Well, we made it through the first week of school! Claire and Avie headed back, and so did I, which meant we were all adjusting to earlier mornings, new routines, and getting back into the school-year groove. Matt also unexpectedly had to leave town to deal with an issue with a customer, so the week didn’t go quite as planned. Thankfully, we didn’t have too many after-school activities yet, which made easing back into our routine a little easier. For Menu Planning 8/23-9/5/26, I’m leaning into meals that feel manageable on busy weeknights. We’ve got plenty of comfort food, a few easy dinners, and, of course, some desserts thrown in. Priorities! Haha!
- 8/23-8/29
- Apple, Cheddar, and Red Onion Panini
- Slow Cooker Dumplings (I recommend no extra water and a bag of frozen mixed veggies)
- Pierogi casserole
- Caramelized Zucchini and Sausage Pasta*
- Mint Chip Sheet Cake*
- 8/30-9/5
Recipes Worth Making Again
I’ve also had a few recent recipes that deserve a mention because they were definite winners!
- Alabama Chopped Chicken Sandwich– Although this required a bit of effort with all the chopping and making the sauce, they were worth it! The filling is really good as a wrap or on a bed of lettuce, too.
- Raspberry Lemonade Bars– I made a double batch of these and I am glad I did. They are so fresh tasting and a perfect summer dessert.
- Key Lime Pie Dump Cake– You can make these as a dump cake (what I did) or as a layered bar. My family enjoyed these with whipped cream on top.
Wrapping Up Menu Planning 8/23-9/5/26
With school officially underway, I’m sure our evenings will only get busier from here. For now, I’m grateful we had a relatively quiet first week to get ourselves back into a routine—even with the unexpected curveball of Matt having to leave town!
Hopefully, Menu Planning 8/23-9/5/26 gives you a few ideas for your own late-summer and back-to-school dinners. I’m always looking for that sweet spot between something my family will enjoy and something that doesn’t have me spending the entire evening in the kitchen.
What’s on your menu this week? And have you transitioned into fall comfort food yet, or are you still firmly in summer-food mode?
