uExpress - National perspectives on life, family and politics

back to 7-Day Menu Planner

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

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY | SATURDAY 
Express SUNDAY
Try Carolina Turkey's Roast in Its Own Bag boneless TURKEY BREAST with the GRAVY packet included (or use a store-bought turkey breast and gravy). What's turkey without Pepperidge Farm's One Step (or another brand) STUFFING mix? Serve with steamed GREEN BEANS (fresh or frozen) tossed with a little fresh tarragon, margarine or butter, and a splash of dry white wine. Serve with DINNER ROLLS. Store-bought APPLE PIE is what Mom would want you to have.

PLAN AHEAD: Save enough turkey for Monday and Tuesday; save some gravy and pie for Monday and enough stuffing for Tuesday.

TIP: Mom won't force you to eat the top crust of the pie and neither will I. You know why.

Family MONDAY
The family will welcome leftover sliced TURKEY BREAST and GRAVY tonight. Serve with your own MASHED SWEET POTATOES. Steam fresh BROCCOLI and top with UNTRADITIONAL HOLLANDAISE SAUCE (see recipe). Pretend it's a holiday and serve CRANBERRIES with the feast. Add BREAD and warm the leftover PIE for dessert.
Check out the recipe for this day!

Heat and Eat TUESDAY
No same-ole, same-ole here with TURKEY-AND-APPLE-STUFFED PITAS. In a large bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup each low-fat mayonnaise and fat-free plain yogurt, 3/4 teaspoon curry powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir in 2 cups diced cooked (leftover) turkey, 4 sliced scallions, 1 medium chopped red bell pepper and 1 medium chopped apple. Mix well to combine. Halve 4 (6-inch) whole-wheat pitas and line with lettuce leaves. Stuff with turkey mixture. Then stuff yourself with leftover STUFFING. For dessert, FRESH FRUIT is simple.

Meatless WEDNESDAY
Cynthia Aldape of Houston won a prize for MEDITERRANEAN SPINACH AND RICE (see recipe). After you taste the no-meat combo, you'll understand why. Start your meal with canned TOMATO SOUP. Add WHOLE-WHEAT ROLLS. For dessert, make or buy LEMON PUDDING and top with light whipped cream.

PLAN AHEAD: Buy enough feta cheese for Friday.
Check out the recipe for this day!

Kids' THURSDAY
This BARBECUE CHICKEN is mild enough for your little darlings. Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup chopped onion, 3/4 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 cup each honey and cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce and 1/2 teaspoon paprika. Mix well. Rinse 1 (2 1/2- to 3-pound) skinless (don't worry about the wings) cut-up chicken with cold running water; pat dry with paper towels. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray; layer chicken, meaty side down, in dish. Pour two-thirds of the barbecue sauce over chicken. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes; turn pieces, pour remaining sauce over them, and bake 20 minutes longer or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Serve with canned VEGETARIAN BAKED BEANS and store-bought CARROT/RAISIN SALAD. Add CORNBREAD from a mix. The kids can help prepare SLICE-AND-BAKE COOKIES for dessert.

PLAN AHEAD: Save enough cookies for Friday.

Budget FRIDAY
You'll get your money's worth with savory BEEF AND POTATO SOUP tonight. In a large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add 1 medium chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves, and cook 2 minutes or until onion is softened. Crumble 1/2 pound lean ground beef and add to pan. Cook 5 to 8 minutes or until beef begins to brown. Add 3 cups tomato juice, 2 cups beef broth, 2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 pound unpeeled diced red potatoes; mix well. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer, stirring occasionally 10 minutes. Stir in 1 each chopped red and green bell peppers and cook 10 more minutes to blend flavors; serve immediately.

Serve with MIXED GREENS topped with crumbled feta cheese and a light vinaigrette. Add any MUFFINS from a mix. Sweeten the finish with leftover COOKIES and FRUIT.

Entertaining SATURDAY
Get ready for the compliments you'll receive when you serve HONEY CITRUS BROILED SALMON (see recipe) to your guests. Serve with ORZO tossed with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and cooked frozen tiny green peas. Make ANGEL HAIR PINEAPPLE COLESLAW. Use packaged coleslaw mix and toss with store-bought coleslaw dressing and fresh chopped or canned and drained crushed pineapple. Add CRUSTY BREAD. Serve a store-bought LAYER CAKE for dessert.
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.