Ah, summer!

Our summer meal plans are fairly relaxed. They differ from the school year in that there’s more grilling involved, we can add in plenty of fresh produce, and…drumroll…my girls help me both plan and cook! My two daughters (12 & 14) love to be in the kitchen and take great joy in cooking.

I help them chose simpler recipes and then hang out in the kitchen in case they need a helping hand. I’ll do a little bit of reading, visit with them, or catch up on laundry. While it would be faster for me to cook everything myself, it is worth the time it takes to walk them through the process. The pleasure on their faces fills the room when they’ve cooked a meal from start to finish! I highly recommend having your kids join you in the kitchen if you’re able. The rewards are boundless.

Feel free to use this plan in whatever way helps you. I’ve linked as much as I can; anything not linked is something I have made up. An asterisk * means the girls picked and cooked the meal.

Monday: *Creamy Italian Chicken and Pasta from Hope’s Table, French bread, Caesar salad

Tuesday: *Chicken Fajitas (also from Hope’s Table), Homemade Guacamole & Salsa, Chips

Wednesday: *Meatball Sandwiches, fries, salad

Thursday: Baked Salmon, steamed potatoes, sautéed veggies from garden

Friday: Homemade Pizza with Magnolia Table pizza dough, carrots

Saturday: Grilled Hamburgers, tater tots

Sunday: Pork Roast with roasted potatoes & green beans

I’ve only included dinners here. The kids are old enough to make their own summer breakfasts and lunches. This is the first summer I’ve really been able to hand off both meals.

Breakfasts are generally oatmeal, eggs, or toast, all with a side of fruit. Lunches differ for each child, but they need to include a protein source and some produce.

I hope this helps with some quick, easy dinner ideas. I highly recommend the cookbook, Hope’s Table, because the recipes are straightforward and use basic ingredients. It’s a standby for helping the kids learn to cook.

Bon Appetit!