Here are my dinner recommendations (and salads!) for the upcoming week (August 11-17, 2025). I also have 2 NEW SUMMER DESSERTS: raspberry peach cheesecake (no water bath!) and strawberry tiramisu (no-bake, coffee-free, 30 minutes of prep!) - make sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of this newsletter to see those desserts + a small life update (we spent 3 days on an uninhabited island!).

DAY 1 (NEW): The Best Summer Shrimp Tacos​

DAY 2 (NEW): Mexican-Inspired Salmon Taco Salad Bowl with Poblano Ranch Dressing​

DAY 3: Chicken Shawarma Wraps (warm pita or flatbread, layered with hummus, tzatziki or garlic sauce, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and sometimes pickles)

DAY 4: Creamy Asiago Cheese Tortellini (embarrassingly simple but so flavorful thanks to ASIAGO! Perfect meatless main or side for grilled steak or chicken!)

DAY 5: Creamy Salmon & Spinach Orzo (with Parmesan, lemon, and bell peppers) 30 Minutes, One-Pan

DAY 6: Chicken Corn Bacon Pasta Salad​

DAY 7: Mixed Paella with Chicken, Shrimp, Sausage, and Bell Peppers​

SALAD 1: Strawberry Spinach Salad with Bacon and Toasted Almonds​

SALAD 2: Tomato Arugula Salad with Parmesan and Pine Nuts​

SALAD 3: Strawberry Spinach Salad with Quinoa, Peaches, and Cashews​

DESSERT (NEW!): Raspberry Peach Cheesecake (no water bath required!)

DESSERT (NEW!): Strawberry Tiramisu (No-Bake, Coffee-Free, only 30 minutes of prep!)

We spent 3 nights on an uninhabited island!

You might remember that last year Kevin and I spent two weeks sailing through the British Virgin Islands: I talked about it here and here. Well… we’re at it again—only this time we’re in the Turks and Caicos. Last Saturday, we sailed from Providenciales to West Caicos, an uninhabited island that feels like stepping back in time. Have you ever done sailing?

West Caicos was once planned as a thriving cotton plantation in the late 1800s, and you can still see traces of that history—old stone walls, rusted machinery, even cotton growing wildly, and what’s left of the abandoned settlement. The island is also home to Lake Catherine, a large inland saltwater lake.

While sailing across the ocean, we came across this shipwreck resting in the shallow turquoise water. At that point, we were navigating through just four feet of water ourselves—thankfully, we didn’t end up becoming the next shipwreck.

We spent three nights anchored at this uninhabited island, exploring different parts of the island and the surrounding water. One day, we wandered past the ruins and found heavy old machinery being slowly reclaimed by the island. Of course, there was plenty of snorkeling, swimming, and paddleboarding. I even spotted a nurse shark gliding right beneath me while I was snorkeling—thankfully, more curious than threatening—but mostly I was surrounded by shimmering schools of tropical fish in every color you can imagine.

One night, a storm rolled through, with lightning flashing all around us. Out on the open ocean, it felt close—maybe closer than it really was—and I didn’t sleep much (and my husband made fun of me). But when I woke at 4 a.m., the storm had cleared and the sky had transformed. From horizon to horizon, it was nothing but stars—no haze, no light pollution, no trees or buildings to block the view, no more lightning. Just an endless, glittering dome stretching in every direction. I’d never seen the night sky look that vast, that untouched. I was kind of glad that my worry made me wake up that early, as I was able to witness something like that. This is one of the coves that we explored:

We are sailing:

If you try any of these recipes, I'd love your feedback in the comments section for each one on my website. Please do not respond to this e-mail. If you have questions, feedback, or any other concerns, please use the comments section for a particular recipe on JuliasAlbum.com or leave a message on my ABOUT page. I always check the comments shared on my website. If you would like to share a photo of what you made, tag me #juliasalbum or @juliasalbumblog on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliasalbumblog/​