September is the return to routines and all the new things which is a relief and an adjustment all in one. The start of middle school, new elementary bus stop, bigger time hockey, next age group field hockey, changes and ramping up at work, and a lot to keep one step ahead of.

I kept summer foods going with Big Mac Pasta Salad that features everything-but-the-burger.

It still felt like summer with Ranch Dogs to jazz up a regular meal.

September last summer hurrahs need cocktails – like a strawberry lemonade cocktail

Then after all the summer tastes, I switched gears to enter autumn with Fall Quinoa and Sweet Potato Grain Bowl

October excites me – more of the groove we’ve gotten into. Halloween feels like tomorrow after finding all the pumpkin and apple things to eat. I may plan a breakfast and maybe some lunches. The benefit of hockey being pretty late means dinner isn’t a mad rush. I’ll embrace the fall in the air…whenever that comes.

The big kid: He’s getting settled into middle school – math, French, and science sound good so far. I’m proud of him for rolling with all the new things as that is isn’t his jam. He’s had some food requests – like Chinese takeout, frito chili pie, and meatloaf. Middle school having a cafeteria, therefor hot food, is a highlight for him. We’re so proud of how hard he’s working at hockey.

The littler one: She’s thrilled to be back to school- and for desks instead of tables. Field hockey started up again and this year is with the next ages. Acro dance starts this week and she’s more than ready! She is obsessed with some very specific Belgian waffles that are only occasional available.

Goals for the year:
Year of new footwear – I meant to replace some very tired brown flats. Maybe Oct is the time for that.
Side dish emphasis  – we had a very fun pasta salad
Soups & salad – the grain bowl was salad-esque, right?
More drinks – yes! the strawberry lemonade cocktails
What I’m reading – I read The Correspondent for bookclub and loved it, but maybe not to the same hype of the masses. I absolutely loved Fast Girls: A Novel of the 1936 Women’s Olympic Team. I flew through Five. There were a few others books that weren’t as big for me.

What a blur. August includes our beach vacay, our little one turning 8, and all the summer we can pack in. This year’s back-to-school time feels bigger with the start of middle school and a more established 3rd grader.

I made a chicken, bacon, ranch chicken salad to shake up lunch time.

I gave Mexican Street Corn a facelift from 2015

End of summer meals need inspiration and also a little something special. We had a few summer favorites on repeat too many times so I’ll hold off, you add them to your menu, mmm-k?

September is a little up in the air as we await the sports schedules for ice hockey and field hockey. We like routines so we will be glad to be in a groove. I’m hoping to squeeze in a few more fun things and maybe summery food & drinks!

The big kid: He’s ready for middle school, though he’d prefer to continue summer. His arm fracture really cramped his style, but he was a trooper. The beach week was so fun for him – golfing on the beach and he’s our fisherman. He tried scallops and like them, but then a whole serving was too much.

The littler one: She looooves the beach. She’s our fish, and was very into beach gymnastics. She is very happy for fish and chips. Her birthday was really special – she had a party with friends and the ice cream truck! Then the family had a pool party with crispy fish tacos- her fav. She’s excited for school.

Goals for the year:
Year of new footwear – none right now
Side dish emphasis  – we had a very fun pasta salad
Soups & salad – while reducing lettuce, salads were also.
More drinks – not really
What I’m reading – I read Bookclub for Troublesome Women for bookclub and was into it! I read Aftertaste and it was shocking…it was so different than my others, in a good way. I read Last Night in Brooklyn and didn’t love it but have been obsessed with her other titles. On vacation I read Yesteryear and it lived up to the hype, but was so twisty-turny!

August meal inspiration is here. My kiddos seem to feel like we’ve been eating the same ones on repeat – probably because they’ve been crowd pleasers until now that they’re over it…here is what has worked, and where we’re drawing some inspiration for the end of summer.

We’ve had a lot of Chicken Ranch Burgers with one packet of ranch seasoning and one package of ground chicken then drizzled with ranch until you heart is content. This is also a vacation meal since it requires so few ingredients.

