It’s a gloomy, chilly morning in Chicago and I just need my house to smell like chili. It’s not so much that I am craving chili, as I need that warm, cozy smell in my house. So we are heading to the grocery store first thing and throwing a big pot of chili on the stove! I am thinking turkey chili and we are really going to load it up with all the toppings, yum.

I am going to share my chili recipe on my insta stories later today, so tune in!

The rest of the week we are keeping things light to balance the heavier chili and super easy. Blake has a really busy week, so I am pretty much riding solo all week, which means quick and easy meals. Lately, I cannot get enough biter lettuce. Endive, radicchio, frisée, I need all the bitter lettuce this week. I am going to buy a bunch today, prep and wash it so it is ready to go the rest of the week. Fun fact, bb actually loves lettuce and she prefers escarole and frisée to romaine or more bland lettuces. Maybe because I ate a lot of it while I was pregnant, or because I introduced her to it at a young age. Whatever reason, TG because we are a big salad house.

This apple and walnut salad is going to be first up, yum!

photo + recipe from thecozyapron.com

As soon as the weather turns I really start craving heartier grains and legumes. Is that biology telling me it’s time to pack on the pounds for winter? I don’t know but lentils, pasta, and rich foods just start dancing through my brain once sweater weather rolls around. I searched “lentil salad” on pinterest and this was one of the first ones to pop up. Yum, it is going on the docket this week. I love a good lentil salad because it holds over in the fridge. Lettuce wilts, but lentils hold their form and sometimes I actually prefer the leftovers because the flavors really start to meld together!

photo + recipe from abeautifulplate.com

I am going to grill a big piece of salmon at the beginning of the week so we have some protein to throw on salads and with the lentils! Lately, I have been grilling with a simple marinade of EVOO, lemon and herbes de provence seasoning. It is so delicious and goes with just about anything.

MEAL PLAN

breakfast

smoothies per usual

oatmeal

lunch

chili + eggs

leftover salads

dinner

chili

apple salad

lentil salad + salmon

GROCERY LIST

endive

frisée

arugula

honeycrisp apples

red onion

2 yellow onion

rainbow carrots

radishes

lemons

garlic

lentils

tahini paste

eggs

ground turkey

salmon

tomato juice

kidney beans

chili beans

ALREADY HAVE

walnuts

apple cider vinegar

evoo

spices

oatmeal

smoothie rations