Marin Mama’s Weekly Dinner Menu for April 21st

Marin Mama's weekly dinner menu - April 21st

You’re probably looking at this photo and scratching your head wondering why I have another birthday photo of Zoe. Wait, you didn’t know that we celebrate birthday’s monthly in the Grandy house? I mean doesn’t everyone do that? Ha, I’m kidding (though that might be a nice thing). Zoe had a belated birthday party yesterday. I’m finding that as the girls get older, the party planning gets harder, because the kids are involved in so many activities that it’s hard to coordinate a day or time where all the girls can attend. Even though Zoe planned this party in March, there were sadly still some girls that couldn’t make it. But if we kept holding out till every girl could make it, then the party might roll into next year. Kids are just plain busy these days. So let’s get back to the party, by request, I made our favorite chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting and we decorated the table in a very girly and spring-like pink and green theme (my two favorite colors).

Festive table setting for birthday party

Zoe planned the whole party, and I have to say that it was difficult for me not to micromanage everything (she actually did a great job though). She asked the girls to bring their bikes so they could bike over to the local outdoor mall to do some shopping and just plain browsing around. Before they set off, I fed them some cake and we sang “Happy Birthday,” and then they were off to the mall. I got a quick photo of them before they set off.

Zoe and friends

After a few hours of shopping, we took the girls out to dinner at DJ’s where we sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful, summer-like temps, and then we headed over to see the new Tom Cruise movie, Oblivion (so good). All in all, it was a fun-filled and jam-packed day full of teenage laughter and energy. I have to say that I really love this age that Zoe and her friends are at. They’re full of giggles, laughter, (lots of laughter) excitement, and have such a zest for life.

Eli didn’t want to be left out of this week’s post!  He had a great week as well. He had his school’s open house on Thursday where he posed in front the beautiful flower that he painted (see the green and blue one that he’s pointing to).

Eli with flower painting

Before his open house, I grabbed some of his peeps and we headed out to the local yogurt   shop for an after-school treat before heading over to the park for some much-needed play time.  I love these silly boys!

Boys eating ice cream

I had some cooking successes this week that I posted on Instagram. I made an awesome batch of chocolate and peanut butter rice crispy treats (recipes soon).

Chocolate peanut butter rice crispy treats

I also made these springtime chicken enchiladas topped with a tomatillo salsa that got a thumbs up from the family. These are the perfect spring and summer enchiladas.  I will post the recipe this week.

Chicken enchiladas

Ok, let’s move onto this week’s menu:

Sunday night dinner

We’re making Ambrosia burgers from Nepenthe and their garbanzo and kidney bean salad along with some roasted asparagus.

Asparagus

Monday night dinner

Penne a la vodka, crispy garlic bread and kid friendly caesar salad.  We’ve all been craving this pasta, so I’m excited to make it up again.

Penne a la Vodka

Garlic Bread slices on a cutting board

Kid Friendly caesar salad

Tuesday night dinner

Tuesday for the time being is either going to be leftover night or sandwich night. Between carpooling Eli to and from baseball and Zoe to dance, I really don’t have a moment to cook, so I’ve officially made Tuesday nights, sandwich night.  Tonight is easy, I’m serving up some curried chicken salad that I’m making up earlier in the day. For our veggies, I’m serving some fresh-cut carrots and red peppers. Fresh cut veggies are great to serve on those nights when everyone is eating at different times, because you just pull them out when needed.

Curried chicken salad sandwich

Wednesday night dinner

Leftover night, basically a repeat of Monday night’s dinner!  Penne a la vodka, crispy garlic bread and kid friendly caesar salad. I love leftover nights!

Thursday night dinner

I’m going to try a new recipe on the family, quinoa and black bean burritos. My kids are not the hugest quinoa fans, but I think if I sauté some onions, add some black beans and throw in some cilantro with all the fixings, they might change their minds!  I will serve them up with my lacinato kale salad.

Kale Salad

Friday night dinner

TGIF means Marin mama’s night off! Last week I had planned on making pizza, but I was too tired to cook, so we did take out instead, and I loved it. I did make up a fresh batch of caesar salad though.

Stay tuned for these chicken enchiladas!

Chicken enchiladas

With love Jackie
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8 thoughts on “Marin Mama’s Weekly Dinner Menu for April 21st”

  1. The cake is a work of art! And those RKTreats. RKTs are a fave of mine!!! And with PB & Choc. Yes, please!

    And look at those girls…beautiful little ladies! My daughter will be there soon. Time flies as a mom, doesn’t it! And Eli and his friends also looking so cute and happy. Everyone looks so shiny and new and happy 🙂

    1. Hi Averie. I wish I could slow down time because each stage has been so much fun and I just want to enjoy and savor this time with the kids before they go off to college.I love the laughter joy and energy they bring to the house, and I can’t imagine what it will be like when they’re off on their own. Luckily that is years away so I’m going to savor this time. Have a great week 🙂

  2. Zoe and her friends look beautiful, the cake looks scrumptious, and I love your table setting! So pretty! And every picture you take of Eli makes me smile. His face is so full of boyish joy. How were the ambrosia burgers? Have you made those before? I think that is from the place you mentioned on your way to Disney that was so good wasn’t it?
    It’s a beautiful day here today here after a rainy weekend. Our weekend was so full that I didn’t finish the headboard, but I’m on the home stretch and will have it done this week sometime. Looking forward to the chicken enchilada recipe! Have a great week girl! xoxo, Sharon

    1. Hey girl! This week has been CRAZY, so I haven’t had a chance to reply to you. Yes, the burgers were fantastic and the ambrosia sauce was a hit! I will post that sauce next week. The burgers were just a standard burger, but the sauce it what made them and no, I have not made them before. It’s from the restaurant we visited in Big Sur. Unfortunately, I can’t find the recipe for the tofu burgers 🙁 I’m more of a tofu or turkey burger fan rather than a red meat fan. I saw your headboard and I’m truly amazed at your talent girl! You rock and I would so hire you to revamp things at my house if you were local! xoxo, Jackie

  3. happy late bday to zoe- A girl deserves a bday cake anytime. She is just beautiful my friend. I know she is beautiful inside as well as she has an amazing mom to raise her:)

    The cake looks amazing, the decorations are so cute and what a great way to celebrate. I know what you mean about party planning though. We just had grant’s 4th bday part on tuesday after school because that was the only day all his friends could come bc everyone is so busy on the weekends.

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