Weekly Menu 3-30-26
We had a blast getting better acquainted with our friends we had over for dinner last Saturday. The lasagna turned out, but to be honest, it didn’t have that wow factor I hoped for, given the number of steps involved in making it. The company more than made up for that.
With Easter coming up this weekend, I’m sure many are looking for the perfect Easter dinner to prepare for family and/or friends. This week, as part of our menu plans, I’m preparing ham with a brown sugar glaze, and for sides, it’s scalloped potatoes (a tried-and-true recipe), asparagus, and I’m trying a new recipe for salad with strawberries and pineapple bake.
Dessert First
If you’re a lemon lover, this pie’s for you! Lemon is another ingredient synonymous with spring and perfect for that lighter dessert after a heavy dinner. This recipe from Sugar and Charm makes the perfect lemon custard without the meringue topping. While I like meringue, I remember as a kid being able to clean the remnants of the lemon custard straight from the pot. Forget the crust, forget the meringue, just give me that lemon!
Monday
Red curry paste is sautéed with onion, garlic, and ginger to release its aroma, then simmered with coconut milk for a creamy base. It’s a vibrant balance of spicy, salty, sweet, and citrusy flavors that keeps the curry rich yet refreshing. There are so many wonderful customer reviews on Carlsbad Cravings that you know when you’ve stumbled across a winning recipe!
Curry begs to be served over rice, and tonight that means white rice – the kind that comes in a cup, nuke for a minute, and serve. Yeah, it’s processed, but ever-so-easy and in my book, and that’s what counts. One of these days, I plan to buy a rice cooker and freeze in batches for easy-peasy sides for my weekly menu plans.
To scoop all the flavor and goodness from the curry, it’s got to be Naan. I’ll probably buy Naan or flatbread, and if not, I’ll make my own. It’s so good when it’s homemade!
| Red Curry Fluffy Rice Naan |
Tuesday
These easy Sloppy Joes are smothered in the most delicious sweet-and-tangy Hawaiian BBQ Sauce your whole family will love. Carlsbad Cravings combines a good old comfort food with a bit of tropical flair that is not only intriguing but delicious!
To go with the sloppy joes, it’s got to be sweet potato fries – delicious, crispy, and the perfect side. This recipe for Sweet potatoes and pineapple from Two Peas & Their Pods goes together so well, too!
Wednesday
These Cajun Shrimp Tacos are loaded with spicy, succulent shrimp and sautéed peppers, then topped with a creamy, tangy garlic-lime ranch sauce. The result is spicy, zingy tacos that are bursting with flavor! Another perfect and fun recipe from Brittany Breaks Bread. And really, this IS dinner!
Thursday
These Chicken Kabobs are marinated in Jennifer’s Carlsbad Cravings blog’s wildly popular, viral marinade for the juiciest, most flavor-bursting chicken skewers ever. And when it comes to grilling – we enjoy it, especially as the weather warms up. Combine these skewers with onions and bell peppers, and zucchini – and I’m in!
Strawberry Fields Salad includes juicy fresh strawberries, feta cheese, red onion, dried cranberries, bacon, grilled chicken, glazed pecans, and a sweet-and-tangy dressing that is bursting with flavor. From Spicy Southern Kitchen, this is a flavorful, fruity salad that is perfect to serve with grilled chicken kabobs, and one that I’m sure will make it into future weekly meal plans.
Friday
A dear friend shared this recipe for Chile Rellenos Casserole with me. It’s a recipe I MUST try! It reminds me of a recipe given to me by a late aunt that we enjoyed countless times over, only this one sounds better using enchilada sauce – oh yeah, I’m in on this one for sure for this week’s menu plans!
Made with easy-to-find ingredients and ready in 40 minutes, this rice is perfect alongside Mexican and Tex-Mex favorites. I love that it includes ingredients like peas, fresh tomato, onion, and more – I can’t wait to try this recipe from Isabel Eats.
Grilled pineapple spears are coated in a buttery brown sugar cinnamon glaze that is caramelized with 3 simple ingredients and then grilled to perfection. And they are delicious. They’re perfect as a refreshing side to a Mexican-themed meal, and as dessert. From The Recipe Critic, these pineapples are so good!
| Chile Rellenos Casserole Authentic Mexican Rice Caramelized Brown Sugar Cinnamon Grilled Pineapple |
Saturday
Marinated Tuna Steaks from the Temecula Olive Oil Company are delicious! Marinated in a mixture of orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, lemon juice, and spices, it’s flavorful and allows the real star, the tuna, to shine brightest.
When I came across this recipe for potatoes au gratin that is a copycat of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, well, it’s a must-have. When potatoes, cream, and cheese get together in one baking dish, it’s a dream come true. Taste of Recipe nailed it!
What better complements these dishes, asparagus, please! And since we’re grilling the fish, it needed company, so the asparagus is on!
| Marinated Tuna Steaks Copycat Ruth’s Chris Potatoes Au Gratin Grilled Asparagus Spears |
Sunday
Happy Easter! Brown Sugar Glazed Ham is beautifully juicy, seeping with flavor, boasts crispy caramelized edges, and the BEST Brown Sugar Glaze you will ever sink your teeth into! Plus, it reminds me of a recipe I’ve made many times with a brown sugar glaze. I think Carlsbad Cravings got it right – while there are tons of lovely glazes, this one is probably the best!
This scalloped potatoes recipe features tender layers of potatoes baked in a creamy sauce. Onions and fresh thyme add savory depth, and melty cheddar cheese takes it over the top! Believe me, it’s a keeper recipe I’ve made quite a few times, from Love and Lemons.
Asparagus is a quick and easy side dish that’s ready in minutes, and goes perfectly with so many proteins. But more importantly, it’s a vegetable that is synonymous with spring. And Easter is the perfect time to serve this healthy and tasty vegetable recipe from Baker By Nature.
Fresh mixed greens, colorful vegetables, and a light homemade honey-lemon dressing make up this salad from Molly’s Home Guide. It’s a great way to add freshness to your Easter menu, and who doesn’t love strawberries, almonds, and goat cheese!
Pineapple Bake is sweet, buttery, and easy to make, yet it’s like something you’d find at a nostalgic Southern diner. Imagine a cross between bread pudding and pineapple cobbler, with golden edges and a luscious, tropical filling from Nourish Your Glow. I can’t wait to try this dish because it will go so well with the ham and sides planned.
| Brown Sugar Glazed Ham Scalloped Potatoes Lemon Garlic and Parmesan Asparagus Easy Spring Salad for Easter Pineapple Bake Dinner Rolls Lemon Pie |
