Let’s talk about food.
Dinners for the Week of October 9-October 15
- Rosemary, Goat Cheese, and Chicken Mac & Cheese: With all my talk of microwave mac & cheese last week, I have talked myself right into a craving for this creamy, cheesy, slightly elevated take. I have made a variation on this pasta many times before, and yet somehow I cannot find reference to it anywhere on my blog. So. I’m not sure where the original recipe came from, but the one I linked to is similar. I always found it a teensy bit bland, though, so I typically start with a diced onion, and sauté that with lots of garlic, and then remove it all from the pot before adding in the cream and rosemary. In years past, I may have also cooked up a slice or two of bacon in the pot prior to the onion, but that seems like a trouble too far for me to deal with this week. There is a dearth of veggies in this dish, unfortunately… so I will probably toss together a side salad, and/or maybe I will throw some veggies into the pot with the pasta. (Peas? Mushrooms? Mushrooms and asparagus, as in this recipe?)
- Chipotle Beer BBQ Chicken: Our weather continues to be extraordinary, and I spent three hours cleaning the built-in grill that came with the house (I am reasonably sure it had never been cleaned once since the house was built in 2000), so I want to use it. This recipe sounds fun and different. I think my husband would love the creamed corn that accompanies this recipe, so maybe I’ll try that, too. But I would prefer some zucchini or asparagus. (Yes, I realize this entire meal is SUMMERY and we are full on into fall, but the heart wants what it wants.)
- Honey Garlic Salmon and Brussels Sprouts: We haven’t had a single sprout in the new house. It’s time to correct that.
- Slow Cooker Mushroom Soup with Sherry: This uses a LOT of mushrooms and more sherry than I’ve ever seen called for in a recipe (not to mention shallots!), but it sounds so wonderful. Rich and creamy and mushroomy. I can roast a chicken breast for my husband, so he feels like it’s A Real Meal, and maybe make a salad on the side.
- Tacos: Tacos were the first Real Meal I made in our new home, and it’s been a few weeks since we had them. Time to add them to the meal plan once again.
What’s your favorite seasonal fall food? What summer food do you lament the lack of until summer rolls around again?
Ohhh yes! The mac and cheeeeeese!! I want to make this right now. I miss lovely salad greens the most– and corn. And watermelon.
This mac and cheese is really so good, Sarah. And the leftovers are yummy as well!
As a lifelong New Englander, I love a baked apple dessert (crisp, cobbler, pie) and the arrival of soup/stew season. A chilly dinner on the deck with soup and bread and warm fall dessert is a dream! From summer, I miss the ease of quick grilled dinners (but more so because my guy doesn’t like to grill when it’s chilly and I’m still not allowed to after a couple of grill incidents haha)!
I loooooove apple desserts. So yummy! Your comment has put me in the mood for an apple crisp.
My favorite fall food is pumpkin bread, not really a particular meal. I’ve made three loaves already this fall! I guess I miss, yeah, grilled summer foods like chicken/veg kabobs, once it gets too cold. But so far here, it’s *just right* temps for enjoying outside, so maybe we’ll do some grilling in the next couple of weeks.
Your menu looks amazing, esp. that mac & goat cheese!
Pumpkin bread sounds yummy! I may have to try that out!
I’m at my parents’ house, but when I get home I plan to make those fall spiced cookies you linked to last year!
Ooooh yes! I forgot about those! Good call!
Mmm, can I come over for the mushroom soup? Phil is not picky generally but he will not eat mushrooms or chunky tomatoes. So mushroom soups are out. I can work around the chunky tomato issue!
The weather has really really cooled off here so we are really in soup/comfort food mode. Last night I made that chicken tikka masala with cauliflower and peas that you’ve made, tonight I am making a sweet and smoky chili and then tomorrow we will grill brats and have that with corn. Of course these are meals the adults will eat. My children won’t eat any of those meals. It’s maddening but so it goes. I have book club Wed night and then I travel for work on Thur/Fri so we are really front-loading our meals for the week!
yum! I love that tikka masala. I need to put it on a meal plan in the near future.
I love mac and cheese although I’m not sure how I feel about chicken in it. I do love goat cheese though! Fall food, soups and chili. I’m making some chili and cornbread this week to take on a “campering” trip to see the eclipse. My boyfriend is really into it whereas I’m just along for the adventure.
I think it would be great without the chicken. I tend to add chicken so my husband feels it’s A Real Meal, lol.
We do all the soups in the fall. Squash soup, potato leek soup, pumpkin soup. I think I’m going to try some sort of taco soup, too. Soups! It’s what’s for dinner!
Also, we can’t have pasta because of my husband’s weirdnesses and I sometimes dream I’m swimming in a pool of mac and cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking about a creamy baked mac and cheese. Oh, man. I hope it’s glorious and delicious.
I am a big fan of soups and stews and will be ramping that up again in the next few weeks.
I love all sorts of salad in the summer and those go on the backburner during the cooler months.
I just read Nicole’s comment- I’ve been trying to remember who it was that linked that fall spiced cookies (so it was you!) I have a feeling those will be making the rounds again- I might make them this week!
A great menu lineup as usual. I am, as you know, amazed how you can plan these meals ahead. I’d enjoy every one of them.
Oh goodness, that mac and cheese looks amazing!
It was almost 90 here on Sunday, and then Monday didn’t reach 70, so while it’s not quite Fall Weather, it’s a lot better than it was. I love autumn meals.
We had tacos last night. “Taco Tuesday” is my fave day!
My fall food (when we’re in GA and it feels like fall) is usually White Bean Chicken Chili. I could eat it everyday.
I’m making spaghetti squash with broccoli and mozzarella on top tonight. That’s an early fall meal I often make. Later in the month I’ll probably make a pumpkin tureen. That’s a cheesy cream soup you bake in a pumpkin shell and then when you serve it you cut chunks of cooked pumpkin from the sides and put them in the bowl with the soup.
I miss the stone fruits, especially peaches. I saw some plums at the Co-op yesterday and bought a couple even though it’s late for plums and they may not be good. I took a chance because it might be the last chance.
We’re having tacos tomorrow because Eve is home and they’re one of her favourites. We had Brussels sprouts with Thanksgiving dinner. This also makes me want to repeat a lame joke I made at the pumpkin patch which would make no sense without context, so I will not.
I am also sad that peach season is over. You milk the nice weather all you can!
That mac and cheese sounds delicious and I would totally add peas and/or mushrooms to it so that you feel like you are being healthy! I like to put bacon in mine too. There is actually a restaurant here that is all mac and cheese called Homeroom. If you ever come this way, you should go; it is so fun! You can get hot dogs, or gruyere or spicy mac…there are so many options!