Our Menu This Week | Easy Make Ahead Valentine's Dinner

This Week's Menu

I love Valentine's Day week : )  This afternoon, I'm working on some homemade treats for us and teachers.  We're going to start our day with homemade cinnamon rolls, and after school, we'll indulge in some chocolate cupcakes.  We have a busy day with Emma's party at school, so I'm planning an easy make ahead dinner - Slow Simmered Ragu.  It can cook all day while I'm gone and it will be ready when we get home - Perfect for a Wednesday night Valentine's Day.  Dessert will be our favorite for any special occasion - Chocolate Molten Cakes.  They are easy to make for a small group.  The rest can go in the freezer!  The recipe links are below.

I make my menu on my Kitchen Tablets - love them.  Isn't that little French Green pot so classic?

Shop Tablets & LePens, here >

Last week's new collection featured a lot of new Family Dinner Essentials that make the daily routine easier and a little prettier - which makes things easier, right?  Some of my favorite ways to gussy up my kitchen is with fresh tea towels and pot holders.  Seriously - go look at your tea towels and your oven mitts.  I'm sure they've seen better days!  Why are oven mitts always the worst looking thing in anyone's kitchen?  These Classic Navy & White stripe have been my favorite for years.  They look great with the new Navy Block Print Tea Towels, too.

Our favorite way to dress up the table during the week is a pair of beautiful Beeswax Candles and a pitcher of something - berries, hydrangea, tulips, whatever you can find at the grocery store.  It will be the best $12 you spend all week.

Shop all of these Family Dinner Essentials, here >

Here's a little peek at our spring bulbs I've been forcing for a couple of weeks - they are starting to sprout!  These are daffodils.

And these are Tulips.  So fun to have a little Spring inside.

Poached Salmon & Vegetables

Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, I thought we'd start out ahead of all of the chocolate indulgences with a super healthy super tonight.  This has so much flavor!

"Homemade" Cinnamon Rolls

Tomorrow morning we're starting off with "homemade" cinnamon rolls (from frozen bread dough) for Valentine's Day : )

Slow Simmered Ragu

For dinner, a big bottle of wine and Slow Simmered Ragu - a house favorite!

Chocolate Molten Cakes

This is always my go-to for a special dinner at home - they are so easy to make, especially in small batches.  The rest can go in the freezer!

Rosemary Braised Pork with Spring Vegetables

Over the weekend, I plan to make this Rosemary Pork Roast - it is so unbelievably good.  It is hearty, but still feels a little springy.

Family Dinner Goals : This Week's Menu & Forcing Spring Bulbs Inside

Happy Monday : )  It feels like a Monday - in the best way.  It is slightly warmer than usual outside (but getting colder by the minute), grey and misting.  The warm, wet weather over the weekend made it feel like Spring should be just around the corner, but I know it isn't.  In the meantime, I am bringing some spring inside.  I finally got all of my paper whites cleaned out over the weekend - they were definitely on their last leg.  I replaced them with some spring bulbs.  I so enjoy growing something inside during the holidays months (paper whites and amaryllis), that I like to keep it going until spring.

These, on our dining table, are muscari.  On our baking counter I have a large urn planter filled with daffodils and a small terra-cotta planter with tulips.   I have a couple of more terra-cotta pots on my office bench with more tulips.

Emma and I also cleaned out my dead boxwoods in the windowboxes (DIY link) over the weekend (insert eyeroll).  I did it again.  I did not water properly through the fall and did not plant them in the ground before winter and now they are dead.  Again!  Two years in a row.  Twelve small boxwoods, gone.  Ugh!  I'm going to install a watering system to the boxes as soon as it thaws this spring.

Instead of boxwoods this year, we filled our window box planters with tulip and daffodil bulbs.  All of these bulbs, that we're forcing inside and in the windowboxes, have been chilling in our garage for the last two months.  As in, I bought them to plant in the yard this fall, never got around to it, so they've been in the garage - cold and dark.  Bulbs require 6 weeks of dark, cold space before they'll be ready to bloom.  

And on a fun note, and completely uncharacteristic of me, Emma and I picked a crazy assortment of every different type of tulip and daffodil bulbs.  So, we'll be surprised when they bloom - she's excited to see what they are!  We should have lots of different colors, shapes and varieties.   Normally, I would have picked a mass of the same, but I got a wild hair this year, I guess.   I'll transplant them into the ground after they bloom this spring, so I'm sure I'll sort them out when they go in their permanent places.

