MPM--Easter Recovery Edition

Welcome back! I'm on an emotional high after the family Easter celebration. After an intimate family dinner for 46, with 10 under age 10, and 10 more between 11 and 23, I'm feeling energized and truly blessed to be part of such an amazing family. Ours was even more enhanced by the long-awaited and wished-for return of The Best Babysitter Ever (who is so much more than that to us, but that way you know who I mean). It was so nice to spend time with her and watch my boys relax in the presence of another adult who loves them unconditionally. There can never be too many loving adults in kids' lives! I hope your holidays brought you some of the same happiness.

My menu planning hasn't been too inspirational lately because I'm mostly cooking from my freezer. However, it's had the unintended (though warmly welcomed) consequence of weight loss--I think it's the pre-measured portions. Whatever it is--it's working for me!

Still, this week we'll be eating some other things. And I have some reviews below--stay tuned. Whatever your weekend brought you, I hope you have a great week!

Monday: Opening Night for the Phillies--yeah!--so in their honor, we're eating like the Phils. The Philadelphia Inquirer had a great article on the new nutritionist who is working with the team and it included recipes for meals she recommends to them. Tonight, we'll have the cod with roasted tomatoes (hey, it's even red and white!) and Southwest quinoa salad in their honor. With backup hotdogs for the kids. Sigh.

Tuesday: out to dinner (fundraiser night-hooray!) (if anyone local wants to eat at Iron Hill for a good cause, email me!)

Wednesday: ham, mashed potatoes, asparagus and scallions

Thursday: ham for the boys, split pea soup made from the ham bone for me; carrots, potato salad

Friday: black bean tacos for us (recipe from Smitten Kitchen but I am link-less right now), regular turkey tacos for the boy who eats them.

In the last few weeks, with dinners mostly taken care of, I have had more time to try out some side dishes. I made The Bitten Word's version of the celery and fennel salad I loved from Mark Bittman, and since I adore pumpkin seeds, this version might actually be just a smidge better. Also, I didn't break out my mandoline for it and I think the Bitten Word version is more knife-friendly and not as reliant on the paper-thin-ness of the veggies. I also made the scallion-cilantro rice and while I didn't love it, it was yummy and there was none leftover. Also, it's not a recipe exactly (or, in fact, at all) but we've been enjoying Mochi, which is Japanese (or Japanese-inspired) ice cream discs, for lack of a better word, that are sold in Trader Joe's. There's some kind of very neutral substance that keeps the ice cream in a disc shape, so it's easy to pick up and eat. I'm enjoying it (and the built-in portion control and lack of mess, too.

I can't wait to get inspired by your menus--go to I'm an Organizing Junkie for the best menus on the web!