Weekly Menu Plan Week 8 is full of such fresh summer recipes as chopped chicken salad, lemon grilled shrimp, vegan chili, soft shell crab BLT, and a burger that’ll knock your socks off! A fab coffee cake and fruity tasty beverage round out the week with pizzazz.
Happy Summer, Friends! Summer is in full swing here in northern Michigan, as evident by the the wheels on the summer DIY bus moving full steam ahead. It’s been a freakishly cold spring and start to summer vacation. so all of my outdoor DIY plans have been put on hold. That’s really fine because we’re still wrapping up the end of the school year, so the less distractions, the better! We did take a break this week for our annual Track & Field Day with our homeschool co-op. I ran the Soccer Kick event–no surprise there. Son #2 opted to help me keep my cones set up during the event, rather than to compete. I had the opportunity to work with nearly a hundred kids, so I was thankful for the help!
The other boys had a great time competing in their age groups. Son #1 ran the mile event against one of his besties from the soccer team. He desperately wanted to win! What is it with boys that turn everything into a competition? At least this was an actual competition and not some odd-ball competition that they made up on the spot. They ended up finishing in a tie for first place in the mile run, with a time of 5:32 seconds.
For. A. Mile.
I mean, I’m a runner but holy fast time, Batman! I’ve never run a sub-6 mile. Nor a sub-8 mile, if I’m being honest. Son #4 must also have the speed-gene because his favorite event was the 200 yard dash. Son #3 always enjoys the running events, but he especially liked the shot put because it was new to him this year. I’m sure that my boys got all of their energy from the Soft Oatmeal Scotchies Cookies that we had for dessert on our lunch break. Ha!
Last week was also the first time that the weather has been nice enough without a threat of frost, so the garden plan has been made to be implemented this weekend. Thoughts of gardening have me craving all of the fresh foods of summer. The Weekly Menu Plan Week 8 delivers that freshness!
Sarah/The Chef Next Door starts the week off with an easy Sesame Chopped Chicken Salad. Flavorful grilled chicken is chopped and set a top a bed of greens with a simple sesame dressing for a balanced weeknight dinner that’s ready in minutes.
This Grilled Lemon Herb Shrimp from Cheryl/Pook’s Pantry is made with an herbaceous marinade that pulls double duty as both marinade and tasty dipping sauce for the finished dish. Make an egg free Simple Caesar Salad to serve alongside the tasty skewers, and the shrimp will be ready to grill by the time the salad is ready.
I bring all of the sweet and spicy flavors to the table to carry us through the mid-week slump with my Sweet Heat Burgers. Homemade Jalapeno Cheddar Burger Buns hold the tender beef/pork patties. Lettuce, tomato, onion, candied maple bacon, my favorite sweet & spicy pickles, and tart cherry pepper jelly round out the whole affair. Bold and sweet undertones shine through every layer of this fab burger!
My girl Jenni/Pastry Chef Online helps us slide closer to the weekend with her Easy Spicy Vegan Chickpea Chili. The chili comes together in a snap with the help of canned garbanzo beans and store bought hummus. I love the “meaty” texture and spicy kick of this chili!
Nothing puts the yay in Fri-YAY faster than this Soft Shell Crab BLT from Susan/Girl in the Little Red Kitchen. Soft shell crabs that are breaded, fried, and then layered with copious amounts of bacon between slices of ciabatta bread? I mean, COME ON!
My baking bestie Sarah makes the arrival of the weekend that much sweeter with her Cherry Almond Coffee Cake. You know I’m all over any recipe that begins with the best Michigan Tart Cherries around. This coffee cake is an absolute Must Bake! Being that we are a nut-free house, I suggest substituting equal parts vanilla extract for the almond extract for a cherry-vanilla confection that’ll have you reaching for a second slice within minutes. If you’re crazy for tart cherries too, then I highly recommend making my favorite cherry pie as long as you’re in the baking mood.
If tart cherries are hard to come by in your neck of the woods, then Cheryl has it covered with her Rosé Sangria with Summer Fruits. A tasty beverage flooded with peaches, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries is the perfect summer sipper at the end of a long week. I’m usually not a fan of sangria, but all of the gorgeous fruit floating around might just make a convert out of me!
What’s on your Must Make List from the Weekly Menu Plan Week 8?
What other recipes would you like to see incorporated into our Weekly Menu Plans?
Come back next week for more delicious dinners in the Weekly Menu Plan Week 9!
