Menu Plan: June 26th

Are you ready for a new week? I am. Don't get me wrong, I would gladly go back to the beach and fall asleep to the sound of the waves and the boys laughing at the sea gulls, but that will just have to wait until next time. Alex actually told me at lunch that going to the beach yesterday only made him want to go back again. And soon. It's not the Marshall Islands, but it's as close as we can get right now.

Right now life is good. I have been feeling stronger and healthier than I have in a long time. The boys are keeping us busy. Davids schedule for the most part has been good and having him home in time for dinner is always a nice change. Speaking of dinner, this weeks menu is pretty simple.  

It's not the most exciting menu that's for sure. But it has been a struggle to keep up with the boys crazy summer appetites. They asked if this week we could have more "heavy" foods. They are meat and potatoes kinda boys. Salads and fish just aren't cutting it for them I guess. HA!

The boys love the Monster Meatloaf. It might be the healthier version but it is our favorite and pairs perfectly with a big salad. The Parmesan Crusted Chicken is the new recipe this week. Fingers crossed it's as good as it looks! I don't eat much been anymore but every now and then I like to throw it in there. This Beef and Broccoli recipe is the closest I could get to the way Dad made it for us a kids. He always said, just make it however you want but you have to add the oyster sauce. There you have it folks, it really does make all the difference. It also makes it salty. The Homestyle Hamburger Macaroni is another recipe of Dads. He wrote the recipe out for me on the back of an index card for my recipe box the first time he came to visit David and I in Florida. Its one of the only recipes that he used store bought sauce for. This is what he would make for us when we asked for Hamburger Helper like normal people had. This is why I am the way I am! 

Dad has been on my mind so much lately. July brings us our 5th year with out him and my heart is extra heavy. I still pick up the phone to call him. I miss bouncing recipe ideas off of him and talking about the weather. I wish he was here to help my brother through this storm that he is in the middle of. I wish I could have seen him in the kitchen cooking with my boys. Not a day goes by that I don't miss him. But there is a good chance he is with me every time I make dinner.  Looking over my shoulder as I cook. 

What's on your menu for this week?