Summer Week #9

After the five-week stretch of sweating through dinner prep and living in fear of your AC bill, Summer Week #9 feels like a soft exhale. The temps may still be up, but the meal plan this week is down to earth — a practical blend of chilled salads, fast stovetop favorites, and comforting flavors that won’t leave you wilting over a hot oven. From zesty steak tacos to a refreshing couscous salad with feta and vinaigrette, every dinner strikes a balance between bold and breezy. Even the snack and dessert hit opposite ends of the summer spectrum — chewy peanut butter blondies for that nostalgic kick, and an orange creamsicle cheesecake for when you want something straight out of a poolside daydream. No fancy themes here, just good food doing what it does best: making hot days bearable and everyday dinners a little less ordinary.

Week of August 11-17, 2025