Marin Mama’s Weekly Dinner Menu for September 29th

Marin Mama's weekly dinner menu - September 29th

I just love this above photo of Zoe.  It just shows her natural beauty and innocence. I also remember the day we took this photo, it was on our 16th anniversary in Pointe Reyes.  Zoe is sitting next to some Marguerite Daisies and those are the flowers that we used at our wedding, pretty symbolic I think.

So you may notice that the blog looks a bit different in some ways.  I’m trying to keep it current and fresh by adding those snippets on the main page below my most recent post. This way you can quickly scroll down the home page and see 20 of my most recent posts rather than the last 5.  So if you don’t have time to get on the blog for a bit, you can jump on one day and quickly scroll down and see what I’ve posted recently.  We’re (I really mean Wendy) is still working on it, so please bear with us as it’s still a work in progress.

This was a week of smoothies in our house. Sadly, I didn’t have time to make the chocolate chip pumpkin bundt bread, (the kids cried and cried, just kidding) so I made plenty of after school smoothies for the kids, as it’s still pretty hot out in our neck of the woods. Our current favorite is the pineapple, mint and banana smoothie.  Here’s Eli giving me the thumbs up after school.

Eli liking the pineapple, mint and banana smoothie

I even made one for myself to take in the car to sip on while I was running errands.  It was super yummy!  I love the contrast of pink and green!

Pineapple, mint and banana smoothie

I got the best present from my friend Carolyn on Friday!  She stopped by and delivered me a six-pack of pumpkin puree that she picked up at Costco, a beautiful head of kale, (that I’m so using tonight) and this amazing homemade salsa. Carolyn is totally my foodie friend and honestly should start her own blog because her cooking is the best and she knows so many tricks.  Hey, I might even start a series on the blog called, Carolyn’s tips.  What do you think Carolyn?

Canned pumpkin and kale

Before I head onto the weekly menu. I want to share with you a blog that I’m loving!

Salt & Smoke is a blog that my Instagram friend Chris started. I’ve been following Chris on Instagram for about 6 months, and I started following him when I was randomly looking up photos of popovers.  His popover photo was gorgeous, so I checked out his Instagram feed and was in awe of all of his photos.  Chris uses organic ingredients in all of his recipes and he makes cooking look fun and easy.  Cooking is a hobby that he and his wife Tricia both love, and you can see it in all of the creations that they come up with.  His blog is full of some seriously amazing sweets (I’m so going to try his avocado brownies) as well as some simple recipes such as easy pizza dough, buttermilk biscuits and pie crust.  Anyway, once you see his site you’ll understand why I love it so.

I also want to give a shout out to my friend Kelli at Made in Sonoma.  She has recently made two recipes from my blog, thanks Kelli!  Her bog is chock full of great recipes and wine and beer reviews. You should check out her roasted tomatillo salsa. I’m so going to be making that soon!  I hope that since we both live so close that we might be able to meet up for lunch one day.  What do you think Kelli?

Let’s move onto this week’s menu

Sunday night dinner

Favorite turkey burgers, and lacinato kale salad.  We’re still grilling out while we can, and as you all know, these are our favorite turkey burgers. I’m going to make our favorite kale salad with that amazing batch of kale that Carolyn brought over.  I’m also going to bake up an easy pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert that my friend Amanda recommended!

Turkey burger

Kale Salad

Monday night dinner

Roasted red pepper paninis and fresh-cut veggies.  It’s our crazy manic Monday where Eli eats at 5:00 before baseball, Zoe eats at 5:30 in-between soccer and dance, and John and I just eat where we can fit it in.  The good thing about Mondays is that we’re all done eating by 6:00, and it’s actually nice to have dinner out of the way.  Eli’s practice goes till 7:00 and it’s great having dinner out of the way so he can stay late if he wants.

Roasted red pepper panini with cilantro lime mayo

Tuesday night dinner

Citrus marinated chicken with roasted cauliflower and popovers.  I love Tuesdays because the kids don’t have any after school activities and I can take the time to make up a nice dinner.  This dinner says fall to me.  It may look complicated to make, but it isn’t.

citrus marinated chicken

Roasted cauliflower

Popovers with rosemary sprigs

Wednesday night dinner

Cheesy baked tortellini and mixed greens with creamy mustard vinaigrette (recipe soon).  This pasta is one of our favorite fall and winter dishes and one that will get made at least once a month, if not more,this season.  I love it because it’s so easy to make, and it’s makes enough for 2 nights worth of dinner, so it’s a great weeknight meal and is totally kid approved.  John asked me nicely if I could make one of the salads that I use to make before I became obsessed with kale, so I’m going to make up a simple mixed green salad with a creamy mustard vinaigrette.  The dressing will last two nights as well.

