What to Cook for Dinner this Week

I’ve been debating about posting my weekly meal plans here for you, but because I don’t follow other people’s meal plans, it seemed a little bit counter-personality. But then, I’ve been telling myself, not everyone is like me. Some of you might like to know what’s happening in my kitchen week to week at dinnertime, so you can take away a whole menu or just an idea here and there. Thus, I’m going to give it a shot. I’ve included a brief rationale for each meal (the reason I picked it), to help you decide if it’s right for you. So take a look. If this is something you’d like to see regularly or even just once in a while, please, please leave a comment.

Monday: Tuscan White Bean Soup and No-Knead Bread. Why soup and bread? Because it finally feels like fall here (some of you have been living with autumn for a while, but we’ve had hot weather until this week). And I love this soup. If it makes too big a pot for your family, freeze half for later. *Note: be sure to start the bread 12-18 hours before you want to put it in the oven. That could be early in the morning, or the night before.

Tuesday: Pizza and salad. I make homemade pizza about once a week, usually using this quick-rise crust recipe. Sometimes I buy Trader Joe’s fresh pizza sauce (in the cooler section) and sometimes I make this easy sauce. Some sliced or shredded mozzarella on top, topped with some fresh pepperoni or browned italian sausage, sliced olives, caramelized onion, and we’re good to go.

Wednesday: Creamy Tomato Soup with Grilled Ham and Smoked Gouda Sandwiches. Wednesdays are school nights, which means I’m trying to juggle keeping L happy and getting dinner on the table for the two of us, so quick and easy is a necessity. The soup is fast and a no-brainer ( and leaves Campbell’s in the dust), and the sandwiches are just grilled cheese taken to the next level. I usually add a slice of white American cheese for extra creaminess.

Thursday: Taco Ranch Chili. It’s another school night. This is quick to throw together, chopping an onion being the only real prep work, and we like something Mexican-ish about once a week. It’s really more of a chunky chili than a soup. And L gobbles it up.

Friday: Takeout Night. We go with whatever sounds good, and usually follow it up with a family trip to the used bookstore. It’s become a Friday night tradition.

Saturday: Burgers, Spicy Sweet Potato Fries, Salad. Because sometimes, you just need a good burger and some fries.

Sunday: Pork Shoulder Ragú This is my one new recipe of the week. It’s the star of the Dinner: A Love Story cookbook, and I’ve been dying to try it for ages. I’m guessing it will make a huge quantity, so I’m planning to freeze half.

Weekend Breakfast: Marion Cunningham’s Yeasted Waffles. I believe in a cozy, homemade breakfast on the weekend. My mom always made breakfast on Saturday mornings – Bisquick pancakes, French toast, bacon and eggs – and it made me feel special to be sitting at the table in my pajamas, eating something warm and delicious, so I’ve made it a little tradition in my own family. Whether Saturday or Sunday suits you best, these yeast-raised waffles will knock everyone’s socks off. Serve them with real maple syrup and some fresh orange juice. *Note: remember to whip up the batter before bed the night before and put it in the fridge. It takes five minutes and is totally worth it.

Weekly Treat: Apple Snack Cake. Apple Snack Cake because it’s apple season, and this is a perfect apple treat. I almost always make some kind of treat or dessert on the weekend, sometimes to go with Sunday dinner, sometimes for snacking. It often lasts into the following week. Last weekend, I took my first stab at créme brulée. Of course, this is totally optional and you obviously don’t have to wait for the weekend, either.

Now that I’ve written this all out somewhere other than my menu pad, it’s clear I’m in a soup mood. Must be all the rain we’ve been getting. It just feels like soup weather all of a sudden.

Let me know what you think. Is this useful? Would you like a grocery list, or are the links enough? Not worth repeating? Really, I want to know.