making lately: dinner plans

Though I cook dinner almost every night, I'm not always big into meal planning for more than a day or two at a time - mostly because I have the great luxury of schedule and budget flexibility that allows me to not worry about it too much, and because I typically just don't enjoy the meal planning process in general... I'd rather grocery shop every other day than actually plan farther in advance, because thinking of what to cook in the first place is probably my least favorite part of the whole process.

But this week I suddenly found myself with wayyy more dinner ideas than usual, so I decided to write them down and call it a meal plan, and I'm feeling quite pleased with myself. It sure does make it easier when you get to 5pm and don't have that much energy to think about meals to at least have the "what" decided on (one of the main reasons I like to do Blue Apron/Hello Fresh occasionally!).

Since usually lack of ideas is one of the main deterrents to my doing any real advance planning, I thought I would share this week's list in case you're in need of any inspiration yourself...

Sunday

Stir fry with chicken and any veggies available in fridge (broccoli, shredded carrots, onion, bell pepper) and jar of store-bought kung pao sauce + rice

Monday

Lasagna with ground Italian chicken sausage - but best laid plans turned into we have no lasagne noodles turned into Italian quesadillas with pizza sauce for dipping + roasted cauliflower

Tuesday

Za'atar chicken with spinach and Israeli couscous - Hello Fresh recipe using leftover spice packet - pro tip: they usually give you more spice than you need, so you can save up the extras and re-make the recipe later!) + carrots and hummus

Wednesday

Vadouvan shrimp with aromatic rice - Blue Apron recipe, again with leftover spice packet) + spinach salad

Thursday

Leftovers! Knowing I would have cooked some solid meals 4 nights in a row, there's bound to be some leftovers - and some lagging energy for cooking - so I planned in a break. Along with some roasted veggie of whatever variety I purchase at the farmer's market on Wednesday.

Friday

Skillet brats with apples and brussels sprouts - recipe from my new America's Test Kitchen last-minute dinners booklet, because it's quick and easy, and it's also apples and brussels season at the market

Saturday

Mini Greek lamb burgers in pitas (an old favorite Everyday Food recipe) + veggie from Wednesday's farmer's market run

All the meals usually also include whatever kind of fruit we have on hand - lately sliced apples or peaches from the farmer's market, or a bunch of grapes.

Whew, I think that we might be due for some takeout after that. But I'm hoping this motivates me to pull out some more recipes I haven't used in a while (like maybe this hummus chicken), and maybe to try something else from my new little cookbook as well. Plus I can use the lasagna idea again, given that we didn't actually end up having it (and Hendrik was bummed about that!).