Happy happy Wednesday!
I always want to send you big love, but after yesterday’s blog post, I’m sending you extra BIG love this morning.
It is officially…
…Madeley’s 8th Gotcha Day, and we are going to celebrate as any fourth child celebrates any occasion…at the high school doing “big kid stuff” 😉 .
It’s HOMECOMING WEEK x TWO this year (what are the odds that BOTH high schools would have homecoming on the same day?!), and tonight is Bronco Fest at McKinney Boyd High which is a super fun family affair. Per usual with that fourth kiddo, she loves any occasion that makes her “feel big”, so heading to the high school is the perfect way to celebrate tonight.
Okay, settle in! It’s that time of the month for…
…this month’s LET’S LOOK!
If you don’t know what this is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). We have been doing this little linky party for years now, and it’s always one of my favorite posts each month because most of the topics are YOUR suggestions!
So far in 2024, here’s what we’ve “looked at”…
In January, we looked at HOW WE CLEAN OUR CLOSETS.
In February, we looked at LITTLE THINGS WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
In March, we looked at WHAT’S IN OUR GROCERY CARTS.
In April, we looked at OUR QUIET TIME/PRAYER TIME.
In May, we looked at OUR SUMMER CLOSET STAPLES.
In June, we looked at OUR SUMMER SCHEDULES.
In July, we looked at OUR FAVORITE PODCASTS & SHOWS TO BINGE.
In August, we looked at OUR PANTRIES & UPDATED TRADER JOE’S HAUL.
And today, we’re LOOKING AT OUR QUICK WEEKNIGHT DINNERS.
Well you guys, this post is going to be an easy one thanks to blog reader Bernadine for suggesting a few weeks ago that I post my family’s TOP 15 MEALS ON ROTATION IN OUR HOME.
Great idea, right?! Thank you, Bernadine!
It takes a village here in blog world, and I LOVE reader suggestions!
I looked back through my meal plans, asked my family and created a list of our TOP 15 MEALS ON ROTATION.
I find all of these meals a mix of simple ingredients + only a little prep time + pantry staples + easy to double + my family always loves it.
As far as sides go, we keep that extra simple and either roast a veggie, add a salad, maybe we make a side of guacamole…EASY!
Okay, in no particular order, here are is my little list…
SIMPLE SAUSAGE, PEPPERS & ONIONS
EASY WEEKNIGHT WEINER SCHNITZEL
GLUTEN-FREE MEATLOAF (can be made “with” gluten too 😉 )
And those are our TOP 15 DINNERS ON ROTATION 🙂 .
AND BONUS…today, I’m sharing one more that we can go ahead and call…
…MY EASY WEEKNIGHT SLOW COOKER TACOS.
You guys, this isn’t even a recipe, it’s just a solid idea on nights when you need an easy dinner. You can see that recipe HERE!
Now you know I want to hear all about YOUR top dinners on rotation!!
If there is one thing a big group of women can come together and help each other with it’s easy meal planning.
Please comment and share!
Okay don’t forget, coming up this year…
…next month, we’ll share HOW WE PREP FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON!
Eeeeeeeks!
HOLIDAY CONTENT, friends! Who else is excited about that?!?!
Don’t forget, if you blogged along with us today, please link up below.
I can’t wait to read your dinner suggestions!
Have the best day, friends! I’ll see you tomorrow! xx
Marisa says
The current fave around here is smoked sausage, rice, and salt and vinegar air fryer broccoli. Tastes just like a chip so the kids love it!! Bonus is they all cook differently but at the same time so 20 mins and done!
Kara says
Recipe for broccoli?! Sounds good!!
marisa says
So easy! Fresh Broc, takea splash or 5 of white vinegar and actually rub it into the heads (i dontlike putting liquid in my AF). Add some salt and pepper and any other spices you like. Let it soak for about 5 minutes to absorb, drain any excess liquid and AF on 400 for about 6-9mins. Sometimes when I flip halfway I add a few sprinkles of Parm. Hope that helps!
Nicole says
Yes please share the recipe for salt & vinegar broccoli! Sounds great
Kristen Thompson says
This is so helpful! My usual fallback on busy nights is just pasta and I am over that haha! Thanks for sharing!
