After a brutally long, hot summer, I’m finally settling back into some semblance of a routine. And part of that routine involves more intentional meal planning from my large cookbook library. I was pretty uninspired in the kitchen over the last few months, and finally decided to carve out the time to pull a few books each week, take an hour to browse, and create a weekly menu that is do-able but still enticing.

Part of the impetus for this effort came from feeling fairly disenchanted with social media recipes that flood my feed; some are great, but others are untested or are more about monetized views than quality products. Viral doesn’t mean good, sometimes. I decided that letting my library sit stagnant was just silly, and I needed to stop being lazy.

So let’s hop into this week if you are looking for meal inspiration. At the end of the week, I will update this post with thoughts/reviews.

Sunday

I made Lemony White Bean Dip with Roasted Tomatoes from Everything Delish (pictured above) for happy hour. I was testing this recipe for future hosting gigs, and it was a hit. Even my skeptical husband liked it. The lemon brightens the beans and the tomatoes have the perfect pop of sweetness and texture. I am also pretty sure this doesn’t contain any dairy, so it will be a good choice when our vegan friend joins us.

For lunch, I made a brie, bacon, and blueberry grilled cheese with fresh thyme. No recipe, just used what I had on hand.

Next, I played around and made what I am calling French Onion Beef Tips with Gruyere and Crouton Breadcrumbs. I honestly made this up as I went along after chatting with a local chef about idea for the upcoming fall menu at the restaurant. I need to test it a few more times but will eventually post the recipe once I feel confident that it is exactly how I want it. The problem with a gastronomy degree and chef friends is that when an idea takes hold, I obsess until I try to create it for real.

I paired this with a spinach salad with apples, candied curry pecans, goat cheese, and a maple-Dijon vinaigrette. Also Roasted Garlic Asiago Bread from The Bread Machine Cookbook.

Monday

It’s a busy day with workers at the house, so I will be making Thanksgiving sliders. I really don’t have a recipe for this per se. I layer turkey, gouda, (maybe ham), cranberry sauce and prepared stuffing mix onto Hawaiian rolls. Then I mix up some melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and Dijon, brush this over the assembled sliders and bake at 350F until toasty and gooey. I’ll probably serve these with honey roasted carrots

Tuesday

I will be retesting a version of my favorite glazed grilled pork chops, and if it passes, I’ll post the recipe later this week. To go with this, I am making a Sweet Potato Gratin with Blue Cheese from the book Gather and Graze by Stephanie Izard, and roasted green beans.

Wednesday

Feeling nostalgic, so I will make Chicken Divan from You Got This! (pictured above), which I will pair with French Onion Rice and biscuits with seasoned butter. The rice is the basic “stick of butter” rice all over the internet, but only use 1/2 a stick and it works out fine.

Thursday

Chili Lime Marinated Flank Steak and Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas also from You Got This! (pictured above), along with Mexican Street Corn (just out of the can with some cotija added for topping).

Friday

Chicken Riggies from Sip & Feast (pictured above) with roasted asparagus and some type of bread in the bread machine (also from the book mentioned previously), likely a rosemary or other herby bread. Just haven’t decided yet.

So, that’s the plan for the week. Check back for updates and reviews.