Happy Friday! I hope this post finds you well and enjoying the summer. We are in the dog days of it over here in Charlotte – the heat and humidity is off the charts – but it’s something I’ll embrace because I deeply appreciate the massive slow down that summer has brought. A lot of my clients are traveling this summer so while I’m still teaching 10-15 classes a week, I’m only doing a handful of PT sessions. And gosh, it’s been a dream not to get up and rush out the door to school. I’ve been sleeping until seven on the days I have Finn and have moved things around to maximize the time I have with him.
I’ll share more about all of that in an upcoming “Life Lately” update but today we’re going to talk FOOD! I have a big round up of dinners that I’m excited to share with y’all!
STEAK NIGHTS
Finn can be a bit of a selective eater but the boy loves his proteins. He’s recently been asking for steak a lot so I’ve cooked up some strips and ribeyes. I always top mine with sauteed mushrooms because it’s one of my favorite combos ever! Other than that, I keep it simple with a veggie and a starch.
MISSISSIPPI PORK ROAST
I recently mixed up my tried and true Mississippi Pot Roast by using a Boston butt instead of a beef roast. It was equally as delish! This is a crazy easy slow cooker recipe. Cannot recommend enough.
LEMON PESTO PASTA
Love a pasta skillet and this one did not disappoint when it came to summer flavor with ease! I mixed together rigatoni pasta with sauteed chicken sausage, a package of frozen green veggies with lemon dressing and lemon pesto (veggies and pesto from ALDI). I finished it off with some parm.
ROASTED CHICKEN DINNERS
Roasted chicken breasts and green beans over orzo tossed in marinara sauce and fresh basil. Topped with Trader Joe’s calabrian chili hot sauce which is holy cow – so spicy! Finished with parm.
Ahh this was a fun one! I love yellow rice so whipped this rice up using chicken broth, turmeric and some other spices. Served it with roasted Trader Joe’s marinated chicken thighs, sauteed zucchini and sweet onions, hummus and feta dip. Drizzle of olive oil on top.
Roasted chicken breast, roasted green beans, quinoa, Trader Joe’s giant beans in tomato sauce (these things are unique and good), feta dip, hummus, parsley and basil.
SALMON DINNERS
Roasted salmon and cauliflower over a bed of hummus with kalamata olives and stuffed grape leaves.
Roasted salmon, roasted cauliflower, quinoa, hummus, feta dip, basil.
TRADER JOE’S “HELPER” MEALS
Trader Joe’s soup dumplings (these are delish!) over steamed rice with coconut aminos, edamame and sriracha.
TJ’s crushes it with their Indian meals!
TJ’s frozen cauliflower rice stir fry – add scrambled egg, ground chicken, coconut aminos and sriracha.
Trader Joe’s vegetable fried rice – add more Asian style frozen mixed veggies, shrimp and sriracha.
MEATLESS MEALS
Trader Joe’s frozen multigrain blend with vegetables, two fried eggs, avocado, hummus, feta dip and sriracha.
Steamed brown rice, sauteed zucchini, air fried tofu, Trader Joe’s yellow curry sauce.
Base of spinach and arugula, steamed rice, the TJ’s giant beans, hummus, feta dip, scrambled eggs and chili crisp. Little out there but it worked!
SPAGHETTI NIGHT IS ALWAYS A GOOD NIGHT
Another one of Finn’s favorite dinners! I always keep my homemade spaghetti sauce in the freezer.
FLORIDA DINNERS
Can you believe that these dinners are from when we visited back in April for Easter and my grandmother’s 96th!?
- Chicken enchiladas
- Prime rib, asparagus and popovers
- Easter ham, potato salad, buttermilk biscuits
- Low country boil
HOMEMADE PIZZA NIGHT IN FLORIDA
When your P-Paw makes you homemade cheese pizza and the most delicious black chocolate brownies ever! My pizza had sausage on it and I made a yummy salad with watermelon, beets and feta!
FLORIDA BALCONY DINNER
Finn had spaghetti and I had a salad with grains and leftover pork tenderloin. Finn couldn’t get over the novelty of outdoor dinner.
Here’s the pork tenderloin on its first night in action.
BIRTHDAY CARROT CAKE
We’ll wrap it up with a sweet treat! My dad baked a carrot cake for my birthday. (Finn didn’t approve so that’s how the brownies came into play lol.) There’s nothing I love more than a cold glass of milk with cake!
Hope you loved this and found some inspiration for an upcoming meal!
