I am by nature a nosy person

So welcome to my meal planner

For months (or weeks, maybe a year?) I’ve been wanting to put grocery lists and meal plans in this newsletter. I love a plan.

However in those past months (weeks…years?) I was also writing this cookbook, so my meals were a little haphazard, to say the least. (It was worth every second though, because I do think the Coconut Cauliflower with Fresno Almonds in the book may change your life, but… I digress!).

But now that I’m back in a much more normal rhythm, I’ve realized that my kind of meal planning is more of a “I plan one or two things, then slide my habits in everywhere else,” style. Plus, we’re all different, so I felt like giving you a prescriptive “buy this and make this” model is just not the move. We are emotional (in a good way) eaters! If you want buttered noodles on Tuesday, who am I to stop you? If anything, I encourage it.

So what is the move? I’ve decided it’s showing you my grocery lists, my general plans, and how they turned into recipes for the week. It’s my kind of planning, and I hope it helps you, too! Or at least satiates your nosiness because I love when I get to snoop on other people’s stuff.

(But also, don’t worry, each recipe still goes through its minimum-of-two tests, this is just how I plan out my cravings and content).

So with that, the weekly round-up!

It all started with this farmers’ market trip.

Which turned into:

Swiss Chard Spaghetti - A mixture of toasty oyster mushrooms, chilies, onion, garlic and preserved lemon, and then the pan is deglazed with balsamic vinegar, since I know a lot of you don’t like to cook with wine. Add whole wheat noodles and chickpeas and it’s a stunner of a plant-based meal.

Seared Beet Sandwich with Kimchi Slaw & Cheddar - Inspired by a sandwich I had at Union Loafers in St. Louis. This beet sandwich changed me, and this version can be easily prepped for lunches throughout the week!

And the Pistachio Date Bars I mentioned in my notes? Well, I got lazy and just made a version of this recipe, but with pistachios instead of walnuts. It was a 10/10, and I highly recommend dipping them in chocolate.

And if you want to know what to prep for next week, think: Ramps! If you can’t find them in your area though, don’t worry. What I have planned will work great with scallions as well.

Now I’ll see you next week, and maybe there won’t be a coffee cup imprint on my notes then…WHO KNOWS.

Miss you already, xoxo,

Justine_Plans