PAID MEMBERS: There is a FREE printable PDF recipe at the bottom of this post!
Current Fridge Protein & Leftover Inventory (Start of Day)
- Leftover bacon (four fresh trays from yesterday)
- Grilled chicken (last of it)
- Brined pork chops (butterflied, in the ziplock — ready to grill today)
- Smash burgers (1 leftover)
- Cauliflower from yesterday’s sheet pan
- Co-op lunches packed and ready in Planet Boxes
Morning (Out the Door by 7:30)
Car breakfast — last co-op day of the year, no time to sit down:
- Reheated bacon on a sheet pan at 350° on parchment — takes 3 to 5 minutes and comes out like you just made it
- Bagels
- My teen made her own — leftover oatmeal and a piece of bacon
- My 3-year-old had her Paw Patrol drink yogurt, as non-negotiable as ever
Excellent marketing by Paw Patrol. I’m not fighting it.
Lunch — Co-op (Planet Boxes)
Last regular co-op day of the year. Lunches were packed and ready — homemade beef summer sausage, sides, snacks. One of my kids also wanted a salad.
On the Planet Box, since it comes up every week and genuinely deserves it: the oldest one in our collection is as old as my 16-year-old — she started using it in kindergarten. I couldn’t even tell you which one it is because they’re all 100% stainless steel and look exactly the same after all these years. That’s the thing about them — they just last. And the lid situation is everything for co-op days. Kid says they’re full, close the lid, back in the cooler, done. No open plates, no baggies, no chaos.
Afternoon Snack (I Was Hungry)
Came home from a full co-op day and needed something before dinner:
- Leftover grilled chicken
- Yesterday’s roasted cauliflower
- Avocado and red onion
- Barbecue sauce
It just hit. Sometimes the best meals are the ones you throw together from whatever’s in the fridge. My 10 year old also wanted a snack so she ate the last smash burger.
Dinner (+ Prom Prep Chaos)
Our homeschool group’s prom is usually on a Saturday but this year they scored a great venue deal on a Thursday night. So after a full co-op day, we came home and immediately shifted into hair, makeup, and getting my teenager ready — while I was also cooking dinner.
For my teen before she left: She needed to eat something before prom and dinner wasn’t ready yet, so I made her my one pan chicken Alfredo with broccoli — quick, filling, and one pan to clean. (Paid members: printable PDF linked below.)
Pork chops:
- Pulled them from the brine, blotted dry with paper towel
- Coated in oil, let them sit out about 20 minutes to take the chill off
- Grilled to 140–145°, pulled and rested
- Sliced and served
Also made:
- Rice
- Roasted broccoli and veggies
My teen left for prom looking great. The rest of us sat down to a real dinner.
Chris came home (made his lunch for tomorrow) — he’s been gone all week again. I made him his lunch for tomorrow plus, naturally, a superb snack box. Homemade beef summer sausage, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, a dairy free Lindor truffle, and some crackers.
Post-Dinner / Looking Ahead
What’s in the fridge now:
- Leftover sliced pork chops
- Grilled chicken (nearly gone)
- Rice
- Chris’s lunch packed and ready
- I pulled some chicken thighs out of the freezer to defrost so I can make them for dinner tomorrow night
→ The brine was worth it. Pork chops were great.