So, our family dinners will be around these bulbs for the next month or so.  I think they'll be a fun centerpiece and conversation piece each night as we watch them grow... and I think they'll be easy to keep moist, since we'll be staring at them at least once a day.  I'm going to guess that they will be watered by Emma's leftover water each night at dinner.

I like having seasonal, low-maintanance centerpieces on our dinner table.  It makes our family dinners feel like more of an occasion, without them feeling fancy or stuffy.  I love a casual, comfy table.  Here are some other easy centerpiece ideas :

Potted Herbs

Potted Violet (super low-maintanance)

Bowl of Oranges, Lemons or Cuties

Taper Candles (these are 6")

Forcing Bulbs Tips :

Chilled Bulbs : Buy chilled bulbs, or chill them yourself in a paper bag in a cold, dark spot.

Pea Gravel : I put a plastic container in the base of the pot (you want it to be able to hold water), then fill it with pea gravel.  Place the bottoms (where the roots are) of the bulbs in the gravel, then cover with moss.

Water : Add enough water to be just below the bottoms of the bulbs.  You don't want them to sit in water or they will rot.  You want to keep the water accessible for the roots to grow down and reach it.  The moist moss helps wake up the bulbs.

Sun : Place them in a sunny window and keep the water level just until the base of the bowl.  Really watering once a week or so it usually fine.

Alleluia, Mike is home all week!  For the last two months, he's been traveling a lot for work, usually 2-3 nights a week.  It feels like such a treat for him to be here for the entire week... which means I need to step up my dinner menu.  

Tonight, we're having pasta.  At least one night a week, I need a big bowl of pasta.  It is a rainy day, so today is the day.  This Penne All Vodka (plus shrimp) is a house favorite.  Lick your plate good and quick and easy.

I don't know why, but every January this comes into rotation.  It makes a ton, it reheats for easy lunches and dinners and is the perfect thing to make early in the week for busy nights.

Beef Drip Sandwiches

I can't get enough citrus lately.  I'm going to make this tomorrow during the day and have it ready to go after Emma's busy after school activities tomorrow night.  Yum, those roasted lemons....

Tessa's Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup

This is one of those comforting dinners that has a lighter, more springy feel.  The rosemary broth is out of this world.   More of a Sunday night supper recipe... on our docket for the weekend.

Rosemary Braised Pork

This Week's Menu | Finally Fall Recipe Weather

This week marks the first real week of Fall weather for us.  Finally!  Here is what is on our menu, to celebrate : )

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Homemade Applesauce

Baked Crispy Lemon Chicken with Basil Mashed Potatoes

Slow Simmered Beef Ragu | Tomatoes, Wine, Thyme, Rosemary, Cream & Parmesan

Salted Caramel Brownies

And my weekly batch of soup going in the freezer for lunches/dinner :

Chicken Noodle : )

Browse all of my Fall Recipes, here >

This Week's Menu | Slow Simmered Bolognese, Goat Cheese & Caramelized Pizza, Lemon Chicken

I can not believe it is already the third week of October.  My heartaches a little thinking about it.  The weather is perfect.  Skies are blue, leaves are gold and red, air is crisp - perfect.  I can not get enough of it.  We've been a bit on the run for the last couple of weeks, so I'm going to really try to slow down and relax this week - long walks with Emma and D, easy dinners that leave us a time to play outside in the evenings (before it gets too dark!), and less working.  We have nothing on our calendar for the rest of the month besides a couple of halloween parties and I couldn't be more glad.  Time always skips a little faster for me because I'm already working on packaging up Thanksgiving products this week.  There is a lot of wheat involved (hint, hint).  I do have a couple of more Halloween projects to share, though... I've been dreaming about some Peanut Butter Cup inspired Cupcakes that will come in the next couple of days.

Hope you are enjoying a beautiful October day!
Jenny

Slow Simmered Beef Ragu

This. Is. So. Good.  Tomatoes, cream, parmesan, thyme, rosemary, garlic, wine... all slow simmered with beef makes the most comforting, delicious beef ragu/bolognese.  If your family allows, add mushrooms, too... mine does not : )

Roasted Lemon Chicken Breasts with Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Vegetables

This is such an easy dinner - using chicken breasts make it simple and quick.  The lemon butter thyme sauce that the chicken cooks in is perfect drizzled over the mashed potatoes.

