How much do you love my menu planner from Rachel Mahan Designs? I finally have it up on the wall! Thanks, Rachel!

This week I employed a favorite meal-planning strategy – grilling once for two meals! We also had soup twice since Jay was home for lunch a couple of days and it’s nice to have those easy leftovers around.

Meal #1

grilled chicken thighs, butternut squash and parmesan orzo, steamed broccoli

Meal #2

baked chicken chimichangas, steamed green beans with butter and lemon (This was a new recipe, and I used leftover grilled chicken – I’m sure they would be great with the shredded Mexican chicken in the recipe. Also, I didn’t measure ingredients and overdid the refried beans. [Or maybe I don’t like refried beans…?] Also, I think I would rather have guac on the side, there was too much mush inside the chimi for me.)

Meal #3

beef vegetable soup, corn muffins

Meal #4

Our community group takes turns making dinner, and our friends brought over an Irish feast – silky cabbage soup, shepherd’s pie, Irish soda bread with buttery crunchy brown edges, and spiked gingerbread! Wowza. I meant to take a picture but I was too busy inhaling it (and trying to decide if I was obviously eating more than my share or if I was getting away with it). I attempted my own loaf of soda bread later in the week, so that’s what you’re looking at!

Meal #5

ham, potato, and corn chowder (recipe coming in a week or two – yum!), chocolate chess pie

What’s on your menu this week?