Meal Plan 18: April 23 -29

The days are getting longer and nicer. No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen cooking!

This week's meal plan is full of quick and easy warm weather favorites that make the most of the fresh flavors of summer.

Collage of images for this week's meal plan.

📅 Food Holidays

April 24 is National Pigs in a Blanket Day... while I don't have that recipe I do have this sausage kolache (which is really a klobasnek).
April 25 is National Zucchini Bread Day which seems weird to me. Don't you think it should be in July? Anyway - here's my recipe for zucchini bread.

💭 Tips for success

Make the gelato on the weekend. Homemade ice cream is better if it has time to "ripen" in the freezer. It will be perfect the day you're ready to serve it.
I don't know about you but I could eat my weight in brownies. I like to let them cool then freeze half for another time.
If you have leftover salsa chicken and pasta con broccoli, dice the chicken and stir it into the pasta dish. It makes a great, light lunch.
Leftover cowboy caviar is a delicious snack served with tortilla chips. Use it like a salsa!
Change the banana pudding up by layering with crumbled Oreos it in pretty glasses.

🍹This week's cocktail

Closeup of the grapefruit tequila sour cocktail in a glass.

Grapefruit Hibiscus Tequila Sour

Ok - I bet you can tell I'm ready for those lazy, summer days, right? This tequila sour is definitely delicious!

April 23

Closeup of chicken tenders on a serving platter.

Blackened Chicken

I am obsessed with this copycat Popeye's Blackened Chicken recipe!

Overhead shot of a bowl of potato salad.

Mom's Potato Salad

Creamy, old fashioned potato salad just like mom's! It's best if you make it a day ahead of serving.

Chewy Brownies

Rich, chocolate brownies are made with dark cocoa for extra fudgy good flavor.

April 24

Closeup of a finished hamburger in a bun.

Lipton Onion Soup Burgers

Lipton onion soup burgers are juicy and full of flavor whether you make them on the grill or on the stove.

A bowl of. black-eyed peas shown from the top with a lime slice.

Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy caviar, or black eyed pea salad, is one of my favorite sides. You can use it as a salsa type dip for tortilla chips, too.

Chocolate Sheet Cake

Classic chocolate sheet cake (not to be confused with Texas sheet cake) is moist and tender with a light as air whipped chocolate frosting.

April 25

Salsa Chicken

We always called this salsa chicken Texas 2-step chicken because it's SO easy to toss together!

Overhead view of a pan of pasta with broccoli.

Pasta con Broccoli

Creamy, gooey, cheesy pasta con broccoli is a deliciously unique combination of Alfredo and mac& cheese!

Two ice cream dishes with key lime gelato in them.

Key Lime Chile Gelato

Everyone who sees this is hesitant but I promise if you ever try it once you'll be a believer! Key lime chile gelato is sweet, tangy, spicy, and SO perfectly rich and creamy.

April 26

Beef Taco Skillet

Beef taco skillet is a super easy skillet dinner. I like to serve it with a bowl of warm tortilla chips and salsa.

Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes

These oven roasted sweet potatoes have a crispy crust and tender inside. They're tossed in a sweet & spicy chipotle mixture that really brings out the flavor.

Side view of a margarita bundt cake with a white glaze dripping down the sides.

Margarita Pound Cake

Moist, dense, and tender! This tangy margarita pound cake has a salty pretzel crust that gives it authentic margarita flavor!

April 27

A fork lifting a scoop of the casserole. Square image for feature image.

King Ranch Casserole

King ranch casserole can be assembled ahead of time. It's almost like a creamy chicken enchilada but SO much easier!

Overhead view of salad for feature image.

Broccoli & Cauliflower Salad

Easy broccoli and cauliflower salad is sweet and tangy, creamy and crunchy!

White Texas Sheet Cake

A coconut flavored cake covered with an icing that is reminiscent of vanilla fudge is hard to turn down! This white Texas sheet cake is absolutely delicious!

April 28

Grilled Shrimp Creole

This grilled shrimp creole with roasted tomatoes is so quick and easy. It's the perfect way to get in the mood for summer!

Grilled Pear Salad

Pear salad is an iconic southern dish but I've changed it up by grilling the pears, adding bleu cheese and candied pecans, and drizzling with jalapeno honey. You can use regular honey if you wish.