Before I get into food, let my glee burst through the screen because… FINLEY SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT! Seriously, I woke up at 5:45 this morning completely disoriented and certain I hadn’t heard her. What kind of mother am I?! I chastised myself.

Then David confirmed that she indeed had slept from 10:30-5:45 and y’all, I feel like a NEW WOMAN. Thus the caps and drama. But truly, amazing.

A few of her littermate parents and I also started a text thread yesterday and it’s been so nice to chat about all things puppies with them. What is working, what isn’t, what our concerns are, what are joys are… right down to what their stools look like. Ew, right? But just like a new mom group, it feels incredible to have support from people in our same exact boat.

Well shoot, now I realized I just said stool in a post about food, so I understand it you’ve already left this page, but in case you haven’t, let’s switch gears.

The season of life I am in right now calls for more “thrown together” meals and less new recipes. Like I shared in my mindless meals post, I’m only really making recipes that I’ve made forever and basically know by heart.

Here is what meals have looked liked over the past two weeks (minus the pick up pizza, take out Indian, and Mexican night out because I couldn’t get it together enough to cook during Finley’s first few days with us).

Let’s start with last night’s dinner. My body has been craving some varied veggies, so I made it happen with some of my favorite quick cook options- roasted asparagus and sauteed onion and chard. Paired with easy lemon dill salmon, I was able to make this meal quickly and we all ate dinner at 5:15 before splitting for soccer and basketball practices.

Another mindless meal for me is marinated chicken and noodles; a kid favorite. I marinate the chicken in the morning, then just grill it in the evening and put it over the noodles. I have also been shortcutting broccoli lately by chopping and putting it in a Pyrex with about a half inch of water, then microwaving for 4 minutes. Afterwards I sprinkle on an herb salt blend with a little melted butter. It’s good and super easy.

David bought a HUGE brisket from a local meat processor and we cut it into 3 slabs for him to sous vide. Apparently it should take 34 hours, but he made it work in about 22. However, the third slab is still in the freezer, vacuum packed, and ready to be tossed into the water bath at any point, so I’m happy to have an easy meal at the ready. Paired with the giant Caesar salad kit from Costco because it’s delicious.

We interrupt these dinners to bring you the kids’ favorite snack lately. Naan bread (I buy the big pack at Costco) with peanut butter, banana, and honey.

I don’t eat this every morning, but it’s always good when I take the time to make it. A veggie egg scramble (this one had baby spinach, onion, and mushrooms) with sriracha and a mini avocado (love the size of the minis) on the side.

Always a favorite, mom’s spaghetti sauce. I was trying to use up the fridge and wanted a lower carb option, so I put it over some simply sautéed purple cabbage with herbs from my Aerogarden and ended up really liking the combo!

Have you tried this red lentil and carrot curry yet? I love how quickly it cooks and that the kids like it, too (scooped up on naan bread like a dip). I’m trying to get turmeric in our meals at least 2 times a week and this one is warm and comforting.

I always get a pork butt in my Butcher Box order because crockpot pulled pork is truly the easiest dinner. I made a simple slaw and put it with dill pickle kraut. SO good, especially when you take the extra step to lay the pork out on a baking sheet and convect or broil it for a few minutes so it’s a little more crisp than soggy.

It’s a labor of love to take out the tendon of tenders and dredge them and bake them, but it was worth it because these were so good. I loosely followed this recipe. Everyone loved them. David dipped in BBQ, the girls, ketchup, and I ate mine buffalo style over a simple salad.

That’s a quick peek into what we’ve been eating. I really want to do better about varying our veggies (thus last night’s chard and asparagus), but sometimes broccoli is just easiest, you know?

Have you been eating anything delicious lately? A friend on IG sent me a recipe she’s loved lately for Hawaiian meatballs over coconut rice and I’m going to have to try it because doesn’t that sound delicious?!