When the Plan Meets Real Life (and Steak Wins Twice)
👋 So… About That Week
Summer Week #5 was supposed to be a parade of cold salads, smart prep, and low-effort wins. And it almost was… until the week started making its own decisions. We lost a few meals to heat, cravings, and leftover fatigue — but what we lacked in execution, we made up for in flavor. Mostly. Here’s how it actually played out:
How the Meals Played Out:
🍝 Monday – The Best Steak Salad
The steak got a late thaw and a soak in the sink, but we pulled it off. It came out tender, juicy, and landed beautifully on a bed of romaine and ditalini pasta. Monday started strong and smug.
🍝 Tuesday – Ham and Rice Salad
Rice salad? Never met her.
We went rogue with sliced provolone, salami, and cottage cheese — proof that sometimes a well-rolled protein plate beats cold rice in a heartbeat.
🍝 Wednesday – Southwest Chicken Crunch Salad
This one stuck to the script (mostly). Grilled chicken, colorful veggies, and that chipotle ranch flair. We even had the rolls. Honestly? It tasted like a win.
🍝 Thursday – Thai Salad with Ginger Ground Meat
The Thai salad became “what if I just smash it into a patty instead?” Which, to be fair, worked. Ginger ground meat got shaped, seared, and devoured. Lettuce? Optional. Sanity? Preserved.
🍝 Friday – Shrimp and Dill Salad with Sides
No shrimp, no rice salad, no cucumber magic. Friday dinner never materialized. But the fridge got cleaned out, so… that’s something?
🍝 Saturday – Lunch at Ovation
Barbara tried to order soup. Got French toast again. Steve got shrimp. I got salad. It was 89 degrees, the booth had mystery crumbs, and yes, I judged the light fixtures.
🍝 Sunday – [Meal Name]
Lunch with the parents at Long Horn was good enough to warrant dinner from Long Horn too. Call it steak déjà vu. We didn’t cook. We didn’t apologize.
💡 What Actually Worked:
- Steak. Twice. Zero regrets.
- Cheese & salami rolls: surprisingly satisfying.
- Ground meat patties might be a whole new lane.
- Not cooking on Friday… kind of a vibe.
📦 Note to Future Me:
Always have steak in the freezer. You’ll find a way.
Cold salads are cute until they’re not.
If a plan falls apart but everyone still eats, that’s called success.