Meal Plan Monday: The Skinny Taste Cookbook

This week I'm cooking out of a cookbook that belongs to one of my besties, Virginia! When we were at her house last week for dinner I spied this cookbook and couldn't put it down. SOOO happy that she agreed to let me borrow it for a few weeks!

I'm cooking from The Skinny Taste Cookbook!

I'm loving my Sunday menu planning in my new kitchen!  P.s. - if you want to know when I got my personalized notepad just ask me for the details!

Okay so here is the plan for the week:

SUNDAY:

• LUNCH: Bangin Good Shrimp (p.116) & Less-Guilt Zesty Mango Guacamole (p. 118)
• DINNER: Orecchietti with Sausage, Baby Kale, and Bell pepper (p.181)

MONDAY:

• Pizza Night --- I worked late

TUESDAY:

• BREAKFAST: Cali Avocado Egg Sandwich (p.37) 
• DINNER: Turkey Bolognese (p.169)

WEDNESDAY:

• BREAKFAST: PB&J Overnight Oats in a Jar (p.23)
• DINNER: Mongolian Beef & Broccoli (p.190) 

THURSDAY:

• BREAKFAST: Corny Banana-Blueberry Pancakes (p.48) 
• DINNER: Italian Sausage with Pepper and Onions (p.159)

FRIDAY:

• Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and Broccoli (p.161)

SATURDAY:

• So Addictive Chicken Enchiladas (p.171)  

I'm also going to make the below dishes ahead for Matt and the kiddos to eat while I'm out of town next week:

• Slow Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili Verde (p.75)
• Naked Persian Burgers (p.156)
• Cubano-style Stuffed Pork Tenderloin (p.205) 
• Cheese Baked Penne with Eggplant (p.254) 

Kitchen: BEFORE

Today will be the kick-off for our kitchen "refresh" and I am SOOO excited. Here is a look at what the kitchen currently looks like:

Lots of pink and tan... I'm so excited to say goodbye to the tan walls and pink counters....

but most of all I cannot wait to get rid of the cracked sink that started it all!

Today this cabinet will be going byebye...  so that the counter can be updated when the granite team comes tomorrow morning.

The plan is to tile the entire wall and install chunky wooden shelves.

Oh and I bet that you are wondering what I settled on for the counter and back-splash after posting this poll on the blog... I went with the Herringbone Marble. More specifically we purchased this Bergamo Herringbone from Home Depot

I'm slightly obsessed with it and think that it pairs perfectly with the white cabinets and the soon to be black counters.

Fall Dining Table

So Last year for Matt's birthday I surprised Matt with a "Bro Dinner" for his 31st. Eight dudes got together at our house for a catered steak dinner, scotch tasting, and cigars...

I of course took this as an opportunity to jazz up the old dining room table... I mean guys appreciate a good table setting and floral arrangement too right???

Here is what I did:

I dug through the old photo vault because I'm hoping to recreate this arrangement for a dinner that my boss is hosting tomorrow night.

I'll be sure to share the final product for tomorrow! 

Meal Plan Monday: The Supper Club

At Emma's request I will be cooking from The Supper Club again

Here is a look back at the first time that I cooked from this cookbook for a week.

Emma loved the Asian Steak so much that she has been begging me to make it again for the last month!

Here is the plan for the week:

Sunday

• Dinner at a friends house 

Monday

• Leftovers

Tuesday

• Asian Skirt Steak (p.77) 
• Sweet Potato Pancakes (p.140)
• Haricots Verts with Lemon (p.151)

 Wednesday

• Turkey Meatballs (p.72) --- going to make ahead
• Spinach Squares (p.124)

Thursday

•  BBQ Chicken Paillard (p.68)
• Carrot-Ginger Soup (23)
• Roasted Asparagus (p.149)

 Friday:

• Roasted Turkey Wraps with Green Apples and Brie (p.35)
• Mini Pumpkin Cupcakes (p.165)

 Saturday

• Asparagus and Gruyere Pizza (p.112)
• Margherita Pizza (p.111) 

New Bible

So the last time I bought a Bible I was in College and I've just had the same one ever since never even thinking about getting a newer one. UNTIL... I saw this on Pinterest:

There are a ton of great Bible studies which focus on reflection and journaling and I am so excited to find the right fit for me. About two months ago I had found a Bible that I wanted on Amazon but it was sold out... I was SOOOO excited when I received a notification, earlier this week, that it was finally available!

Cannot wait to get started.

Cooking: pinterest

Here is how I did with only cooking from Pinterest a few weeks ago... since this time I've already been to Spain, Italy, London, Brussels, and Boston for work... so to say that this is a delayed post is an understatement. 


Sunday: TOTAL bust we were at Kings Dominion all day!

Monday: Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos - They were SOOO super yummy. The recipe only called for 1 lb shrimp though and we were left wanting MORE! I also did NOT make my own tortillas... Homegirl does not have time for all of that

Tuesday: Pizza - Gibson's Speech therapist came at 5:45 p.m. so I really didn't have any time to cook and I didn't want to be cooking while she was with us.

Wednesday: I had the day off and I made Herb and Citrus Roasted Chicken, and I totally made and BURNT Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Squash and  Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

 

Thursday: Chicken Fried Rice Yummy... I think that I would just use rotisserie chicken next time to make it even easier

Friday Chinese Take out... was feeling lazy!

Saturday: Did a TON of cooking this day... made the yummiest Pumpkin-Oat Chocolate chip Cookies  with Hunter! I will be sharing this recipe later this week. SOOOO good!

We also had some friends come over so I made Goat Cheese, Blackberries, and Honey Bites, Artichoke and Roasted Garlic Dip, Baked Brie with Garlic and thyme  for appetizers

This one is my FAVORITE

For dinner I made a variation of this grilled corn southwest Quinoa salad, Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa, and Lime and Chili Roasted Asparagus

Sunday: On Saturday I pre-made these items and we ate them on Sunday... for breakfast we had Pumpkin Spice baked Oatmeal with blueberries and for lunch we had the most amazing Slow cooker Skinny Cheesesteaks

14 recipes in one week... not too shabby!

Favorites from the week that I would HIGHLY recommend were the Blackberry and goat cheese appetizers,  Bank Bank Shrimp, Pumpkin and chocolate chip cookies, and the make ahead cheesesteak sandwiches!!!

So even though I have not been posting I have been sticking to my meal plans so I have a ton of posts to catch up on and share!

My Christmas Wish list

Sweet sweet Hubby... I would like EVERYTHING in this photo!

Some pretty flowers, Hunter Boots, and this Farm to Table Canvas (PS--- I would like it in 20x38, Slate, in a gallery black frame... It would go in our kitchen!... and sweetie please use this code --fallsimplified and gives you 15% off your entire order through the end of November.)

 Not sure if you all know this about me but I travel A LOT for work! haha I'm in need of a new small duffle for on the road

 

And I want to hang this light in our entryway... It might look familiar because it was on my birthday wish list too... Still like it Matthew James!

 

AND I still would LOVE for you to make this Coffee table

Favorite Things Friday

I'm a day late... but here are the things that have caught my eye this week! 

This sign is GREAT! The whole kitchen reno isn't too shabby but it was really the sign that caught my eye!

I cannot wait to try out this Chipotle Pumpkin, chicken, and barley soup recipe... I LOVE FALL!!!

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this kitchen remodel. Totally stealing some of their ideas when it is time for a full reno... TWO ovens/ranges right next to each other to give the look of a 60" YES!!!!!!!!!

Obsessed with this gumball machine

love everything about this fall tablescape but my favorite thing would be these copper placecards!