Menu Plan for Week of July 21-27, 2019

Hot enough for you?  I think most of us would say, "YES!"  Definitely ice cream weather!

This summer has flown by, I just cannot believe we are in the last full week of July!  My daughter goes back to work teaching TOMORROW already!  The grandkids go back in 2 weeks, so I will be heading over there to supervise them during the day.  I have a feeling grandpa will be taking the little one to the pool most days.  The older two are in marching band at the high school, and have practice most days all day long.  We may find some time for a little back to school shopping, too!  I always love shopping for new school supplies and clothes!  This year we have a senior in high school, a sophomore, and a third grader.  Unbelievable!

This week's menu continues to focus on not heating up the kitchen.  Although we are in for a short cool down, it only lasts a couple days and then back up to the upper 80's.  Since I'll be watching the kids for a couple weeks, I also need quick to fix meals, or foods I can prep early in the morning and finish quickly when I get home.

One thing you may notice is that I went back to breakfasts.  I am still eating a lot of fruit in the morning, but we were getting a little bored with just fruit.  So I kicked it up a little to break the monotony.

Here is this week's menu plan:
For a printable copy, please click HERE.
Recipe links and notes are below.

Sunday:
Pork Chops with Parmesan Sauce is from Taste of Home - these are skillet pork chops, no oven required.  I usually make 8 pork chops so we can have leftovers for lunch.  I double the sauce.  To make the sauce gluten free, I heat the milk in the skillet, and then whisk in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch dissolved in some water and cook until it thickens.  This is in place of the flour.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie is from Recipes Simple - I made this yesterday afternoon, and tweaked it so it is gluten free.  I made a Cinnamon Chex crust that is no bake, and the rest was gluten free. I sliced the strawberries instead of putting whole strawberries into the pie.  Last night I wanted to try it, but it was still pretty soft and didn't want to cut.  It wound up being a scoop of pie.  I will try it today and see if it slices better.

Monday:
Chicken Fried Rice is from Mantitlement - this is so good, and there are quite a few fried rice recipes on this site that sound so good!

No Bake Lemon Cheesecake is from Together As Family - another cold, creamy dessert that I will tweak to make gluten free.

Tuesday:
Gluten Free Biscuits and Gravy is from Hello Gluten Free - gluten free sausage gravy doesn't have to be complicated.  This recipe is just perfect for me.  And full disclosure, I probably won't make the biscuits but will serve the gravy over toast.  I will try the biscuits when the weather cools!

Thursday:
Creamy Pea Salad is from The Recipe Critic

Gluten Free Banana Pudding is from Let Them Eat Gluten Free Cake - I wasn't able to find the Schar gluten free shortbread cookies when I went shopping, so I am subbing gluten free vanilla wafers from Kinnikinnick

Saturday:
Oatmeal Cookie Baked Oatmeal is from Budget Bytes - I know, I caved and will use the oven!

Easy Tiramisu is from Kitchen Nostalgia - I couldn't find gluten free ladyfingers anywhere, or a reasonable substitute, so I might just make this regular and not gluten free.

So that is a wrap for this week!  I hope you find a recipe or two to use for your dinners this week!  Have a wonderful week!

Weekly Menu Plan Week of July 14-20, 2019

Remember when I used to post menus for every week?

It seems like a long time since I've been here! It's so nice to be back and getting back into my routine again.

We are definitely into summer now.  The forecast is for the 90's all week, and it is a dry heat here.  I can't believe I am actually saying we need rain, after all the rain we had this spring!  But it is pretty dry out there right now.

In the summer, I like to keep my house, including the kitchen, cool.  That means minimal baking for me.  I try to keep meals simple, and desserts cold.  I use the grill a lot, and I love stovetop cooking for the summer months.

This week, I have an easy menu plan that features very little oven time.  When I do bake in the summer, I usually get it done early in the morning.  There are a couple new recipes for me to try here, especially the shrimp boil.  I have been wanting to try one, so this week I will give it go!

Here is the menu plan for this week:
To get a printable menu, please click HERE.
Recipe links and notes are below.

Sunday:
For dinner, I make this sandwich just like a BLT but add turkey lunchmeat.  For my sandwich, I use gluten free bread.

Monday:
Sausage, Broccoli, and Rice Skillet is from Mom on Timeout

Apple Crumble Pie is from Joy Food Sunshine

Tuesday:
Seafood Pasta Salad is from Food.com - glad Food.com is back!  I didn't really understand the whole Genius Kitchen thing, but glad they have gone back to what works.

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake is from Bonitappetit

Thursday:
Classic Chicken Salad is from Dinner Then Dessert

No Bake Cherry Yum Yum is from The Country Cook

Friday:
Keto Instant Pot BBQ Ribs are from Beauty and the Foodie

Saturday:
Country Shrimp Boil is from Lady Behind the Curtain

And that's it for this week!  Easy and cool!  I hope you can find an idea or recipe here that you like! Have a great mid-July week!

Long Time No See

Did you notice I haven't been here in weeks??  I was away from home and my computer, watching grandkids while their parents were away on a dream vacation.

But I'm back home again, and I can say that everyone had a great time, including myself!  Although, it is good to be back home and back to my old routine!

While I was away, I didn't blog, for a number of reasons.  I needed a little break--and I sure got one!  During that time, I decided I wanted to change my blog, but couldn't decide how to do that.

So, I started a new one!  It is called Grammy's Apple Pie Cottage, and it is brand spanking new!  It is going to be the where I share a daily devotion, recipes, and my sewing projects.

This blog, The Spirited Life of Grammy, is going to be only for my menu plans, which will resume this weekend.  I will continue to post them as I have for the past year or so.  

For my new blog, I was wanting a place like Grandma's kitchen or front porch.  A place where you could visit and take away a recipe or a good, comfy feeling.  This world is a crazy place, and more and more I think we all need a place to go that gives us some light, some comfort, some relaxation, and some refreshment.  And something good.  Something that gives us the feeling we had when grandma wrapped her chubby arms around us and hugged us close.  A cookie jar kind of blog.

So that is what I aim to make it.  Unapologetically Christian and wholesome.  Something for your mind, your heart, your mouth, and your hands.  And hopefully you will find something there that will bring you a smile!

Here is the link to take you to my new blog:  Grammy's Apple Pie Cottage    

Drop by and visit soon!  There's not much there now, but I will be adding posts regularly!

And I will see you back here this weekend with my menu plan for next week!