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.

May brings spring in full force. From lacrosse games to the dance recital to reunion weekend at work, and so much questionable weather.

I made some White Wine & Lemoncello Spritzers for a springy drink.

This Sesame Cucumber Salad went viral for a reason. It is quick and flavorful and became the perfect side to some Trader Joe’s Honey Walnut Shrimp.

Chicken, bacon & ranch pull-aparts became dinner but would be fun apps too.

June will bring a much anticipated girls trip and a flurry of work before the fiscal year ends. I have some birthday burger ideas ruminating and a old favorite that deserves a refresh.

The Big Kid: He’s so happy to be outside so much. He is not so happy to have MCAS but survived. Lacrosse is in full swing with just a few more in early June. We switched electrolyte drinks and seem to have found some flavors in Liquid IV he likes.

The Littler Kid: She had lots of parties this month and the dance recital! She did great and was such a trooper to wait an incredibly long time at the dress rehearsal. Her fav take-out is Dave’s Hot Chicken (with no spice, not hot).

Goals for the year:
Year of new footwear – Gah, I missed it…again.
Side dish emphasis  – the sesame cucumber salad was such a fun side!
Soups & salad – we had a sub-salad for a side
More drinks – a white wine spritzer felt springy
What I’m reading – I LOVED Little One, and Next Year in Havana was one I listened to and it was such a joy. I breezed through Favorite Daughter which had just enough train-wreck to keep moving. Lastly, I read Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV which was way too long and detailed but I enjoyed some of it.