What a week we had last week. I’m referring to the incredible meals we consume and all the other stuff that makes our lives exciting.
Scorching and beautiful summer weather make the weekends and evenings much more enjoyable, and we can utilize the outdoor living area to the fullest. I cook outside
The Euro 2024 and Copa America 2024 finished on 14 July, which also happens to be Bastille Day. We have no relation to Bastille Day, but I thought I could impress you with my World knowledge.
Spain deservedly won the Euros, and Argentina left it late in a nail-biting game against Columbia. We love watching international football (or soccer as you call it in the US) and look forward to the various international football competitions.
I prefer watching the English Premier League, which starts in August. I’ve been supporting Chelsea since 1997, when I moved to Ireland and was told by my colleagues I had to pick a team to help. I chose Chelsea because a Danish wunderkind, Laudrup, played for Chelsea then.
The US is also going through a lot of political turmoil these weeks, which was amplified by the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and a sudden decision by Joe Biden not to seek reelection when his term ends this year.
On a happier note, my wife and I had a couple of excellent concert date nights on Wednesday and Thursday. While we are still young, it can be hard to work up enthusiasm after a long day at work and then attend a concert only to arrive home late.
I need my beauty sleep, but we made it through the concerts, which unfortunately included some shitty venue food. It didn’t taste bad, but it is fried stuff like chicken tenders, fries, and sliders—nothing exotic and delicious and not good for our bodies. But we ate it anyway!
Food often tastes better when you are in good company and listening to awesome music.
I have to admit, the Foo Fighters concert is one of the best rock concerts I’ve seen live in a long time. They kicked some serious ass, rocking out at the Citi Field and providing excellent entertainment and interaction with the audience.
Unfortunately, the concert was canceled about halfway through due to a severe thunder and lightning storm. But what we witnessed was beyond expectations.
We both agreed that we wanted to see Foo Fighters again.
Week Thirty Meals
We are celebrating our son’s 19th birthday this week. Holy cow, I can’t fathom that he’s already 19!
I often say that time flies when you have fun, but where did 19 years go?
He is nonverbal, which for a teenager can be a blessing for the parent. However, I thoroughly miss not being able to chat with him and for him to share how his day went.
Our son is very content and loves his sisters and my cooking—hence the round face. He’s built to be a food tester and loves hanging out with me when I’m cooking, especially when he tastes some of the food as I cook.
Our family “suffers” from shitty metabolism, which results in us walking around with a few extra pounds. I gain weight if I walk past a fast food place and accidentally inhale grease fumes.
As such, I attempt to make healthier food by using more fresh vegetables from the farmers market, sourcing meat from local butchers, and substituting products for, e.g., cream.
School Lunches
Food is essential to our family, and I will be making our son’s favorite meals this week, both for lunch and dinner. I’m making a few lovely sandwiches for him based on his expressions.
I understand that white bread is unhealthy and has many additives. However, bread is only 4-5 ingredients, and starting next week, I’ll be stepping up my baking skills.
- We start the week with a crispy ciabatta sandwich with mozzarella, pesto, parmesan, and spinach.
- Then, I’ll make my son’s favorite breakfast bagel with egg, bacon, and cheese.
- Midweek, they’ll enjoy a simple (and very American) sandwich with peanut butter and jelly.
- Thursday, they will feast on a chicken sandwich made from chicken skewers.
- We finish up the week with a juicy cheeseburger.
Dinner Time
For dinner, I’m making three of his favorite dinners.
- We start the week with dual protein sliders using ground beef and chicken thighs.
- He’s a sucker for pasta dishes so that I will be making pasta and meat sauce for his birthday on Tuesday.
- We have another concert on Wednesday evening, seeing Train and REO Speedwagon, so the kids will have to suffer with another freezer meal. It helps us clear out the freezer throughout the year.
- Thursday, we will enjoy a Mediterranean-inspired dinner with chicken skewers and rice.
Meal Prep Party Pictures
Here are some pictures from last week’s food adventures. Making food outside is enjoyable and “forces” us to have family dinners.
When we cook inside and heat premade meals, we are often inclined to serve ourselves and eat around the kitchen, living room, or dining room. This ruins the family dinner experience.
Meal Plan
| Lunch | Dinner | |
| Monday | Pesto and mozzarella ciabatta | Chicken and beef sliders |
| Tuesday | Bagel with egg, cheese, and bacon | Birthday Dinner Spaghetti & meat sauce |
| Wednesday | Peanut butter and jam sandwich | Concert – left-overs for the kids |
| Thursday | Grilled chicken cheese melt | Chicken skewers and rice |
| Friday | Cheeseburger | Over-the-fire cooking |
One day, I might get so organized that I will link the meals below to my recipes. We can only live in hope!
Have a fantastic week, my friends. I hope you enjoy these meal plans. It is much easier to make food in advance, although you must invest several hours preparing meals during the weekend.
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The Viking Heart Within 