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02/10/2013

Plan your meals a week at a time or pick and choose your favorites. Each meal comes with a handy shopping list. Bon Appetite!

Family SUNDAY

Enjoy PEPPERED PORK ROAST for family day. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Rub all surfaces of a 4-pound, well-trimmed boneless pork loin roast with a pepper-blend seasoning. Place pork in shallow roasting pan and roast 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until internal temperature is 145 degrees. Remove from oven and let the roast stand 5 minutes.

Slice and serve with your own MASHED POTATOES, ASPARAGUS and a RED-TIPPED LETTUCE SALAD. Add DINNER ROLLS.

For dessert, this DEEP-DISH BLUEBERRY PIE will wow the family. Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine 3/4 cup sugar, 6 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca, 8 cups fresh blueberries (or frozen and thawed) and the juice of 1 orange. Place 1 refrigerated piecrust in a 9 1/2-inch, deep-dish pie plate. Add filling. Cut 5 or 6 pieces from second crust using a decorative cookie cutter. Place on top of pie. Crimp edges to form a tight seal and trim away extra crust. Brush top with 1 beaten egg white mixed with 1 tablespoon milk. Bake pie on tray 45 to 50 minutes or until bubbly and crust is golden. Cool before serving.

PLAN AHEAD: Save enough pork and pie and prepare 3 extra cups of mashed potatoes for Monday.

Heat and Eat MONDAY
Use those leftovers to make PORK-POTATO HASH. Cook 1 medium chopped onion and 1 chopped red bell pepper in a little olive oil until softened. Add 3 cups leftover mashed potatoes, 2 cups chopped leftover pork and 1 cup tiny green peas (frozen and thawed). Cook, stirring often, until mixture is browned.

Serve with reduced-fat sour cream. Add a GREEN SALAD and WHOLE-GRAIN BREAD. Serve the leftover PIE for dessert with FAT-FREE VANILLA ICE CREAM.

PLAN AHEAD: Save enough ice cream for Saturday.

Budget TUESDAY
CHICKEN WITH CARROTS AND POTATOES IN WINE SAUCE (see recipe) is a meal in itself and economical at the same time. Serve with MIXED GREENS and CRUSTY BREAD. PEARS are dessert.
Check out the recipe for this day!

Kids' WEDNESDAY
Here come the kids for TOPSY-TURVY PIZZA (see recipe). Serve this kids' favorite with GREEN BEANS. They'll love POOH BEAR'S FAVORITE RICE PUDDING for dessert. Add (any) milk, raisins, a little sugar and a dash of pure vanilla extract to hot, cooked rice. Simmer until thickened. Drizzle with honey.

PLAN AHEAD: Bake Thursday's potatoes tonight.
Check out the recipe for this day!

Meatless THURSDAY
Skip meat tonight and enjoy BROCCOLI-CHEESE BAKED POTATOES. Cut a 1-inch strip from the tops of 4 (8-ounce) baked potatoes. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Carefully scoop out pulp, leaving shells intact. Mash pulp. Stir in 1 cup fresh small broccoli florets, 1 cup shredded 50 percent reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, 2 sliced green onions, 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream, 1/4 cup 1 percent milk and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt. Mix well. Divide and spoon into potato shells and place in a baking dish. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes.

Serve with a SPINACH SALAD and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. For dessert, munch on PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES.

Express FRIDAY
You'll have dinner on the table in no time using your favorite SPAGHETTI SAUCE mix. Spoon it over your favorite PASTA, add some parmesan cheese, and you'll have a fine meal! Add a packaged GREEN SALAD and ITALIAN BREAD. SLICED KIWIFRUIT is dessert.

Entertaining SATURDAY
Invite guests for your own GRILLED GROUPER tonight. Serve with RED POTATOES WITH OLIVES AND FETA (see recipe). Add a ROMAINE SALAD and CRUSTY ROLLS. For dessert, spoon crushed pineapple over leftover fat-free vanilla ice cream, and add a dollop of light whipped cream for your own PINEAPPLE SUNDAES.

Check out the recipe for this day!

Susan Nicholson is an Atlanta-based cookbook author and registered dietitian. E-mail Susan at menuplanner@mindspring.com.