Today’s blog post is actually the blog post I initially planned to share last week that got pushed back a bit as I struggled to get words out and keep things lighthearted in this space which is my general vibe. I hope you guys know my desire to become actively anti-racist is not a fleeting thing and while this past week has left me with an influx of information to digest and apply, it’s some of the most educational and important information I’ve read and though I know it will take time and consistent effort, it’s something I’m committed to do long-term both internally (the biggest work!), through parenting and also in this space among the content I’ve been sharing for 10+ years. This blog is not going to change overnight, just like we are not going to change over night, but it is my hope that I can be a better ally and resource moving forward as I stay true to the blog I’ve created and poured my heart into for more than a decade.
As for today, I wanted to share my May 2020 edition of my week of weeknight meals series.
I began this series on the blog to give you guys a glimpse into what one week of weeknight dinners looks like in our house every month. I used to share my meals on the blog all the time and still enjoy highlighting my eats from time to time, especially when they’re snapped with my iPhone right before I’m about to dig in — no fancy food photography allowed!
My meals during the last week of May were all over the place and included a little bit of everything from leftovers and pasta dishes to breakfast for dinner and a delicious salmon dinner that centered around a marinade I need to remember to share with you guys once I have the chance to make it again and measure out all of the ingredients.
WEEK OF WEEKNIGHT MEALS: MAY 2020
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Monday: Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Mexican Street Corn Salad and Roasted Sweet Potatoes
This was a delicious plate of leftovers from one of our Memorial Day weekend lunches with my sister and her family. I initially followed this recipe for the chicken so it could cook while we were out on the boat on Sunday and have lunch ready and waiting when we returned. The leftovers were just as tasty served atop fresh whole wheat hamburger buns and paired with leftover Mexican street corn salad (I very loosely followed this recipe) and roasted sweet potatoes. I made the potatoes by tossing them in avocado oil and ALDI’s everything bagel seasoning before roasting them in the toaster oven and am kicking myself for using our toaster oven solely for toast for waaay too long. I love the way that little thing comes works as an oven but doesn’t heat up the entire kitchen in the process. So much more efficient!
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Tuesday: Rotini with Easy Bolognese
I feel like some variation of this meal pops up on my monthly glimpses into our weeknight meals almost every month. What can I say? It’s a go-to for me for a quick and easy dinner our whole family loves. To make the sauce, I simply browned some ground turkey in a pan before adding a jar of ALDI’s Simply Nature organic marinara sauce (the flavor is great and it’s very affordable) and topped it with some freshly-grated Parmesan cheese.
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Wednesday: Breakfast Casserole
We were running low on options for dinner on Wednesday night since we didn’t make it to the grocery store or place and Instacart order over the weekend. Whenever I’m running low on food and dinner inspiration, breakfast for dinner almost always seems like a good idea! I whipped up this breakfast casserole following an old favorite from PaleOMG and it was a winner as usual. I paired it with toast because butter + jelly toast is a pregnancy favorite of mine that I find myself making on an almost-daily basis… and oddly enough it’s usually in the afternoon or evening. A big-time benefit of this dinner was having leftovers for breakfast, too!
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Thursday: BALSAMIC BAKED CHICKEN WITH BALSAMIC TOMATO SAUCE + Angel Hair Pasta + Roasted Zucchini
This is the recipe I highlighted in Friday’s roundup of favorites two weeks ago so you know it was a good one! It was easy to make (less than 30 minutes) and the end result was incredibly flavorful chicken, sweet grape tomatoes and a sauce worthy of your favorite pasta. We paired the balsamic chicken with angel hair pasta and roasted zucchini and I ended up mixing everything together and loved every bite.
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Friday: Teriyaki Salmon with Roasted Acorn Squash and Sauteed Zucchini
Give me all the salmon! Something about salmon has been calling to me lately and we’ve been eating it on a weekly basis. It’s so darn good and easy to make (not to mention nutritious) and on Wednesday I whipped up a teriyaki marinade with roasted sesame oil, coconut aminos, maple syrup, garlic, ginger and lemon juice that we loved. I didn’t measure anything but need to in the future because it was definitely worth sharing! We paired the salmon with roasted acorn squash and sauteed zucchini and loved this meal. We also loved the cookie cake I whipped up for dessert on Friday night! I had a feeling everyone would be all about it again since the recipe was a winner in our house when Chase and I initially made it back in April.
