We’re back from our 2 week road trip and even though I didn’t really cook much while we were gone I still…don’t want to cook. It’s too hot! I’m too uninspired!
Is a crisp, cold glass of rosé a substitute for a meal?! (Don’t answer that.)
But then I remembered I created the July meal plan to be LESS COOKING! More assembling! And this week is especially on point (until we have to pivot…).
First up: my grilled wings and you all…I did make these for my family while I was in Colorado. In fact, I made them TWO nights in a row because everybody loved them and they are so simple and satisfying.
Now for the pivot! Next up is my Zesty Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad! My favorite thing to pull together in summer is no-sad-salads. Salads that present nearly like a 4-course meal. That satisfy. That have you going back for more.
But when I planned this for the meal plan back in June…I could not have guessed we’d be dealing with a parasite that is keeping us from all things raw veggies (especially lettuce, it seems).
So we’re going to pivot!
Here are some new options for you if you are staying away from lettuce right now!
Skip the salad and do takeout! I’m sorry, but this will always be a valid pivot to me. You have my permission. Your Tuesday night just got way more fun.
The chicken for the salad is so flavorful! It uses rotisserie chicken (no cooking) and has a honey-lime dressing. Still use that, skip the salad and veggies, and do quesadillas, tacos, or nachos with the chicken!
One of my favorite things about becoming more confident in the kitchen has been being able to pivot!
Pivot when I don’t have a specific ingredient.
Pivot when I forgot to read the recipe and realized I needed to marinate something.
Pivot when…fresh veggies are giving us 💥💩 (I mean, this is a new one for me, but still PIVOT)!
Missing an ingredient? Look at what it's doing in the recipe (adding acid, fat, crunch, sweetness) and sub in whatever you have that does the same job.
Forgot to marinate or brine? Skip the wait and lean on a bottled dressing, BBQ sauce, or a quick 10-minute soak instead! Flavor now beats no flavor at all.
Recipe calls for raw veggies you're avoiding? Swap in roasted, grilled, sautéed, or even pickled versions of the same vegetable!
Out of fresh herbs? Use dried (a third of the amount) or swap in a different fresh herb you do have. It won’t be identical, but it’ll still add freshness.
No time to cook the protein? Grab a rotisserie chicken, canned chickpeas, or pre-cooked shrimp and build the rest of the recipe around it.
Just not feeling it? Permission to fully go rogue: takeout, cereal for dinner, or a cheese-and-crackers plate. Tomorrow's a new recipe.
The rest of next week’s meals are marked safe! From my Garlicky, Saucy Tomato Pasta to my In-N-Out Smash Tacos. We are eating really well next week!
(Did you know that for just $5/month, I send out a monthly meal plan plus each week’s grocery list? That is just $1.25 A WEEK to have your dinners planned, with a printable weekly grocery list. This is also a way to support my small business💛. You can sign up here.)
Here’s the Food Board for next week!
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