(More) Meal Planning, Recipes, and Music {7qt}

--1--

We've had to turn the air conditioning on every day this week, so I maintain that we're still firmly in the grip of summer. I won't begrudge you your pumpkin decorations (I mean really, pumpkins are so pretty!) but we've reached my least-favorite part of the year:

When you can't trust any baked good *not* to have nasty pumpkin hiding in it. WHY would you ruin a perfectly good chocolate chip cookie by putting pumpkin in it???


--2--

I'm much more of an apple person, and we're headed to the orchard today to get a bushel of the best apple ever, honey crisp. I really only like honey crisp raw, because I think it's a waste to try to cook such a delicious apple, so we'll pick up some other types for baking. This weekend is going to be cool, so I'll probably make my favorite apple crumble and maybe some apple cinnamon scones if I'm feeling *really* motivated.

--3--

Half of the 30lb watermelon we picked from our melon patch!

Speaking of food (I mean really, I can't stop... Blame it on the pregnancy, but I'm also just generally a very food-focused person), here's what we've been eating lately (not including pizza delivery, Aldi take & bake pizza, and Costco pizza ;))

Week of 7/31:
- BLTs + marinated chick peas
- Tomato soup + cheesy focaccia for dipping
- Quesadillas/rice/veggies with leftover pork carnitas
- Sheet pan chicken/potatoes/tomatoes
- Bacon Mac n cheese with green beans
- Chicken Caesar salad w/tomatoes & sweet corn
- Pasta w/breadcrumbs, caprese salad

Week of 8/6:
- Sausage & potato soup w/bread
- Enchilada casserole
- Homemade garlic bread w/cheese tortellini topped with bruschetta topping
- Yeasted Belgian waffles/scrambled eggs/smoothies

Week of 8/13:
- Pasta Amatriciana
- Tacos
- Roasted chicken/green beans/potatoes
- Charcuterie platter
- Pesto pasta
- Grilled flank steak w/sides

Week of 8/20:
- Chicken & black bean soup
- Pasta/meatballs/roasted broccoli
- Pork tenderloin/rice/tomatoes
- Pancakes/raspberries/smoothies (to celebrate a successful first week back to school!)
- Potstickers & egg drop soup

Week of 8/27:
- Instant pot braised beef/mashed potatoes/green beans (made double beef + potatoes & froze for easy shepherd's pie later)
- Costco pulled pork/corn bread/tomatoes
- Baked penne w/sausage/salad/garlic bread
- Homemade pizza
- Charcuterie platter

Week of 9/3:
- Ribs, sweet corn, roasted cabbage w/bacon, watermelon
- Bruschetta tortellini
- Tacos & refried beans
- Roasted chicken/potatoes/green beans
- Risotto & summer veggies
- Chicken/bacon wraps w/poblano-lime crema

--4--

I've been taking to Instagram Stories on Mondays (my one day on IG/week) to crowd source recipes, but if you've got good ideas for next week, throw them at me! It's been really great food inspiration to find out what other people are cooking.

--5--

A couple really awesome sales (affiliate links!) you probably don't want to miss - 30% off everything in one of my favorite Etsy shops and buy 2-get 1 Shining Light Dolls in honor of the archangels - add all three archangels to your cart and one will end up free at checkout! Here are direct links to Sts. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel.

--6--

We headed to our local music festival last weekend and spent a lot of time by the workshop stage because it was in the shade... Which meant the kids got a pretty good view of The Hillbilly Thomists and other groups! John Paul was ecstatic to get to "conduct" during one of the groups' presentations—they were amazed at how well he did, which cracked me up, because they have *no idea* what a ridiculous music brain that kid has!

Peter and Elizabeth were the only ones who were willing to stick it out in the ridiculously long free face painting line—I tried to convince Peter to go for something other than a butterfly, but nope. He really wanted a rainbow butterfly just like Elizabeth! He was *so* pleased, it was pretty adorable.

--7--

Now I've got to get everyone dressed so we can stock up on a trillion apples! Andrew's headed to a baseball game in DC with the big kids tonight... Pray for no rain? Storms in the forecast, and I don't want them to drive all that way for nothing!

Linking up with Kelly!