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As a long time reader I loved seeing your “Everything” Tuna in the Aldis Weekly ad this week! Yum!
Aw thank you, Hannah! I was pretty excited about this, too!!
Hey Julie,
I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate your willingness to speak up, look inward, and be vulnerable about your areas for growth and the opportunity you have as an influencer with a large platform.
I have to admit that at times over the (many many) years I’ve been reading your blog, I have struggled with some feelings of discomfort — not because you’ve ever struck me as an obviously racist or prejudiced person (far from it) — but because your life, at least on the blog, looks so. very. white. As another white woman, and in my own growing awareness of my whiteness over the years, I saw a lot of privilege reflected in your nice house, comfortable lifestyle, etc. and not a lot of indication that there was a desire to support or give a voice to other more marginalized populations.
Again, know that I am saying this as a longtime reader who thinks you seem like a lovely person, and one who deeply cares about others, the people you love, and being a good person. But the overt whiteness your blog has portrayed (and the lack of awareness of it) has made me uncomfortable at times. I hope you don’t take this as an attack on your character or an implication that you’re a bad person — it’s absolutely the opposite.
I appreciate that you’re committing to not making this a blip on the radar or a 15-minutes sort of thing, and are committing to true, lasting change. I also appreciate that you’ve been sharing specific resources you’ve been using, as well as action items you’re taking (the kid ones are really cool – I think that’s a GREAT choice) to work on this change.
Just wanted to share my two cents that I appreciate the work you’re doing and the vulnerability you’ve shared, and that you shouldn’t stop — even if you’re worried about saying the wrong thing. Trying and stumbling over not trying at all says 10x more about your character, and it’s noticed and supported from this reader.
You don’t have to publish this comment if you don’t want to — I know it’s a lot! Just hoping you’ll see it 🙂
I appreciate your comment and encouragement, Laura. Thank you for taking the time to share your feelings with me and support me as I am definitely reading and learning things that make me uncomfortable (and they absolutely should). I am feeling sucha strong desire to move forward, grow and learn and help and know this will take time and be a process but I’m committed. Thank you.
I wasn’t going to say anything but this comment is just too weird not too.
Could you imagine saying to a black blogger “your blog posts are just so very black…” talk about a double standard. Such an odd thing to say. Julie shouldn’t have to apologize for her lifestyle and that she was born white. You would never say “overt blackness on your blog” so why is it okay here?
You’re also implying that POC can’t live this same lifestyle. They too can have nice houses and a comfortable living. Just so odd and an unnecessary comment.
It is not a double standard. Black people have been systematically excluded from every part of society for 400 years, and while they recently have been legally allowed to participate in all aspects, legal segregation/exclusion of black continues in schools, churches, communities, etc, and this commenter was saying she sees that in the blog. Saying someone’s blog is “too black” is not an equal parallel. (I believe, OP correct me if I’m wrong pls) the commenter is asking Julie to weigh in on her unintentional participation in marginalizing blacks as she learns more about anti racism. This IS a time to call out white privilege. Black people have been “called out”, to say the least. It’s our turn.
That balsamic chicken is so good!! I made it after seeing it in your Friday faves. Thanks for the meal inspirations.
Kelsie, I agree. I’ve read here for years and was really perplexed by that reader’s comment. Why in the world anyone is pointing out Julie’s home and “comfortable lifestyle” is beyond me. Julie has never once talked about finances (or, if I can even recall, politics on here), so quite frankly, those comments seem unnecessary and incredibly presumptuous. I thought Julie’s comments, links and general demeanor addressing the ongoing issues within our country were very appropriate to both her blog and to the way she has addressed serious issues (personal or otherwise) in the past.
That corn salad looked so good – I’m making it this weekend! Did you serve it warm/hot originally? I couldn’t tell from the recipe. Preference between it being hot or cold?
We served it cold and liked it that way a lot!
Thank you! Definitely adding the tomatoes and avocado too!