It’s Sunday, so that means . . . time to plan another week’s worth of dinners! Woo-hoo!
I do not like going to the gym (bear with me, there is a correlated point coming). There is pretty much never a morning when I wake up and say, “Oh goody, I get to go take Cardio Sculpt!” I have heard about so-called endorphins for a long time, but I don’t know that I’ve ever encountered one. Once I thought I experienced runner’s high, but afterward I realized I was just dizzy and dehydrated.
Anyway, my point is that the only reason I go to the gym is to get the feeling of having GONE to the gym. Recently someone told me to visualize a happy place, and the first thing that came to mind was the feeling of walking down the gym stairs after finishing a workout—because it was over.
So you may not enjoy meal planning—and I certainly get that many people don’t. But on Tuesday night when you walk in the door at six and know what you are making (and have the ingredients!), or—in the case of this week—have leftover meatloaf for sandwiches on Saturday . . . well, then you may well experience the same feeling of accomplishment/relief/self-congratulatoriness that I experience walking down the stairs to leave the gym.
But hopefully you won’t be as sweaty.
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Cheesy, with a kick. There are some days when I’m dying for my kids to ask, “What’s for dinner?” because I know I get to say “enchiladas” and joy will reign throughout the land. Add a salad— or not (the beans make this an all-in-one meal).
Click here for the recipe.
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There's a reason why roast beef is such a classic. Economical, homey, and simple to prepare. Serve any type of potatoes or buttered noodles with this. Then maybe some roasted carrots or butternut squash to round out the meal, since the oven is on anyway.
Click here for the recipe.
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Meatloaf has an ill-deserved reputation for being boring (and maybe other things). Uh-uh. Feta, olives, and oregano make meatloaf super-duper exciting. Mashed potatoes make it total comfort food. Leftovers make it beautiful. Keep the theme going with a classic Greek Salad on the side.
Click here for the recipe.
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Here's one more reason to love that cast-iron pan: You will be amazed at the crust you get in your regular old home oven. You will also be amazed at how much your family can adore you. A crunchy light green salad on the side? Yes, please.
Click here for the recipe.
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People who read all the way to the end, I love you! (More than the Monday-through-Thursday readers, but don’t tell them.) This is one of my go-to dishes for casual crowd entertaining. It takes a long time to cook, but requires no work from you during the process. This is free time you can spend reading, dancing, sleeping, cleaning a closet, saving kittens from trees. Roasted potatoes and this roasted vegetable dish round out the big meal perfectly.
Click here for the recipe.
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BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE . . .
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Do you have meal-planning gripes, questions, or things you want to suggest? Let me know on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter!
No, you hang up first,
 
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