Meal Planner Week of February 6

Today was a “pinch me” day. To celebrate a friend’s birthday, a group of us met at a fancy hotel in Beverly Hills for their famous afternoon tea. Even though Beverly Hills is less than 10 miles away from my house, it feels like a world away.

After fighting traffic and braving the rain, we found ourselves cozied up on couches next to a roaring fire in the heart of Beverly Hills. The scene was nice but surreal. Picture ladies lounging on comfortable furniture with Birkin bags parked at their feet and glasses of champagne in their well-manicured hands. The table was beautifully set with china and the kind of crystal that makes me nervous around toddlers. It was all so foreign to me that I felt like I should have brought my passport.

The restaurant has one set food menu but a long list of specialty teas. We started with Strawberries and Cream. Next, the servers presented each of us with our very own three tiered tray loaded with perfectly plated treats. The top tier had fresh mini scones. They suggested we eat the scones first because they were still warm. I slathered mine with butter and fresh strawberry jam. It was bite after bite of pure heaven. We moved onto to an assortment of finger sandwiches and then finished with petite pastries. My favorite sandwich was the House Smoked Salmon followed by the Camembert, Tomato, and Pesto.

It was definitely a fun experience but not my real life. My normal day consists of school pick ups, errands, and making sure dinner is on the table. By the time I left Beverly Hills, round up my kids, hang out at home, and think about my menu planner for next week.

My menu planners are not designed for “ladies who lunch.” They are more for hardworking moms who want to feed their families easy to make dinners that are restaurant quality. Check out these great recipes for a Sesame Salmon with Sauce, a comforting Turkey Bolognese, a satisfying Mexican Soup, and a 3 Cheese Pancetta and Mushroom Pizza.

Enjoy!