only one not impressed.
Monday: As something completely different but also easy, I went with these Grilled Chicken Street Tacos. Actually, I went with the marinade and used it on chicken and shrimp. Somehow, I messed up the amount of cinnamon used in the marinade, but this was one meal where the screw-up did not affect overall enjoyment. The few leftovers we had were gone by the next night. This is definitely something I want to make again.
Tuesday: It was supposed to be Connor’s turn for dinner. He was hosting a going-away party for his best and oldest friend, who moved to Florida on Wednesday. The plan was for him to order a bunch of pizzas and hang with his friends for the night. Jim and I were going to piggyback on that pizza order. Except the pizza did not happen. Because it was a surprise party, Connor’s friend did not know he was serving food and ate dinner before he came to the house. Connor found out about it in enough time to change his plans and inform those attending to eat in advance. Except this meant we were scrambling for dinner. Thankfully, there were just enough leftover taco fixings to scrounge a meal for us. Crisis averted.
Wednesday: There was a complete breakdown in understanding regarding dinner tonight. I had set out the recipe for the boys to make while Holly and I were at the studio for her class. We got home and nothing was started. Connor said he was told by his father that we were going with leftovers again. Jim insisted he told Connor to start the recipe while he was out for a run. Either way, Holly and I went with quesadillas again because there really wasn’t much else to eat. Sigh.
Thursday: As if the week wasn’t bad enough with meals, tonight everyone got home late and everyone sort of just stared at one another wondering who was willing to put forth the effort to cook. We all gave up, and Connor brought home Culver’s after he picked up Holly from the studio. I only feel somewhat better that I had a salad and no frozen custard.
Friday: Holly and I came home from our hair appointments to dinner. Well, dinner for everyone but her. So out we went again to pick up something she could eat. We ended up eating brats and fresh corn on the cob, purchased directly from the farmer who grew it. Holly had fake chicken patties instead of brats. Not a bad way to end the week.