Lemon Orzo Soup

In honor of my blogger friend, Tessa's home being featured in Midwest Living Magazine's holiday issue (that is now out!) I'm sharing her recipe for one of our family's favorites - Lemon Orzo Soup.  I'll use the chicken from our Roasted Lemon Chicken to make it an easy dinner from leftovers.

Goat Cheese & Caramelized Onion Pizza

Homemade Pizza is much easier than you think... especially when you used pizza dough from Trader Joes :)  This will be mine, Emma and Mike will make a simple margarita with tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella.

This Week's Menu | Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Braised Cabbage with Goat Cheese & Homemade Applesauce

Well, this is the week.  The last week of living in our house, that is.  We will be packing up ev-er-y-thing we own, putting it in a Pod (hoping it fits...) and moving out for the next six months.  Trying to explain the process to Emma has been a little difficult - I keep telling her that Mr. John is going to come build us a new house.  In the next couple of weeks I'll share how we finally picked and hired a contractor and some of the lessons we've learned along the way.

For now, after I post this weekly menu, I'm going to finish up a couple of posts for the rest of the week (Bathroom Inspiration board included!) and some recipes... then, I'll be in the basement.  For the rest of the week.  Don't think I'm crazy, but I love packing.  I love cleaning out, donating and neatly packing everything up - fresh start.  I've resolved to keep only things that I love and know exactly where they will go in the new house.  Everything else will be given away.  I've noticed in this process, that I get a little more lenient with this rule as we go on, and have to keep reminding myself.  For those of you that have emailed - the Acorn Cookie Cutters should be back in stock by the end of the week!  Hope your week is off to a great start!

Jenny

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Homemade Applesauce & Braised Cabbage with Goat Cheese

Oh my gosh, is this good.  It is more of a Sunday Supper type of meal, but this week, I'll be making it tonight, on a Monday.  It makes great sandwiches for the rest of the week for Mike's lunch.

Chorizo & Vegetable Soup with Fancy Grilled Cheese

We try to do soup once a week, especially now that the weather is cooling down.  This is a great soup that has so much flavor!

Tomato & Goat Cheese Salad

Even though the weather is turning colder, it is prime tomato season.  I'll probably serve this salad with a grilled Flank Steak or piece of Fish.

Butternut & Beef Chili

I'm making this on Thursday afternoon, because it will a great thing to have for leftovers the rest of the weekend while we finish the packing.  It will be great to have a filling meal that is just a microwave away.

Weekly Menu | Chicken Stew, Autumn Chopped Salad with Shrimp, Leftovers Pasta, & Orange Chicken

This Week's Menu

I'm starting this week off by making my lists and getting organized.  It takes about 10 minutes and really helps me set the tone for the entire week.

First, I get my phone out and write in all of our obligations on the Weekly Planner Tablet.  I decide what nights we'll be dinner at home (usually 3-4 nights), takeout or out at a restaurant. Then, I reference the Dinner Tablet for ideas for each night.  I try to plan one dinner around leftovers (usually Thursday) so I don't have to go to the store.  Finally, I make a grocery list.  I don't buy for more than 2-3 days in advance.  If I buy too far in advance, it seems like we never make it to that dinner and the groceries go to waste.  So, I usually make a grocery trip on Mondays and Wednesdays/Thursdays.

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Above : Photo from Instagram this am, follow me here >

Here's my plan for this week :

Chicken Fricassee

This is my favorite chicken stew served over rice or egg noodles. It is one of Mike's #1 favorite - healthy, satisfying and comforting.  It would work great in a crockpot, too.

Autumn Chopped Salad with Grilled Shrimp Skewer

Grilled Shrimp or Chicken (or roasted butternut squash) turns this salad into dinner.  The dressing is so yummy.

Chocolate Chip Pie

This is just chocolate chip cookie dough in one of my mini tart pans.  Soooo good.

Leftovers Night :

Bolognese Leftovers with Cream & Peas

This is a surprising and delicious combo that I discovered at our local favorite Italian cafe.  The peas and cream completely transform it.  I usually have bolognese leftover in the freezer, or meatballs crumbled with some red sauce works, too.  Also, it is completely worthy of making from scratch.  Just add the cream and peas to your standard meat sauce.  15 minutes from start to finish.

