Last week was long, exhausting, and full of emotion. When I do not have my emotions together, I’m so glad I have my meals planned. Thinking of dinner is the last thing I want to do when I’m having a rough day.
If you need some easy meal ideas, check out my Meal Plan Monday Archives. If you’re weary and need some encouragement, check out the Daily Encouragement Archives. Feed your soul. Feed your family. I’ve got you covered.
Here’s what we ate last week:
Sunday: Leftover Mac n’ Cheese Lasagna
I’m so not above starting the week out with leftovers. Being a pastor’s family, Sundays are typically fairly tiring. My husband and I usually spend Sunday afternoon relaxing and resting for the week ahead. I don’t usually love cooking big meals after church, so was grateful for leftovers of this warm and comforting casserole.
Monday: Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
I never make meatloaf the same way twice. This time, I used Kraft’s method – which involved a box of stuffing and some bbq sauce. The flavor was good, and the recipe made two loaves, but it didn’t get as firm as I’d like.
Tuesday: Buttered Noodles
My husband works late on Tuesdays, so I usually let the kids pick our meals on Tuesdays. They were all begging for buttered noodles, and I was happy to oblige them with such an easy dinner.
Wednesday: “Cracker Barrel” Grilled Chicken, Cheesy Potatoes
We seriously CANNOT WAIT for Cracker Barrel to hurry up and open in our area. Right now, the closest one is about 400 miles away. We stop every time we go on a road trip, and just LOVE their food. This recipe from Dear Crissy, is one I make quite a bit, and it gives me the taste of what I’m craving. So so good.
I NEED to blog my cheesy potatoes – they’re one of my “go-to” side dishes, and so so tasty. (Horrible for you, but darn tasty!) =)
Thursday: Taco/Nacho Bar, Caramel Apple Bundt Cake
We had some friends over on Thursday, and I don’t know about you – but having company tends to stress me out. I worry about the food, the house….everything! This time, I decided to be SUPER simple and casual, and it was awesome! SO much more fun. I seriously just made a huge pot of my Crockpot Refried Beans, got the huge can of queso from Costco, made up some ground beef, and put out taco fixings. It was great. Everyone could customize what they wanted, and there was no stress!
You also seriously cannot go wrong with my Caramel Apple Bundt Cake. It is one of my favorite fall desserts, and something I love to make for company. If you haven’t tried it yet – go make it!!
Friday: Chicken Burgers, Fries, Best-Ever Peanut Butter Buckeyes
We had Family Night for the first time in awhile. We watched Bears (aff link), had a simple dinner, had a big fire, and enjoyed a few Buckeyes. Love these simple evenings just snuggled up with the kids.
Saturday: Skyline Chili
Today was a rough day. It was my grandma’s burial, followed by a million errands, and a first birthday party. It was just a draining day. It was nice to have just a comforting and quick meal.