July 31, 2021

WEEKLY MENU 08.01.21

We’re celebrating big during the Weekly Menu 08.01.21~ plus we’ve got fast and easy meals to see us through.

What are we celebrating during the Weekly Menu 08.01.21? Bert’s birthday! It’s a milestone day, but I’m not going to mention which one. But it’s big. HUGE. Here’s a picture of him back in the day.

Young Bert for Weekly Menu 08.01.21 — ^{I’m not going to say how old Bert is turning this week, but he’s about 20 in this picture.}

Proving irrefutably that I am one lucky woman, he has just gotten better looking with age.

Bert isn’t best pleased about turning this milestone over, so what are we doing about it? Having a party to celebrate, of course. His Big Day is actually Tuesday, but Saturday is when we’re “cheering” him on. He’s got cake coming his way twice this week, and friends and family to help him come to grips with this new decade.

Planning a party has come a long way with the advent of online ordering. One of my favorite things are the “disposable glasses” that we can buy now. Way back in the day, Bert and I celebrated the end of the week with Champagne Friday, so that’s how we’re planning on cheering him for the party. Check out how cute these flutes are: (Affiliate links follow – see Disclaimer Page for details.)

And these wine glasses – that are so much better than the ones available in the good old days:

Sure, they’re not as good as glass, but they are darn cute. And they won’t shatter if they get dropped.

Of course we’re also eating normally during the Weekly Menu 08.01.21 too ~ it’s still summertime, after all, so we’re grilling and crockpotting big time. We’re also working in an Erieland Staple.

Italian Festival!

Covid cancelled all of the festivals around here last year, and has had some impact on them this year too. Luckily, the Italian Festival is going on with business as usual, so we’ll head down to support Saint Paul’s Church on Friday night by eating Meatball Sandwiches and Sausage Subs the way God intended: standing in a church parking lot, juggling a beer in one hand and food in another while chatting up like-minded friends. We’ll probably be able to score a pepperoni ball or two as well. Fingers crossed!

We’re starting out the Weekly Menu 08.01.21 with a summertime classic – grilled burgers. I mentioned in a previous post that Bert bought a Weber Kettle Grill this year, so we’ll press that in to service for the burgers as well as an easy side – Barbecued Baked Beans. The beans pick up a slightly smokey flavor from the grill, which is delicious. We’re throwing the corn on the grill too. I love it when Bert makes dinner!

Bert’s favorites all week long…

We’re eating out for the actual big day, but we’re having one of Bert’s faves on Wednesday – Crispy Chicken Club Sandwiches. They’re easy and totally delish. They also happen to be really tall, with the three pieces of bread and all. I like to use these Bamboo Cocktail Picks – they’re long enough and easy to insert.

We’re pressing the slow cooker into service on Thursday with a THREE ingredient recipe – Crockpot Fire Chicken. The name is a little bit of a misnomer – sure, the main ingredient is Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, but the end result is surprisingly mellow. It’s perfect on a taco shell. And yes, we do buy the sauce by the gallon.

WEEKLY MENU 08.01.21

The Quick Barbecue Beans are from Taste of Home. These Blondies are via Sugar Spun Run. Ina Garten, via the Food Network is the author of the Apple Chutney. I’ll use crisp green Granny Smith’s to get their tartness into the mix. The healthy Parmesan Zucchini Fingers are from Damn Delicious. And the creamy Mac and Cheese was found at Plain Chicken.