Meal plans and the week ahead

I am feeling really burnt out today. Last week was a crazy week at work full of long days. I stayed at work till 7:00 two different nights - and considering I only worked 3 days last week with the holiday.... It felt like a lot. One of my late nights, I ended up having to work from 10-midnight once I got home, too. And I ended up being on a 3-hour conference call on my flex day. No fun! I have to say, I'm thankful that I enjoy my job. Else I'd really be miserable! :) But it does take its toll on me, mentally and emotionally. With Kevin having limited ability to do much with his back just adds to my feeling overwhelmed. Hopefully this week is a little better.

This afternoon, we are meeting my in-laws, SIL, BIL, niece, and nephews at Crossroads Village for a ride on the Genesee Belle riverboat. Tuesday I will be going to a WAPF meeting in the afternoon. Wednesday, Kevin is hanging out with some buddies after work. So Carson and I are going to meet up with my cousin for dinner and walking. Friday is milk and CSA pickup, and we're going to the Gaines Rodeo. I'm also kind of hoping I can take Friday off without using any vacation time and just use my comp time from last week. We'll see how the week goes, I guess. If I take the day off, I'm going to take Carson cherry picking at one of the local orchards. There is one orchard that is doing both rapsberry and cherry picking right now... So maybe we'll go there so we can maybe do both. Even though we are getting a ton of raspberries on our own bushes, they have all been eaten fresh. I want to get some to freeze and to make raspberry jam... So maybe we'll go picking. Saturday we are headed to Grand Rapids for my friend Katie's wedding. We're planning to head out there early in the afternoon so we can take Carson swimming at the hotel pool before we have to get ready for the wedding. We're looking forward to some fun! Kevin and I haven't been dancing together in a long time, so we're looking forward to it! Hopefully his back is feeling a little better by then.

I'm working on cherries this week. I dried some yesterday and am going to make a few trays of cherry fruit rolls today. Carson loves snacking on homemade fruit rolls.  I'm going to make some cherry mousse today... only with real whipped cream and sweetened with honey... I'll try to remember to update the recipe after I make it.  I'll probably make a cherry crisp this week, too. We're still getting a lot of lettuce from our garden, so we are eating salads nearly everyday. I'm going to try a new dressing again this week... though I'm not quite sure what yet. Probably some sort of balsamic vinaigrette, but we'll see. I need to look though my saved dressing recipes still. I've got some almonds soaking so I can make crispy almonds... and more almond butter. I ordered some baby carrots from the CSA so I can make some more spicy carrots, too. And who know what else. That's all I have planned so far.

So here are my thoughts on meals....

Breakfasts:

• Fried eggs; bacon
• Smoothies
• Yogurt with fresh fruit
• Veggie omelets

Lunches and Snacks:

• Leftovers
• Big ol' salads
• Egg salad over lettuce
• Apples with almond butter
• Hard boiled eggs
• Fruit rolls
• Fresh fruit
• Raw veggies

Dinners:

• Grilled chicken; side salads with dried cherries, raw feta, and cucumbers; artichoke gratin; fruit salad
• Sloppy joes over veggies; side salads; fruit salad
• Salads with leftover grilled chicken, lots of veggies, dried cherries, and hard-boiled eggs
• Out to eat on Wednesday
• Beefy vegetable soup; side salads
• Leftovers on Friday
• Wedding on Saturday