We have had a lot of Greek-inspired salads with some grilled chicken or rice bowls, especially while reducing our lettuce intake, and also since some of the fam likes the other parts of salad better.

Peanut Sesame noodles are on our regular rotation with edamame or dumplings since they’re quick and good hot or cold.

We’re due for some dressed up dogs – corn relish dogs are so good, and work for anyone who wants it on the side. Or, make some pickle de gallo and chop it extra to be topping after you’ve had it as dip!

Something bruschetta-related seems timely. We eat a lot of caprese salads so tomato/basil are flavors we all like, maybe we’ll go with bruschetta as a side instead of an app!

Pesto Pulled Chicken is really great as a sandwich, wrap, or sliders and is a variation on a piece of grilled chicken. It also packs well if you’re eating by the pool or in shifts before the start of sports seasons!

July was full with camps, some very hot weather, and fully feeling like summer. We swam a lot and made it to a few of our favorite ice cream places. The end of July always feels like summer is passing by with a mix of wanting to fit everything in.

I made some BLT Deviled Eggs for 4th of July with these tried and true flavors.

We had Blueberry Lemonade Waffles which felt very summery.

Then we had S’mores Brownies which were boarder-line too gooey.

August brings our beach vacation, C turns 8, and T will be mended. I have ideas for a sandwich and maybe a cocktail. I haven’t had lobster yet!

The Big Kid: He liked intro to middle school camp, also because he then had afternoons free. He took a spill off his bike and ended up with a fractured arm and a ton of scrapes. Healing will take time but it is hard to rest. He’s into Uncrustables and rainbow sherbet.

The Littler Kid: Gymnastics camp is her favorite, and there were some good school ones – Passport to Paris and Styling Studio. She has perfected her drive and has been swimming so much. She’s all into pancakes and Babybell cheese.

Goals for the year:
Year of new footwear – I was due for some new socks.
Side dish emphasis  – ehh, nothing supper interesting.
Soups & salad – ’tis the season for tomato, mozzarella, basil
More drinks – I got what seems like a lifetime supply of Truly summer flavors.
What I’m reading – I read Hour of the Witch and loved Boston for the witch era. I listened to Now is Not the Time to Panic and thought it was great. Rabbit Hole was an absolute train wreck – but in a captivating way. I like Heir Apparent with some nods to the British monarchy.

June was an absolute doozy and about 34,893,027 days long. Not a lot of interesting cooking happened but just about everything else under the sun happened. The girls weekend away was amazing and we have had fun with some family visiting. Later in the month Dottie was sprayed by a skunk, and I was in an accident, then I needed a new car at the same time that Mr J’s needed work. There were so many end of school events, we hosted 2 parties, I operate on a fiscal year ending on June 30, and it just all felt nutty.

Thankfully Mr. J’s birthday was uninterrupted and we had a burger with a Japanese Twist

I also whipped up Chicken Cordon Bleu as a burrito.

In July there’s potential for so much I didn’t get to in June. I anticipate an app, a cocktail, a side that deserves a refresh, and maybe more. I was mostly surviving, not thriving, so it was what it was.

The Big Kid: He is ready for summer but unsure if the intro to middle school camp will feel like school or camp. He had a great end of the year with so many celebrations. Foodwise, he has handled braces & palate expander well and is a good sport that parade candy is often not what we can have. It was so fun to see him enjoy ribs on Father’s Day after begrudgingly trying them.

The Littler Kid: She is so sad to be done with 2nd grade. She has been more into PB&J lately and taught herself how to use chopsticks and likes to use them whenever possible.

Goals for the year:
Year of new footwear – I got cute basket-y flats that are kind of between flats and sandals.
Side dish emphasis  – ehh, not really
Soups & salad – repeats, but not new ones
More drinks – again, not really
What I’m reading – I read Everyone in this Room Will Someday be Dead and it was ok, but had such potential to be amazing. Meant to Be Mine was a cute palate cleanser after a few very therapy-heavy books. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone was ok, but I didn’t love it.