Current Protein Status
Used up today:
- Remaining steak from Sunday dinner
Still available:
- Small amount of leftover flank steak
- Chicken thighs from my mom
Hash Browns for the Win
This morning started with a fresh batch of bacon.
I wanted to get us stocked up heading into the weekend, so I cooked a full batch and then pulled out the leftover crispy shredded potatoes from yesterday’s lunch.
The kids were thrilled.
Honestly, bacon and crispy hash browns feels like one of those classic diner breakfasts that never gets old.
We rounded it out with:
- smoothies
- fruit
- bacon
- crispy shredded potatoes
And everyone ate really well.
I set up an early morning activity for the 3 year old this morning. Droppers, colored water, and a tray of ‘snow’ freshly made from the shaved ice machine! It worked SO WELL!!! I refilled the water tray 3 times before she said she was done playing with it!
Lunch: Using Up the Steak
For lunch, my goal was simple:
Finish off the steak from Sunday dinner at my parents’ house.
I took all the remaining steak and cut it into small pieces.
Then I used my favorite leftover steak method:
- very hot skillet
- pat of butter
- quick pan sear
The goal isn’t really to cook it again. You’re just waking it back up and getting those crispy edges.
Everybody went a different direction with it.
Teen Version
My teen made a wrap with:
- steak
- lettuce
- tomato
- onion
- mayonnaise
- cheese
Platter Version
A couple of my kids wanted:
- steak
- naan bread pieces from Costco
- butter
- fruit
- vegetables
Mac & Cheese Version
One kiddo wanted leftover mac and cheese alongside the steak.
My Lunch
I made a salad with:
- steak
- cannellini beans
- carrots
- vegetables
There’s still a tiny bit of flank steak left, but not enough to build an entire meal around.
Pool Afternoon
We spent the afternoon at the pool.
That meant:
- popsicles
- swimming
- sunshine
- happy kids
Then we came home and I convinced the 3 youngest kiddos to stay outside a bit longer with a popsicle and water splash pad bribe…it worked pretty well!
Dinner: A Simple Pasta Night
Tonight was one of those nights where convenience won.
I pulled some cooked ground beef out of the freezer and combined it with Rao’s pasta sauce.
People sometimes seem surprised that I use convenience products, but I absolutely do.
There are certain things I make from scratch and certain things that are worth outsourcing.
Rao’s falls into that category for me sometimes. I also like to make homemade pasta sauce…but not after a long afternoon outside!
Dinner was:
- spaghetti
- meat sauce
- broccoli
Simple.
Reliable.
Everyone likes it.
What I Eat on Pasta Night
People ask me all the time what I eat when the family is having gluten pasta.
Sometimes I’ll make gluten-free pasta.
Tonight I didn’t bother.
Instead, I grabbed some leftover roasted sweet potatoes from earlier in the week and topped them with the meat sauce.
It was delicious and took almost no extra effort.
Frozen Broccoli Trick
We were completely out of fresh broccoli, so frozen broccoli came to the rescue.
I split the bag into two portions.
Portion One
Microwaved plain.
This is for the kids who simply want broccoli to taste like broccoli.
Portion Two
My version.
I heated a skillet until very hot and added:
- bacon grease
- frozen broccoli
At first, frozen broccoli releases a lot of moisture.
You’ll hear more of a boiling sound than a sautéing sound.
Once that water cooks off and you start hearing actual sizzling, that’s when I season it.
Tonight I added:
- salt
- pepper
- garlic powder
- dried onion
- smoked paprika
- Italian seasoning
- liquid aminos
Then I tossed everything together until the broccoli absorbed all that flavor.
No, it isn’t identical to fresh roasted broccoli.
But for frozen broccoli, it’s really good and comes together quickly without turning on the oven…I typically roast frozen broccoli during the cooler months.
Looking Ahead
Current leftovers:
- Large container of spaghetti and meat sauce
- Small amount of flank steak
- Chicken thighs from your mom
- Broccoli
- Various sides
Tomorrow looks like a classic “use what we have” day before the weekend.