I guess technically, I’m almost done, but I turned in the final manuscript of my cookbook on Saturday. I still have two sets of review left, but that’s easy and enjoyable.

Then Sunday I spent the entire day in bed with a migraine. Not exactly how I planned to celebrate, but oh well.

Luckily, today I was able to finally take a big breath and exhale.

No more recipe testing and re-testing (and re-testing). No more long writing sessions at Barriques where I go home smelling like bacon. I can finally relax and ironically, what I am most looking forward to: cooking. Cooking dishes that I want to make and try just for the heck of it. Spoiler alert: Next week’s meal plan will include corned beef and cabbage AND a carb-free Paleo Reuben casserole. Yum!

No more obsessing about measurements and timing, yields, serving sizes, how to store things, etc.

Well, at least for the next week or so.

I’m also equally excited about sharing with you recipes on the blog. Yes, sometime soonish there will actually be recipes on this food blog. It’s been a loooong time!

But for now, I am going to throw dashes of spices in without a care, ignore the clock, and make whatever the heck I want.

Meal Plans:

Dinners:

Broccoli and Cheddar Frittata with Hashbrowns and Salad: The obsession with frittatas continues. I had a ton of broccoli left over from last week and some cheddar cheese that wasn’t going to last much longer. We had it tonight and it was quite tasty.

Ground Pork Meatballs, Sauerkraut, Sweet Potatoes, and Apples, and Green Beans: I am going to throw all of it in a slow cooker. I love pork and sauer kraut together! Thinking I might put some sweet elements in the meatballs like cherries and/or apples. Yum….

Book Club: Chicken Tacos and Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos: The chicken tacos are a recipe from the cookbook (Easy Mexican Chicken) and the Sweet Potato version is a new recipe. This may make the blog…..

Girls’ Night: Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip: I have been looking forward to an excuse to make this. This girls’ night is perfect! G will have Jimmy John’s with the babysitter and I’m sure Manatee will feast on leftover tacos. Is it bad that G recognizes the Jimmy John’s bag? Or that she can say Jimmy John’s (followed by yummmm)?

Panko Encrusted Tilapia/Baked Cod: This is a clean-out the freezer meal. It could also turn into a grill out since we are having such great weather. And by great, I mean 45 degrees. Why do I live here again?

Lunches:

Turkey Meatballs and Broccoli: I am going to ride the meatball train with Baby G as long as I can. Up until a week ago, I could barely get her to eat meat.

PBJ

Hummus and Tortilla

Pizza Quesadilla

Chicken Taco Quesadilla

Snacks:

Applesauce

Blueberry Muffins?

*****

What are you cooking this week?