Elspeth says
So many easy and delicious recipes! I love a good bowl for dinner plus any big salad! Yum!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Lorraine says
My go to dinners are: Thai chicken and broccoli over rice, steak bowls (you put a seared flank steak in the crockpot with a bottle of green salsa…so good and easy), BBQ chicken tacos (also in crockpot), green curry shrimp over rice, Thai basil ground turkey and green beans over rice
Polly Pover says
Just curious, does the family not prefer fish? Or is access to fish not that easy in Texas? Maybe the rotation changes when you are on the island. 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
We love fish when we can get it fresh, but it’s not high on our rotation because of where we live. I will sometimes still make cod, salmon, shrimp, etc at home here, but it always comes frozen and isn’t sourced anywhere nearby which is a big bummer.
Sheaffer says
Well, dangit! Now I’m starving! I’d love a cheesy baked taco right about now.
Vincy says
The pulled pork is always on constant rotation at our house! 🤗Thanks for sharing!
SS says
Happy Gotcha Day!!! It also our neighbor’s Gotcha Day too!
Wow 2x the homecoming…what a busy week!! Do your kiddos dress up during the week?? What is the most interesting one?
Have a great rest of the week.
Mix and Match Mama says
Awwww! I love that they share the same Gotcha Day!! Yes, both schools have dress up days 🙂 . I feel like I’m always a step behind though because both of my kids leave for school in their athletic clothes and change after 1st period. Kensington walked in the door yesterday after school and it had clearly been “cowboy/cowgirl” day, bahaha!
Ashley D says
Great post! I always love to see what others are making in their kitchens. I live here in the Midwest (FALL is almost here), and I love doing a crockpot roast. It’s pretty much a “Dump and Leave” kind of recipe. It’s perfect too if you are needing to feed lots of people. Here’s what you need:
-Chuck Roast(s) (2-5 pounds depending on # of people)
-1 packet gravy mix
-1 packet ranching seasoning mix
-1 packet Italian seasoning mix
-3 cups red wine (could substitute beef broth)
-1 onion, sliced
Slice your onion and place in the bottom of your crockpot. Next, place your roast(s) on top of onions. In a large bowl mix together your 3 seasoning packets with your wine or beef broth. Then pour over your meat. Cook your roast on HIGH for about 7 hours (depending on how hot your crockpot gets). Your meat will be so tender, it should fall apart. I like to serve this with homemade dirty mashed potatoes and honey butter carrots. Enjoy!
Carlie Brazener says
Dirty mashed potatoes? I’m intrigued. Can you share the recipe, please?
Ashley D says
I leave the skin on my potatoes, and cut them into small chunks. Boil in water until they are tender and put in a mixing bowl. I use my stand up mixer and add butter, sour cream and salt. I honestly just kind of eyeball this because it depends on how many potatoes you are using. I never use milk in my mashed potatoes because I think it makes them runny. I hope this helps!! 🙂
Natalie Alvarado says
Thank you for all the suggestions! I never mind cooking, but I hate deciding what we are going to eat every night.
Kacey says
Happy Gotcha Day Madeley!!!
Elizabeth Feldpausch says
The “why do they want dinner every night” picture cracked me up! Sunday, my kids were whining they were hungry and I said I cooked dinner last night and I made them and lunch, they’d be done without dinner 😆😆 they didn’t find the humor in it like I did🤣
I make a giant pot of my grandmas pasta sauce about every month and freeze it into portions so spaghetti and meatballs or baked pasta are so easy to whip up in a pinch! We also have tacos/nachos on an almost weekly rotation!
sandi says
Favorite meals in our home are any type of tacos… ground beef/chicken/fish/shrimp it doesn’t matter, we like our tacos. Tuscan chicken is another good one but probably hands down everyone gets excited for meatloaf night. My family loves my meatloaf!
The joke in our house was our fourth child knew the ins and outs of the high school better than our high schoolers. Now that she is a junior, she knows the teachers, all the short cuts to avoid the main stairwell and the least busy door at the end of the day. All the kids are equally loved (but some days I do have my favorites) but there is something about that fourth kid that everyone just loves.
