Sunday: Family
Enjoy family day with grilled GARLIC-LIME MARINATED CHICKEN. In a resealable plastic bag, combine 1/2 cup fresh lime juice, 1/3 cup canola oil, 1/4 cup tequila or fat-free chicken broth, 2 teaspoons each garlic powder and chopped fresh cilantro, 1/2 teaspoon each cayenne pepper, cumin and coarse salt; mix well. Add 8 (5- to 6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts; turn to coat. Refrigerate 1 hour. Heat grill. Remove chicken; discard marinade. Grill or broil 5 to 7 minutes per side.
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Serve with one of our favorites, DILLY POTATO SALAD. Add SLICED TOMATOES drizzled with olive oil and topped with fresh basil leaves, and CRUSTY ROLLS. For dessert, slice POUND CAKE and top with sliced fresh PEACHES.
Plan
Save enough chicken, potato salad and cake for Monday.
Shopping List
limes, canola oil, tequila or fat-free chicken broth, garlic powder, fresh cilantro, cayenne pepper, cumin, coarse salt, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, red potatoes, zucchini, canned sliced black olives, celery, red onion, fresh dill, white wine vinegar, less-sodium seasoned salt, dry mustard, tomatoes, olive oil, fresh basil, crusty rolls, pound cake, fresh peaches.
Monday: Heat and Eat
Take it easy and enjoy Sunday's CHICKEN and POTATO SALAD leftovers. Add some deli COLESLAW on the side, along with WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. For dessert, leftover CAKE goes well with fat-free CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM.
Plan
Save enough ice cream for Thursday.
Shopping List
deli coleslaw, whole-grain rolls, fat-free chocolate ice cream.
Tuesday: Budget
Slow cookers, simplicity and budgets go together, and ITALIAN BEEF STEW is all of the above. In a 4-quart or larger slow cooker, layer 2 pounds well-trimmed beef cubes for stew, 2 medium onions cut into wedges and 1 large red bell pepper cut into 1-inch pieces. Pour 2 cups spaghetti sauce (from a jar) over all. Cover and cook on low 8 to 9 hours. Add 1 1/2 pounds yellow summer squash cut into 3/4-inch chunks; cook 15 minutes on high or until squash is tender; mix well. Season with coarse salt and pepper to taste.
Serve over FETTUCCINE, along with a MIXED GREEN SALAD. Add GARLIC BREAD. PEARS are dessert.
Shopping List
beef cubes for stew, onions, red bell pepper, jarred spaghetti sauce, yellow summer squash, coarse salt, pepper, fettuccine, salad greens, garlic bread, pears.
Wednesday: Kids
The kids will laugh when you tell them that DOGS WITH DOGGONE GOOD SALSA are on the menu tonight. Combine 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 cup salsa and 1/2 medium chopped yellow bell pepper; mix well. Spoon over grilled Applegate (or another brand; see TIP) HOT DOGS in whole-grain hot dog buns. Add OVEN FRIES (frozen) and RAW BABY CARROTS with a RANCH DRESSING DIP. Let the kids make instant BANANA PUDDING with 1 percent milk for dessert. They can also slice bananas and stir them into the pudding.
Tip
The kids will laugh when you tell them that DOGS WITH DOGGONE GOOD SALSA are on the menu tonight. Combine 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 cup salsa and 1/2 medium chopped yellow bell pepper; mix well. Spoon over grilled Applegate (or another brand; see TIP) HOT DOGS in whole-grain hot dog buns. Add OVEN FRIES (frozen) and RAW BABY CARROTS with a RANCH DRESSING DIP. Let the kids make instant BANANA PUDDING with 1 percent milk for dessert. They can also slice bananas and stir them into the pudding.
Shopping List
Dijon mustard, salsa, yellow bell pepper, Applegate (or another brand) lower-fat, lower-sodium hot dogs, whole-grain hot dog buns, frozen oven fries, raw baby carrots, ranch dressing dip, instant banana pudding, 1 percent milk, bananas.
Thursday: Meatless
You won't miss meat when you serve GREEN BEAN, RED RICE AND ALMOND SALAD. Serve with DEVILED EGGS and BAGUETTES. Leftover fat-free CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM is dessert.
Shopping List
haricots verts or French green beans, unsweetened almond butter, extra-virgin olive oil, orange, cider vinegar, coarse salt, red or brown rice, whole almonds, flatleaf parsley, freshly ground black pepper, deviled eggs, baguettes.
Friday: Express
Try Zatarain's JAMBALAYA (or another brand and flavor) for a quick packaged meal tonight. Serve with a ROMAINE SALAD. Continue the New Orleans tradition and serve warm BREAD PUDDING from the bakery for dessert. Let the good times roll!
Plan
Save enough bread pudding for Saturday.
Shopping List
Zatarain's packaged jambalaya (or another brand and flavor), romaine, bakery bread pudding.
Saturday: Easy Entertaining
Serve your lucky friends CHILI-CUMIN PORK TENDERLOIN and wait for the compliments. Accompany the spicy pork with BLACK BEAN SALAD. In a medium bowl, combine 1 (16-ounce) can rinsed reduced-sodium black beans, 4 thinly sliced green onions with half the tops, 1 cup mild to spicy salsa, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro and 1/2 squeezed lime; mix well. Let stand 30 minutes to 1 hour at room temperature.
Warm the leftover BREAD PUDDING and top with BOURBON SAUCE. In a small bowl, microwave 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter on high 45 seconds (covered) or until melted. Stir in 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar, 1 lightly beaten egg and 2 tablespoons bourbon (or 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract); microwave on medium (50 percent power) 1 to 2 minutes, stirring several times. (For a smooth sauce, process in a blender or food processor a few seconds.) (Adapted from "The Microwave Cook's Complete Companion," Rosemary Dunn Stancil and Lorela Nichols Wilkins; Fawcett, 1990.)
Shopping List
chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, freshly ground black pepper, cinnamon, coarse salt, cayenne pepper, pork tenderloins, canned reduced-sodium black beans, green onions, mild to spicy salsa, fresh cilantro, lime, unsalted butter, powdered sugar, egg, bourbon or pure vanilla extract.