January 11th Weekly Meal Prep

There's something about a few hours on Sunday spent in the kitchen that just sets the whole week up for success. When I open my fridge on those busy days and see food ready to go? That's the feeling we're going for. No more stressing about what's for breakfast on busy mornings or throwing together last-minute dinners—it's all handled. This week's prep session was one of those where I felt like I really nailed the balance between treating ourselves and fueling our bodies well. We've got high-protein options, make-ahead breakfasts, grab-and-go snacks, and a few easy dinners halfway started that'll actually make us excited to sit down together as a family. Let me walk you through what we prepped and why these recipes are going to make your week so much easier.

What We're Making This Week-

Higher Protein S'mores (with homemade graham crackers + cool whip)

Because yes, we can have our treats AND our protein. These have become such a hit with my kids—they don't even realize they're getting extra nutrition. I love that we're not sacrificing the things we enjoy; we're just making them work a little harder for us. If you haven't made your own graham crackers yet, this is your sign. Store-bought ones are fine, but when you make them yourself, you know exactly what's going in them. Plus, they taste SO much better.

Sausage Pancake Muffins with Homemade Sausage

This is one of those recipes that saves me on busy mornings. The kids can grab one (or two) and I know they're getting a solid breakfast with protein. Making the sausage from scratch means we're avoiding all the fillers and weird ingredients you find in store-bought versions. I usually double this recipe because they freeze beautifully.

Street Corn Chicken Bowls

One of my absolute favorites for lunch prep. These bowls have everything—protein, veggies, healthy fats, and so much flavor!

High Protein Cottage Cheese Muffins

These are a staple In our rotation, and we are all obsessed. They're moist, fluffy, flavorful, and pack way more protein than your typical muffin. I love having these on hand for afternoon snacks or even a quick breakfast option. They satisfy that baked goods craving while actually keeping us full.

Korean Beef Tacos

Dinner win right here. The Korean beef is so flavorful and comes together quickly! This recipe is one of the 30 found in my Meals Made Easy recipe book!

Ricotta Turkey Meatballs

These meatballs are tender, juicy, and so versatile. This week we're having them with pasta, but they're equally good in a sub, over rice, or even just as a protein-packed snack. The ricotta keeps them from getting dry, which is always my issue with turkey meatballs.

Homemade Sandwich Bread

This is always at the top of my prep list. A quality loaf of sandwich bread at the store runs $5-7 these days, and half the time I can't even pronounce the ingredients on the label. When I make it myself, I know exactly what's going in it, and the cost is a fraction of store-bought.

Why Sunday Prep Helps:

I know spending a couple hours in the kitchen on Sunday might not sound like everyone's idea of a good time, but here's what I've learned: those few hours give me back SO much time during the week.

Time Savings: When Wednesday hits and everyone's hangry and I'm tired, I'm not standing in front of an open fridge wondering what to make. Everything's already there. Dinner comes together in 15-20 minutes instead of an hour. Lunches are grab-and-go. Snacks are ready when the kids ask.

Money Savings: Can we talk about how much money this saves? Just bread alone—a quality loaf at the store is easily $5-7. When I make things like sandwich bread, graham crackers, or these muffins on prep day, we're saving so much and getting better ingredients. Those savings add up fast when you're feeding a family.

Better Eating: This is the big one for me. When we have real food ready to go, we're not tempted by convenience foods or takeout. We're eating WAY better than anything we could grab on the go, and I feel so much better about what we're putting in our bodies.

Making It Work for You:

You don't have to make everything I made. Maybe you just pick 2-3 things to start with. The goal isn't perfection—it's progress. Even prepping one or two components can make your week so much smoother.

And remember, this gets easier the more you do it. The first few times might feel overwhelming, but once you find your rhythm, it becomes second nature.

You'll find the street corn chicken bowls in my prepped to perfection recipe book and the homemade graham crackers in my snack stash recipe book. You can get them 30% off when you purchase the Ultimate Homemade Bundle which includes 4 of my best selling books!

OR you can get access to them (and the full weekly meal plan with korean beef tacos + turkey ricotta meatballs) by subscribing to The Kitchen Collective down below!

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Hey Kitchen Collective Members, here's the exclusive homemade graham crackers, cool whip, and street corn chicken bowl recipe! Plus your FULL walk through prep video! You can grab the Korean beef tacos + turkey ricotta meatballs in the weekly meal plan for this week HERE!

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