Tonight is the official start of autumn, which means everyone can stop whining about pumpkin and pumpkin-spiced things being out. I’m only slightly joking.
I absolutely adore autumn, and sometimes go a little overboard to make up for the lack of a traditional, picture-postcard autumn here in Texas. Butternut squash is probably my very favorite vegetable, and I go a little nuts making everything with it, from soups to tacos to desserts. I tend to dice and roast up big ones so I have squash to last me the whole week — I’m not kidding when I say I sometimes just snack right off the roasting tray.
My family, for their part, is embracing the return of apples. I think we might have missed apple season in Texas, but I always allow for splurging on a few of our favorite varieties, including Honeycrisp, which were bred at the school my husband and I went to. I’m hoping to make applesauce again this year, but we go through it so quickly (the younger child is obsessed) it’s not quite cost-effective to do it ourselves. Still, I’m always trying to move toward more mindful cooking and eating, so it’s on the agenda soon.
This week is a busy one, and I have to say thank goodness for having meal planning be a stalwart in our lives. I’m not quite sure how we would have been able to get through this past month without it. Yes, we’ve punted a few times and done takeout (sometimes you just need a burger from Hopdoddy) but the fact that we have a plan at all has kept me sane.
The week culminates in Byte of Texas, the conference I’ve been planning for the past year. It’s been a lot of work but I’ve loved it. If you’re in the Austin area, you can still get tickets. I hope to see you there!
Here’s what we’re eating this week.
Monday: Butternut squash pilaf*
Tuesday: Macaroni and Trees
Wednesday: Zucchini and red pepper frittata
Thursday: Sloppy joe sliders
Friday: Red beans and rice
Saturday: Homemade pizza
Sunday: Celebratory post-conference dinner at Matt’s el Rancho
Snacks & such: Homemade tortillas*, sandwich bread
* Recipe testing
What are you making this week?
aneelee says
Totally bailed on my meal planning responsibilities this week. On day two and not sure how the rest of the week will pan out. Good luck this week!