Meal Plan 19: April 30 to May 6

This week we celebrate both National Chocolate Truffle Day and Cinco de Mayo. I've pulled together lots of Tex-Mex flavors and created quick and easy meals for the busiest weekdays.

Collage of image showing the main dishes in this meal plan.

🫑 What's in Season?

A better question might be, "what isn't in season?"

Everything is ripening and coming into the Farmers' Markets now. It's fresh, in season, and at it's best. Make the most of these fresh flavors.

Apricots
Beets
Bell pepper
Berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries)
Chiles
Corn
Cucumber
Eggplant
Figs
Green beans & Wax beans
Mangoes
Melon
Nectarines
Okra
Peaches
Pineapples
Plums
Radishes
Tomatoes
Zucchini and yellow squash

We're so close to summer! You'll start seeing the following produce in the store:

Berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries)
Cherries
Lettice
Mangoes
Okra
Pineapples
Radishes
Rhubarb
Zucchini

💭 Tips for success

Make extra fried potatoes and treat the family to a hearty country breakfast with the leftovers.
You can bring new life back to that weary asparagus you forgot about in the fridge. Just trim the bottoms and stick the stems in a jar of water in the fridge. It will freshen right up. You can do the same with fresh herbs.
Leftover smothered chicken? Serve it over leftover biscuits for breakfast.
You'll use the leftover devils food cake for the brownie punchbowl cake. If you don't want to make the cake just buy a batch of brownies at the store to use.
Prepare as much as possible on your day off. Chop all the onions for the week and put them in an airtight container. Cook up all the ground beef you'll need and separate it into the amount you need for each recipe.

April 30

Smothered Chicken

Tender chicken breast in a creamy gravy? Smothered chicken is a classic. Serve with some buttermilk biscuits to sop up that gravy.

Fried Potatoes

Crispy, tender... This fried potatoes recipe is my favorite! Whether you call the home fries of cottage fries, they are welcome at any meal.

Spiced Devil's Food Cake

I found this spiced devil's food cake recipe in a Depression era cookbook. It's unique with it's combination of rich chocolate and spice. Save leftover cake to dice up for the brownie trifle.

May 1

Tamale Pie

When you brown the ground beef for this tamale pie go ahead and brown enough for the stuffed peppers and Philly cheesesteak pasta. It's the little timesaving habits that add up!

Cole Slaw

Creamy cole slaw is one of my favorite side dishes. This is my version of the KFC classic and let me tell you, it doesn't last long!

White Chocolate Key Lime Bundt

This white chocolate key lime bundt cake has been on Restless Chipotle forever. It's so moist and delicious - the perfect combination of lime and white chocolate flavors.

May 2

A breaded chicken breast sliced open to see the juicy interior.

Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken

The crispy crumb coating makes this oven baked garlic Parmesan chicken extra yummy! Add a crispy salad for a delicious meal.

Overhead view of a pan of pasta with broccoli.

Pasta con Broccoli

Pasta con broccoli has a rich pink sauce that covers the pasta and broccoli. If you've got leftover chicken slice it and add it to the leftover pasta for a delicious lunch.

Chocolate Truffle

Happy Chocolate Truffle Day! Homemade chocolate truffles are easy to make for all kinds of occasions.

May 3

Overhead view of cheesesteak pasta with cheese melted on top.

Philly Cheesesteak Pasta

Philly cheesesteak pasta has all the flavors of the popular sandwich in an easy, one pot pasta meal!

Close up overhead view of a bowl of gree

Southern Green Beans

Classic southern green beans simmer for hours but you can get that same great flavor in just a few minutes with my recipes!

Fluffernutter Whoopie Pies

Who remembers fluffernutter sandwiches? Peanut butter and marshmallow fluff! I've revisited that flavor with these giant Fluffernutter Whoopie Pies.

May 4

Stuffed Peppers

Old fashioned stuffed peppers are one of my favorite meals. I grew up with this dish on the table often! You can get all the flavor and save time but just chopping the peppers up and making this as a casserole. Make extra rice for tomorrow.

Cucumbers in sour cream in a yellow-ware bowl.

Cucumber Salad

Creamy cucumber salad is best if it's made 24 hours ahead of time. I like to take the leftovers and cucumber sandwiches - YUM!

A glass punch bowl with layers of brownie trifle in it.

Brownie Punch Bowl Cake

Brownie punch bowl cake is layers of brownies and whipped cream. Use leftover devils food spice cake instead of brownies for this.

May 5

Chicken Enchiladas

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Creamy chicken enchiladas are a great way to begin the celebration. Serve with rice and a salad.

Square of yellow cake with a thick layer of cream on top.

Tres Leches Cake

You might have the idea by now that lime and white chocolate is one of my favorite flavor combos -- and you'd be right! This tres leches cake is absolutely to die for.