On The Menu Week Of A September 29th
Planning dinner for the week does not have to feel like a chore. I have gathered 7 dinner menus and 40 fall-inspired recipes to make mealtime easy and enjoyable. From cozy main dishes and crisp seasonal salads to warming soups, homemade breads, and sweet little treats, there is something here to fill your table and bless the people you love. These recipes are comforting, simple to prepare, and perfect for the rhythm of everyday life in early fall.
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The end of September always feels like the season is shifting in earnest. The mornings are cooler, and the evenings are starting to get darker; it is time to start leaning into meals that feel hearty and nourishing. This is the stretch of fall when I start craving suppers that bring everyone to the table and linger a little longer.
Here at Tanglewood, I’ve been spending more time in the kitchen, and it has been such a joy. Recipes that fill the house with comforting aromas, like pasta and baked casseroles, make even an ordinary weeknight feel a little special. And lighter dishes, such as crisp salads or seafood, help balance out meals, keeping them fresh and flavorful.
On the menu this week, you will find that same balance with dinners that are cozy but not heavy, with plenty of variety to keep cooking simple and enjoyable.
So let’s get inspired together. Here’s what’s On The Menu this week…
Here’s an easy weeknight meal for clam lovers. If the idea of clams in the shells and linguini sounds delicious, then you really need to make this recipe one for your culinary repertoire!
Linguini and clams in the shell look amazingly impressive, and it’s just about as easy as boiling water! One thing to keep in mind is to use fresh clams. Keep them in the fridge in a colander inside a bowl with a damp paper towel on top. Obtain them from a reputable grocer and ask about their shelf life.
I usually make them the same day or the day after I bring them home. I like littleneck clams because they are sweet. This is the best dish I have possibly ever made!
Littleneck Clams and Linguini
Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan, Pinenuts, and a Lemon Vinaigrette
Sliced Garden Tomatoes
Every time I make this dinner, it conjures up so many beautiful memories of my Nani! I have such early memories of my grandmother making this dish and how delicious the whole house smelled!
Now I make this recipe, and my house smells delicious when my grandbabies come to our home. I love the thought of this wonderful culinary tradition!
If you make one thing from the menu this week, give Nani’s Sauteed Chicken a try! This recipe is so old, but the content is scrumptious. Look for an updated recipe soon.
Nani’s Sauteed Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Zucchini Squash Casserole
When Bobby and I were dating, we often cooked dinner together at his apartment. His place was always a mess, which should have been my first clue about what life might be like if we got married. I must have really loved him to say “yes” at the altar.
One of our regular dinners was fish florentine. Our version was far from fancy. We used a couple of whitefish fillets, a can of cream of mushroom soup, and a block of frozen spinach. The spinach got microwaved and drained, mixed with the soup, spread over the fish, and baked until it was, well, very baked. We made it often, and although I thought it was pretty awful, I never said a word. Love trumps bad cooking every time.
Fast forward to today, and this fish florentine recipe from Skinnytaste is in a whole different league. It is made with healthy, fresh ingredients and looks as beautiful as it tastes. At just 6 points, it is a light main dish I cannot wait to surprise Bobby with.
Maybe we will even sit on the floor with our plates on the coffee table, just like we did back then, since his kitchen table was always buried under stacks of medical journals and I hardly knew it was there.
I can eat Halushki every week. Again, it is a dish from my childhood! I have a half head of cabbage in my frig and it is just begging to become halushki! I’ll be eating this as a main dish today. But I’ll be making some Kielbasa to add to Bobby’s meal.
I’ve never eaten halushki with pancetta but I’m giving it a try. And I will use less butter, sadly!
I’ll put a dollop of cottage cheese on top of my halushki; again, my family has been doing this for as long as I can remember!
This will taste even better the next day for lunch.
Friday nights are for chillin’. We love to grill or have an easy-to-make dinner and sit in the family room and watch a great movie or TV series. Don’t tell my kids. Eating in front of the TV was a big no-no in our home when our kids were at home.
We still have tomatoes in our garden! So this recipe, from Tiffany from Creme de la Crumb, makes our tomatoes the perfect foil for the chicken!
Chicken Margherita
Crispy Roasted Potatoes
Caesar Salad
When I have a Saturday at home during the fall, it often becomes soup-making day! Although this soup is easy to make, it does take time.
So while I’m doing a load of laundry or working on the blog, I’m also simmering soup.
I make a huge pot of this soup so I can eat it for lunch.
I’ve always thought of Sunday after church as “football days” in the fall. When I was a young teacher, Bobby and I would watch football, and I’d have my lesson plans spread out all over the living room floor. I’d plan and watch football! And he would mostly yell at the tiny TV we had! Oh, how I loved our little Sunday afternoon ritual!
Chili was and still is our favorite football meal. Keeping with tradition, I’ll make a big pot of Chili for football games!
Tiffany from Creme De La Crumb has made the menu twice this week. I took one look at her delicious apple recipe and knew I had to make it!
Apple Crisp Stuffed Baked Apples
Warm and flaky, apple turnovers make the perfect fall pastry.
You’ll love how cozy and sweet Dutch apple bread tastes fresh out of the oven.
A scoop of ice cream on top makes pumpkin crisp even more irresistible.
Nothing says autumn like your favorite raw apple cake, full of cinnamon and fresh apples.
Dinner feels extra special with maple glazed chicken, caramelized onions, and sweet pears.
Fresh, colorful ingredients make a fall harvest salad both nourishing and beautiful.
Creamy and comforting, roasted parsnip and pear blender soup is perfect for chilly nights.
Pumpkin spice coffee creamer turns any ordinary brew into a cozy, seasonal treat.
For a lighter dessert, try baked pears with walnuts. They are simple, elegant, and satisfying.
Soft and chewy, pumpkin oatmeal cookies are packed with a blend of spice and sweetness.
Creamy balsamic pork tenderloin is a rich and flavorful dinner favorite.
Let your slow cooker do the work with this hearty and hands-off chicken and wild rice soup.
French onion chicken brings bold, savory flavor to the table with minimal effort.
Rich and buttery, southern pecan bars with a shortbread crust are hard to resist.
Roasted garlic parmesan cauliflower makes a savory, cheesy side dish that pairs well with almost anything.
The smell of rosemary and sea salt rustic bread baking is as good as the taste.
Serve creamy Dijon garlic potatoes dauphinoise for an elegant and indulgent side dish.
For a fun fall treat, Hershey Kisses acorns are festive, easy, and kid-friendly.
Croque monsieur, a savory bread pudding, is warm, cheesy, and perfect for brunch or cozy dinners.
I hope this week’s menu inspires you to cook with what’s in season and enjoy the simple goodness of early fall!
More Recipes To Enjoy
Fall Soup Recipes- Warm up your autumn days with these 7 delicious and comforting fall soup recipes that are perfect for cozy meals at home.
Favorite Fall Recipes – Enjoy the best of fall cooking with favorite seasonal recipes that are full of comfort and flavor, perfect to enjoy all season long.
Easy Dinner Recipe Roundup– Get 45 quick and delicious recipes in our easy dinners roundup. From one-pan wonders to 30-minute meals, simplify your cooking while savoring mouthwatering flavors.
More FALL Recipes
Make delicious food that tastes like the season.
Happy cooking, friends…
