This week felt a little different for us.
Because of spring break, the kids were home all week, but with all the rain, we ended up staying in much more than we expected. It was a little disappointing not to get out to the beach or play tennis like we had hoped, so we leaned into something we could still enjoy together at home: good food.
Most days started slowly. With no big activities planned, we woke up later than usual and found ourselves eating more late breakfasts and brunches than regular weekday meals. In some ways, it made the week feel relaxed. In other ways, it reminded us how much home cooking can help turn a rainy, off-schedule week into something cozy and memorable.
This week was full of comfort food, leftovers that tasted even better the next day, fresh fish from friends, and a few easy meals that kept everyone happy.
Grocery Snapshot
Our weekly grocery total was $245
This week’s shopping included:
- 3/17 – Foodland: $89
- 3/20 – Safeway: $145
- 3/22 – Times: $11
Even though this was a stay-at-home week, having a few good staples in the house made all the difference.
What We Ate This Week
Monday
Breakfast: Bagels with cream cheese
Lunch: Udon (ate out)
Dinner: Leftover steak and baked potatoes with Wendy’s canned chili
Monday dinner felt like one of those meals that proves leftovers can be just as exciting as something new. The leftover steak was actually even more flavorful because the garlic had more time to settle in, and that made it extra tasty. We paired it with baked potatoes topped with Wendy’s canned chili from Sam’s Club, and honestly, it came surprisingly close to eating at Wendy’s.
Tuesday
Brunch: Eggs and rice
Dinner: Corned beef with friends over
This was our big home-cooking meal of the week. We had friends over, so we made 8.5 pounds of corned beef, which had been on sale. I started it in the Instant Pot slow cooker at 8 p.m. Monday night and let it go overnight.
One thing I really appreciated was that the Instant Pot kept the house from smelling strongly like corned beef the way a traditional crock pot usually does. It also kept the meat juicy, soft, and flavorful. The kids really loved it, and we ended up eating most of it.
Wednesday
Brunch: Malasadas and leftovers
Dinner: Fresh mahi mahi with capers
Wednesday dinner felt really special. We picked up 2 pounds of freshly caught mahi mahi from a friend who catches fish on their boat. There is just something hard to beat about truly fresh fish.
We pan seared the mahi mahi with capers, and it turned out so good. The kids loved it, and we ate all of it, which is always the best kind of review.
Thursday
Brunch: White Castle sliders and ramen
Dinner: Mediterranean takeout
This was one of those easier food days. The White Castle sliders from Sam’s Club are always a hit with the kids, and ramen is one of those things that just works when everyone is home and hungry at slightly different times.
For dinner, we got Mediterranean takeout and made sure to get extra fresh pita, which ended up being really useful for breakfast and snacks the next day.
Friday
Brunch: Leftover pita with Nutella
Dinner: Fresh ahi with garlic
Friday brought another really good fish dinner. We picked up 3 pounds of freshly caught ahi from a friend who fishes on their boat, and we pan seared it with garlic.
It was one of those meals that felt simple but really satisfying. Almost all of it disappeared, and only a few pieces were left by the end.
Saturday
Brunch: McDonald’s
Dinner: Leftover ahi and corned beef
Snack: Box brownie baked in the toaster
Saturday was a mix of easy and creative. A friend brought McDonald’s for brunch, which the kids were more than happy about.
Dinner was leftovers again, with the ahi and corned beef both making another appearance. And for a snack, we made brownies from a box in the toaster. We adjusted the mix a little by using 3 eggs instead of 2 and less oil, which made it less sweet and gave it a great crunch. That ended up being one of those fun little kitchen experiments that turned out really well.
Sunday
Brunch: Cinnamon toast with French bread
Dinner: Met a friend at a local food court
Sunday felt simple and easy. For brunch, we made cinnamon toast using French bread, and the kids love this. It feels like a small upgrade from regular toast and definitely beats cereal in their minds.
Dinner was out at a local food court with a friend, which gave us a nice break before getting ready for the new week.
What Made Life Easier This Week
The biggest help this week was definitely the Instant Pot.
It made the corned beef juicy, soft, and flavorful, and being able to slow cook it overnight with the seal on made it especially convenient. It also helped keep the smell contained and kept the meat warm, which made hosting friends much easier.
A few other things helped too:
- using leftovers instead of always starting from scratch
- keeping easy kid favorites on hand
- having flexible brunch foods for slower spring break mornings
- saying yes to simple meals when the week didn’t go as planned
A Few Takeaways from This Week
This week reminded me that home cooking does not have to be elaborate to feel comforting.
Some of our best meals came from:
- leftovers that tasted better the next day
- fresh ingredients shared by friends
- easy store-bought shortcuts that made life simpler
- cozy brunches that fit the slower spring break schedule
The week may not have gone the way we expected, but the food helped make staying home feel a little more special.
Closing
Spring break at home was not exactly what the kids had hoped for, especially with all the rain keeping us from the beach and tennis, but this week still had a lot of good moments around the table.
From juicy corned beef and fresh-caught fish to simple brunches and warm leftovers, these were the meals that carried us through a quiet, rainy week at home.
And honestly, that is one of the things I love most about cooking for a family. Even when plans change, a good meal can still turn the day around.
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