I’m writing this as we drive to my cousin’s wedding today. Such is the life of a multi-tasking mom, right? Thank goodness for mobile hot spots! It’s a busy weekend, but I’m taking advantage of the drive time to get our Menu Planning 8/9-8/22/26 organized and ready to go.
The girls and I have just one more week of summer break before school begins. However, that week will be full of meeting the teacher, setting up lockers, and all of the other back-to-school preparation that somehow makes the last few days of summer fly by. I’m definitely not ready to say goodbye to summer quite yet!
I still plan to take advantage of a bit of extra free time before I’m back to work by trying some new recipes. I’ve included a good mix of easy family dinners and a few recipes that I’ve been wanting to try. There are chicken, salmon, meatball, and beef options on our menu, so hopefully there is a little something for everyone if you’re looking for dinner inspiration.
Here’s what we’re planning for the next two weeks!
- 8/9-8/15
- 8/16-8/22
Let’s Discuss
Before we get too far into Menu Planning 8/9-8/22/26, let’s talk about some of the recipes we’ve tried recently. There were quite a few winners! I always find it helpful to look back at our previous menu plans and share what actually worked for our family, along with any changes I made along the way. Sometimes those little substitutions or shortcuts make a recipe even better—or at least easier to get on the table!
- Jerk Chicken and Mango Slaw Bowls– These were really good. I would recommend not mixing the mango into the slaw. It makes the slaw last longer.
- Dreamy Canoli Cheesecake Bars– I actually make these as a cheesecake and used a premade graham crust. It cut a lot of time off. I also added a ganache for the top which was delicious.
- Korean Ground Beef Tacos– Love that these are slow cooker. Very easy to make up. I quick pickle some carrots and red onions to add instead of cucumber (my cucumber went bad) and it added a nice crunch. If you want more vegetables, bell pepper works well in the meat.
- Baked Cajun Salmon with Avocado Lime Sauce– Last time, I wanted to wait until Matt was home to make this. It was delicious! The flavor was so good. I will definitely be making again.
- Peach and Bacon Salad– I made this as a side salad to go with the salmon. We had some peaches to use up. I didn’t end up grilling the peaches, but it was still really good! I liked the balsamic dressing with it, too.
Overall, we’ve had some really good meals lately. The Cajun salmon was definitely a standout, and I love finding slow cooker recipes like the Korean Ground Beef Tacos that make dinner easier on busy days. I’m sure those types of meals will become even more important once we’re officially back into our school-year routine!
I’m excited to see which recipes from Menu Planning 8/9-8/22/26 end up becoming new family favorites. If you’ve tried any of these recipes—or have an easy dinner you’ve been loving lately—I’d love to hear about it!
