July Week 4 Meal Planner!

Hi my friends, and here comes your meal planner for the last week of July (what???)!

We have only one food holiday this week but and I have a great recipe all picked out for that one.   If you want to get directly to this week’s recipes, just scroll on down. 

But if you want some color commentary on why I picked what I picked, read on!  

First up, I don’t know how things are by you, but we are STILL sizzling away out here in the North Carolina countryside, but hey, peaches and tomatoes and corn are all in season, so in my book that evens things out.   

So let’s kick things off with our first Main Meal of the week, which also happens to be my vote for celebrating this week’s National Food Day which is…July 29, National Lasagna Day! 

Why the folks who are in charge of these things picked what is usually a piping hot casserole in the dead center of summer…who knows?   But I have you covered with a light and cool recipe for Summer Lasagna, which requires exactly NO time in the oven.  

Also on the lighter side of supper, I have some Oven Steamed Mussels for you…otherwise known as the best way to cook a whole passel of mussels without them falling out of the sides of your biggest skillet.  AND, it involves bacon.  

If you feel like cranking up the grill, you are going to love this recipe for Steak Panzanella Salad – it’s a hearty salad packed with veggies and bread and yep, delectable grilled steak.  

More in a seafood kinda mood?  We love our recipe for Low Country Boil Skillet, which is a speedier version of this Southern shrimp, corn, potato and sausage classic.  

This week’s light meal is one of my favorite ways to use up leftover chicken, and that is a cool and scrumptious Tarragon Chicken Salad.  YUM.  

And you know I never leave out dessert, so with those peaches now in season, how about a Peach Slab Pie?  Slab pies are my fave – super easy and they slice up so nicely.  

As always, we will be sharing another new menu next Saturday morning, full of dinners that feature seasonal ideas and ingredients (and dessert!)

And as usual, I’m not giving you a recipe for all seven days of the week, because I’m a firm believer in taking a day or two off from the kitchen.

This will also give you the chance to work in some of your own favorites – or just do takeout!

You can always find our previous menus here, in case you want to mix things up!

Happy summertime cooking!

Main Meal One

Summer Lasagna!

This fresh and easy summer lasagna requires sweet summer veggies and exactly NO baking in a hot oven! The perfect summer supper.

Main Meal Two

Oven Steamed Mussels with White Wine and Bacon!

Use your roasting pan for making oven steamed mussels with white wine and bacon in this fast and easy recipe! A quick and delicious seafood supper.

Main Meal three

Steak Panzanella Salad!

This recipe for steak panzanella salad is a glorious and easy combo of steak, tomatoes, bread and basil…the perfect summer dinner. Take advantage of those sweet summer tomatoes and glorious basil while it is still local and fresh!

Main Meal four

Low Country Boil Skillet!

This no fuss recipe for Low Country Boil Skillet features all the ingredients of this Southern classic in an easy to eat way!

Light Meal

Tarragon Chicken Salad!

Chicken salad is even better with herbs and walnuts! This creamy tarragon chicken salad is guaranteed to be a summer lunch favorite.

What’s For Dessert?

Peach Slab Pie!

Homemade peach pie is a breeze with this peach slab pie recipe! Easy to make, easy to serve and perfect for a peach loving crowd.