Cheesy baked tortellini

Mixed green salad with creamy mustard vinaigrette

Thursday night dinner

Leftover night.  Cheesy baked tortellini and mixed greens with creamy mustard vinaigrette.

Friday night dinner

Deep-dish pepperoni pizza and caesar salad. We got take out pizza last Friday and it was great, but everyone kept commenting that they are craving my deep-dish pepperoni pizza, so I’m going to try and make it up for dinner.  We will see if it happens, as sometimes I have an abundance of energy on Friday afternoons and other times I just want to chill and take night off from the kitchen.  I’m going try a new caesar dressing as well, one made with anchovy paste, just for fun!

Deep dish pepperoni pizza

Any thoughts on the new look of the blog?  Does it make it easier to see older recipes?

Have a great Sunday!

With love Jackie
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15 thoughts on “Marin Mama’s Weekly Dinner Menu for September 29th”

  1. awwww. love that pic of Zoë. You’re so sweet for the “shout-out”;) I’m glad you liked all the goodies. I made the Dr Weil kale salad Friday night with that amazing kale and it was SO GOOD!

    1. I will always give you a shout out girl. You are the one who inspired me to cook in the first place. Did you know that? Love you girl! xoxo, Jackie

  2. Thanks for the mention! You’re the best! And of course, I’d love to get lunch sometime! Sonoma County to Marin County is so close! My grandmother lives in Novato, so I’m there somewhat often.

    I’m the same way, every time we order pizza, I feel like homemade is better. You get to customize them to your own preferences. Though, sometimes it’s just so easy & relaxing to not be the one cooking!

    1. Hey Kelli! I will email you about lunch and I will plan on heading up your way as I love Sonoma and I know you work and all. Homemade is always better no matter what, but I also agree that it’s nice to have a night off. 🙂

  3. Zoe is such a beautiful girl, I agree with you that is a pretty symbolic picture.

    I checked out Chris’s blog, those pictures made me drool….particularly the croissant donuts! The amount of recipes I have compiled that I want to try from other bloggers is just endless. I love it though.

    xxx

    1. Hi Jaclyn. Yes, Chris’s blog rocks and he is the nicest guy! I so want to make so many of his recipes as well as other bloggers recipes as well. There is only so much time in a day, right?

  4. goodness my apologies that it has been FORever since I’ve posted on your blog…but I feel like I was still able to see all your fun pictures on instagram. trying to get back in the swing of things 🙂 this picture of zoe is so beautiful!!! I love your pink glass…where did you get it from? …i love cool new water bottles. I just ran out of my pumpkin so I need one of those gift packages too….Salt&Smoke what a neat blog…very cool pictures…it is always fun to see other blogs out there…thanks for sharing.

    hope you are having a wonderful week!!!! why have I not made that tortellini yet.

    1. Hey girl! I have had fun catching up with you on Instagram as well. It’s so much easier than having to always comment here and there. Never worry about having to comment or what not, I know you’re super busy with the kids and that’s our main priority right? The water bottle is from Lifefactory. http://www.lifefactory.com
      If you have a Whole Foods nearby then they should carry them, otherwise you can order them directly from Lifefactory’s website, but the shipping costs are pricy due to the bottles being glass and all. I love those water bottles and I have about 20 of them as I used to rep for the company. Make the tortellini girl, your hubby and boys will LOVE it.
      xoxo, Jackie

  5. Hey girl! I love the look of the blog with the snippets on the main page! I may have to follow suit, it’s a great way to have a lot of info in an organized way on your page. I also love your weekly menu (when do I NOT?) and just pinned the tortellini because that looks so good and cozy and delish!
    I’ve also got to say that I love that pic of Zoe. Before I even read what you said, all those thoughts were in my mind too about how naturally beautiful and innocent she looked with the daisies next to her. And any pic of Eli makes me smile, his happy spirit just shines through!
    I’ll be checking out the blogs you’re following, always love finding new blogs. Have a great week! xoxo, Sharon

    1. I’m glad you like the new look, but I may have to change it back as we’re having a hard time linking to old posts. The tortellini is so good and super easy and what not! I never make the homemade marina anymore, too lazy 😉
      Thanks for the sweet words on the kids. You know what’s funny? They’re both in competition on who is on the blog more and if I have a pic of Eli on one post, I need to have one of Zoe. So funny! I hope they never tire of being on the blog, because I love documenting them and it will make for great memories. 🙂 xoxo, Jackie

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