Meal Plan Mondays #20: Easy Recipes for Weeknight Meals

Folks I'm back this week with another addition of Meal Plan Mondays. It's been blazing hot in my neck of the woods so I've been trying to make foods to help cool me off or don't require a whole lot of heat in the kitchen.

I'd also like to share a few tips to help you get through the hot summer months. For starters, don't turn on the oven! I know this is a hard one but it not only heats up the kitchen but it heats up other rooms of the house as well.

Instead use your Slow Cooker or Instant Pot. While it will cook the meals just as well it won't give off nearly as much heat as an oven does and the heat stays fairly contained.

You can also use an Air Fryer. I tend to make fries, potatoes, and egg rolls in the Air Fryer all summer long. My current favorite is this Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 Air Fryer because it folds up and leaves me plenty of counter space.

While it's hot to grill, it's still a better option then the oven because you can keep the heat outside where it belongs. Grill your protein, potatoes, veggies, and even your desserts this summer.

I'm also a fan of baking before I go to bed. It's much cooler at night and the heat will disappear before you wake up in the morning. As long as the kitchen isn't right next to the bedroom this is a good strategy.

So what's cooking on this weeks menu plan? Let's take a look! For entrees I'm serving up two Instant Pot meals, both which will give you plenty of leftovers for the next day! Then I have grilled steak fajitas along with grilled chicken fajita burgers if you want to fire up the grill. I'm rounding out the entrees with fried chicken....in the Air Fryer!

For side dishes we're keeping it cool. I'm sharing my favorite Amish Macaroni Salad recipe along with a Broccoli Salad filled with nuts and cranberries. Then there's a linguini salad that can't be beat.

Desserts won't heat up the kitchen either. I've got a monster milkshake that kids and adults will love followed by No Bake Creamsicle bars. Then lastly I have a tasty brownie recipe.

Finally we've got some appetizers that can't be beat. 5 minute restaurant style salsa will be the hit at any party. I've also got a sour cream and onion dip that works with chips or veggies. Lastly we're serving up Air Fryer hot dog taquitos!