Quick & Easy 
Orange Chicken

Emma LOVES this - and so do we.  I usually add a side of steamed broccoli and carrots on the side or mixed in.

This Week's Menu | Lemon & Chive Fish, Stroganoff, Chicken Noodle, Short Ribs & PB&J Bars

Good Monday Morning.  I'm having trouble getting to task this morning.  The house needs tidying up after a weekend of lounging and laziness.   To get myself going, I tidied up some easy areas in the house and snapped some photos to show some of my favorite unsettled moments happening right now.

I picked these Navy Blue Berries from our Privet bushes last night.  I love an easy 'centerpiece' that can dress up our table for the entire week.  Seasonal and easy and pretty.

My office is a bit of a wreck with piles of samples, note cards, and papers after the launch last week.   If I took a photo of what is below this on the actual desk surface, it would not be pretty.

Stacks of things pile up in my office that are constant reminders of things I need to do - like these new note cards that all need signing to go out in our orders : )    I am obsessed with the new navy color.

Thankfully, this room always looks about like this... unless there has been a fort or house made from the pillows.  Otherwise, it looks like this and it is nice to have one room in the front of the house that feels tidy and put together most of the time.

I am loving the combination of the new pillows and the striped throw in this room.  Playing mix and match with stripes and patterns always gives a layered and casual look.

Anyone spot Mr. Darcy's tennis ball?  They are all. over. the house.

This Striped Throw (in Stone) really adds a graphic freshness to this room.

Blue Hydrangea Block Rectangle Pillow + Beige Topiary 20" Square

The Chestnut Diamond Throw is so gorgeous.  It will be a staple in this room now through Winter.   I love how mixing the blues with the neutrals adds warmth.

How to Decorate circa 1996.  Classic.

These baking canisters really need to be washed!  But, I'm getting ready to make PB&J bars for an after school snack... so I should wait until later.

The Beige Topiary pillow found a home on the leather chair - love the combo.

I'd like to replace Mike's desk chair this fall, so I'm starting to think of options... since he is currently using one from my parents' basement and making it comfy with extra pillows.   I wouldn't mind something a little clean looking... maybe even slightly contemporary?  Or I could do a comfy herringbone and be done with it.  What do you think?


This Week's Menu

With the school routine in full swing, I've also been working on indexing all of our favorite go-to dinner ideas.  You can find it here : Dinner Ideas Index.  There is also a photo/tab in the Recipes Index.

It is basically a photo index of my Dinner Planning Tablet.  The tablet is a list of all of our favorite dinner ideas that will help you organize your meals for the week.  When I use the tablet, I'm always reminded of something we haven't made in a while or an easy dinner that I forget about.

Dinner Planning Tablets >

Lemon & Chive Roasted Fish & Vegetables

I like to start the week off with something light and fresh - and really easy.  This Lemon & Chive Roasted Fish & Vegetables is all made on a sheet pan.  Everything is layered onto a sheet pan, and then it roasts in the oven for about 25-30 minutes.  A delicious sauce accumulates in the bottom of the pan to pour over when serving.  So yummy, fresh and easy.  

Beef Stroganoff

This is my favorite dinner (beside spaghetti).  Surprised?  It is Emma and Mike's favorite, too.  Why? It is like being kid.  It is easy and Old School, and everyone (except my sister) loves it.  

Chicken Noodle Soup

Once a week I am making soup.  I make a really large batch of it and put individual portions (in my Kitchen Containers) in the freezer to get out for lunch or easy dinner.  This is a classic and Emma's favorite.  If you have never tried making Homemade Chicken & Noodles, you are missing out - it is so easy.  If you make it from a rotisserie chicken and it is ready in 20 minutes.

Chicken Fricassee

A classic, creamy French Chicken stew served over rice.  The aroma from this will knock yo off of your feet.

PB&J Bars

I'm trying to make a homemade snack once a week that we can have after school.  These are sooooo good.  I might be known to eat them for breakfast, too.

Sunday Short Ribs

Fall Sundays are for Short Ribs.  They go in the oven, cook for hours and make the house smell delicious... can you hear the football game in the background?  So many warm and cozies...