June meal plan #2

Staying cool with gazpacho and salmorejo, our favorite copycat Chipotle burrito bowls, and some tips for hosting

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Happy Saturday, friends! My husband and I (Meredith) are hosting friends this weekend for a family wedding. I used to be flustered by the idea of guests coming, but we have a constant rotation of visitors (which is partly why Lola doesn’t have a room yet), and I’ve settled into the comfort of hosting. I suppose it’s not always comfortable—our living space is large, but it can feel small when there are children running around—but I’ve found small ways to make things a bit easier on me as a host and to make our guests feel at home.

The basics, and then some. Our guest room has extra chargers, plenty of outlets, a few toys and books for children, and a fresh set of towels for each visitor. I include a small card with our wifi password, our address in case they need to get home in a taxi without us, and a set of house keys. I clean up my workspace (another reason why Lola doesn’t have a room yet) and put away as much personal stuff as possible so that the space feels clean and inviting.

Food. As you all know, food is my love language. I like to have easy grab-and-go breakfasts and snacks available, and I make sure to tell our guests where things are kept so that they don’t have to ask. Yesterday, I made muffins and loaded up the fridge with plenty of cold brew, fruit, and yogurt. That way, we can all wake up and wander in and out of the kitchen on our own time. Sometimes I’ll put together a breakfast casserole or a frittata with the same thought—take what you please, when you please.

In the colder months, I like to make a roast or simmer bolognese all day long for our first dinner with guests. This weekend the temperatures are going to be sky high, so I made gazapacho, marinated chicken in pickle juice to toss on the grill, and put together a caesar salad. Whatever I’m making, I like to do it ahead of time so that I don’t have to be rushing in and out of the kitchen while the guests are settling in. Oh, and there are always freshly baked cookies. What are some special things you do when you host? -Meredith

Gazpacho in the making, the first donut peach of the season, grilled chicken and salad (so basic, but so easy and good!), curried chicken salad from Sohla’s Start Here, paint swatches because that’s where Katie’s at in her life, a chocolate-filled napolitana for breakfast, and pudgy little human hands going for a protein-filled waffle.

This is our honest feedback on what worked (or more likely, didn’t) from last week’s meal plan.

Little victories

• Meredith: The salmorejo was really yummy. We ate it on our terrace while Fernandito ran back and forth to the living room for more books. Our current favorite is Gazpacho for Nacho. My little guy loves a theme! (Katie: I also made a batch, and it was a very refreshing bite on a hot Andalusian summer day.)

• Katie: I gave myself total grace with meals this week. We’ve moved into our new house (!), the renovation (which was supposed to be done a month ago) is very much still happening, and we are surrounded by unpacked boxes every way we turn. There was (perhaps predictably) no time for stuffed squid or lemon zest-studded chicken meatballs. We grilled chicken, we had salad out of the bag with some crisp cherry tomatoes, and we stole some of the girls’ sausages that I make ahead of time for easy dinners. One day, I threw together leftover chicken with pasta, cottage cheese and a small jar of red pesto—sounds weird but just works! So I actually didn’t really follow my plan, and for me, that is the victory. Letting go of control, going with the flow, and trying to calm my anxiety when things go off the rails.

• Katie: Just a small shout-out to the recipes every family has—the ones you don’t really have to think about and the ones that just work. For my family, salmorejo is definitely one. And another is a turkey stew my husband makes with tons of onions, carrots, potatoes, and white wine. We all love it so much, and he put it together Thursday night to make for an easier Friday and weekend meals for the girls.

Humbling moments

• Katie: This entire move to a new house has been humbling! Moving houses, not knowing where things are, putting together strange meals, and—at times—feeling like I miss our small, old, kind of crappy apartment! I guess this is the nature of a move—it’s exciting and wonderful, and it’s hard, too.

• Meredith: I’m not sure if it was the weather or my hormones, but I feel like I couldn’t get my act together this week. We still ate, but not at the dining table, often a bit later than usual, and not always as a family. Full disclosure: Fernandito had a Nocilla (Nutella) sandwich for dinner after swimming on Wednesday.

This week’s game plan: There are so many little (and not so little!) things to take care of around the house still, so I’m leaning into delicious but easy meals this week.

Monday: White bean salad with tuna, roasted red peppers, fresh onion, & hard-boiled egg (No recipe—though really, I should document it because we make it all the time—just throw these ingredients together with olive oil and sherry vinegar, and it’s a flavor-packed weekday lunch!)
Tuesday: Salmon & rice bowls
Wednesday: Copycat Chipotle burrito bowls (via What’s Gaby Cooking)
Thursday: Corn, bacon, and parmesan pasta (via Smitten Kitchen)
Friday: Fajitas or quesadillas with the leftover burrito bowl components
Other: I’ve heard wonderful things about Odette Williams’ A Simple Cake, and after hearing Amanda talk about it here, I’m excited to bake from it. I’m not swimming in free time, but I do think it could be a sweet way to inaugurate my oven…. We’ll see!

This week’s game plan: We are two weeks out from a six-week trip to the US, so I am going to be more budget-conscious this week. I don’t know about you all, but I feel like every time I walk into a supermarket, I spend at least 50€ and don’t have much to show for it.

Monday: Copycat Chipotle burrito bowls (via What’s Gaby Cooking) with some black beans I froze a few weeks ago
Tuesday: Hella green pasta or as my son like’s to call it, “Hulk pasta” (via What to Cook)
Wednesday: Leftovers—we have an evening birthday party!
Thursday: Grilled pork and roasted veggies with one of Caro Chamber’s sauces
Friday: Pizza at another birthday party. Really finishing the school year with a bang!
Other: I have been making these protein oat pancakes for the kids nonstop. They’re so easy and delicious! I have a bunch in the freezer, but I know I’ll be up early making another batch or two this week.

• Meredith: We just devoured The Secrets We Keep on Netflix. It’s a Danish show about an au pair who goes missing. It’s dark and depicts some sexual violence, but it’s very good. Big Little Lies vibes with fewer characters.

• Katie: How gorgeous do these pastries look and how inspiring is Celia’s story of opening up a bakery right from her apartment?! I loved this look into how she’s making it happen.

• Meredith: We had a follow-up appointment at the hospital where Lola spent a bit of time in the NICU, and I was struck by how lucky I am to have two healthy children. I am often reminded of the miracle of getting pregnant, but sometimes forget that trying to conceive, and then (if you’re lucky) conceiving, is only the beginning.

• Katie: These coconut shrimp mini tacos are making me feel excited about hosting summer dinner parties!

• Katie: This list titled 10 Movies to Watch This Summer and 3 You Should Never Watch Anytime, Ever reallllly made me laugh out loud, and it took me BACK to some old favorites. Highly recommend the read, if nothing else for the hilarious categories within the list.