PS: I am super excited because after a few weeks of emails I am hoping to chat with Brooke today and finalize a family cruise for our son’s college graduation!
Charise says
I made your white chicken chili yesterday for dinner and it was perfect and just what I needed with feeling under the weather.
Kristen says
I made your sloppy joe baked potatoes last night! It’s always a hit in our house, great recipe!!!
Katherine says
Happy Gotcha to your 4th kiddo! 🎉 Sounds like a fun & busy week for you all! Our go to recipe is called Beef Lombardy and it’s similar to lasagna, but made with egg noodles. It’s also got a nice kick because we use spicy Rotel in it!. There is also thankfully no ricotta cheese because that’s no bueno IMO. It includes 1 pound of ground beef, 1 can of Rotel ( spicy, medium or mild), 1 can of petite diced tomatoes, 1 can of tomato paste, sugar, salt, pepper, and a bay leaf. After the meat sauce has simmered for 30 minutes, you pour it over cooked egg noodles and sprinkle sharp cheddar and Parmesan cheese on top. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes covered and then 5 minutes uncovered to melt the cheese more. It’s perfect for potlucks, someone with a new baby, or anyone recuperating at home.
Elizabeth S says
Today’s post made me want to fix soup. We are looking at a rainy two days with Francine coming ashore. Soup would fit the bill.
Cathy Perez says
Such yummy recipes!
Beth Valenta says
Love a good fall meal plan! I plan for the week, only to have one person eat all of an item I need. Who eats a pound of swiss cheese in 2 days? My favorite easy dinners are potato soup in crockpot, chicken sausages from TJoes with peppers they have in frozen section already ready, and taco salads. Just now need to have a hidden drawer.
Jessica says
An easy one for us is crockpot potatoes and sausage. I use diced potatoes, and it’s really easy to throw together. We are also fans of loaded baked potatoes in our house with any leftover brisket or pulled pork.
Melissa says
We love making an Asian style fish. We mix sesame oil, coconut aminos, honey, lime, Sriracha, and ginger; pour it over a light white fish and bake it. It’s good over veggies too!
Jen says
My easy weeknight go-to’s are: Your crockpot beef enchilada for tacos, Meatballs in crockpot, french dip, chicken parm sliders (with rotisserie chicken), Greek chicken rice bowls, sheet pan chicken fajitas, slow cooker pork tenderloin.
Holly C says
Great recipe ideas, thanks ladies!!!
Marisa Patel says
My family does not like me to make any soup/chili when it isn’t cold outside and since I am in McKinney TX also, that means I am still struggling with non-cold weather dishes…haha I make a lot of tostadas, beans, and rice, or my husband makes stuff on the Traeger. If he does that, I make a quick side like roasted broccoli, potatoes, or rice.
Addy Robinson says
This is so helpful! We love the #1 tacos.
I just got this candle in Spiced Pumpkin Latte.. SO GOOD. I immediately thought of you. https://www.costco.com/voluspa-classic-candle,-9oz.product.4000257005.html
Erika Slaughter says
Cheesy Ranch Tacos are a family favorite around here as well!
Leslie S says
We do Mediterranean bowls, meatballs (ginger, Italian, etc) and in the fall we do stuffed baked potatoes (with bbq pork, taco meat, bbq chicken, sloppy joes, crock pot roast beef – then add various toppings).
Kelsee Polk says
Meatballs and some kind of rice bowl are always on our rotation.
Mandy Chevalier says
Thank you for sharing your sweet family stories with us! And I have been in a dinner rut, so this post came at a fantastic time.
Cara says
These look amazing! Can you do a blog post on how you come up with recipes? It’s something I’ve always been intrigued by those who create their own recipes! How you find the time I’ll never know…lol!
Sascha says
Great resource with all these in one place! Thank you!
Whitney says
Are you adding extra veggie side dishes to these meals? I don’t see a lot of veg in the pics and I’m always struggling to get more veg into my kids.
Mix and Match Mama says
For every entrée, I make a salad or roast a veggie as a side. So, for all of these, just picture a simple salad or roasted veggie along with it.
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Stacey says
The pulled pork is a go to at my house too! I also rotate in your slow cooker red beans and rice frequently, too!!