Sunday: Family

Spice up the family gathering with SWEET AND TANGY PORK TENDERLOIN. Combine 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/4 cup cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons cumin and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a resealable plastic bag; mix well. Add 2 (1 pound each) trimmed pork tenderloins, turning to coat. Seal and marinate in refrigerator 1 hour or up to 24 hours.

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place tenderloins on broiler rack coated with cooking spray; place rack in broiler pan lined with foil. Brush with marinade. Bake 20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Remove from oven, cover, and let stand 5 minutes. Slice 1 tenderloin and serve.

To accompany the pork, add ROASTED RED POTATOES, PETITE GREEN PEAS (frozen) and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. For dessert, slice POUND CAKE and top with BLUEBERRIES.

Plan

Save one of the tenderloins and enough cake for Monday.

Shopping List

light brown sugar, cider vinegar, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, black pepper, pork tenderloins, cooking spray, red potatoes, frozen petite green peas, whole-grain rolls, pound cake, fresh or frozen blueberries.

Monday: Heat and Eat

Use the leftover pork tenderloin for a smoky-flavored PORK CHILI. Heat 1 teaspoon canola oil in a Dutch oven over medium. Add 1 cup chopped onion; cook 5 minutes or until softened. Mix in 2 tablespoons chili powder. Cook 1 minute; chop and add the leftover pork tenderloin and cook 3 minutes. Add 2 (8-ounce) cans no-salt-added tomato sauce, 1 (15 1/2-ounce) can rinsed white hominy, 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can no-salt-added undrained diced tomatoes, and 1 tablespoon minced chipotle chiles in adobo sauce; mix well. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low and cook 10 minutes; stir occasionally.

Serve with COLESLAW and CORNBREAD (from a mix). Slice the leftover POUND CAKE for dessert.

Tip

If chipotle chiles in adobo sauce are not available, use 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper and a dash of liquid smoke.

Shopping List

canola oil, onion, chili powder, canned no-salt-added tomato sauce, canned white hominy, canned no-salt-added diced tomatoes, chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, coleslaw, cornbread mix.

Tuesday: Budget

Some would say it's cheap, but we say it's frugal to save money with dishes like SPICY SZECHUAN BEEF AND VEGETABLES. Serve the combo with CRUSTY ROLLS. Look into the future with FORTUNE COOKIES for dessert.

Shopping List

quick-cooking rice, extra-lean ground beef, packaged frozen mixed broccoli, carrots and water chestnuts (or another blend), fresh snow peas, Szechuan spicy stir-fry sauce or another flavor, dry-roasted peanuts, crusty rolls, fortune cookies.

Wednesday: Express

Make it a SOUP AND SANDWICH NIGHT. Buy or make MINESTRONE SOUP for a quick meal. The deli will have TURKEY SANDWICHES on whole-grain bread and you can add a packaged GREEN SALAD. Scoop fat-free CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM for dessert.

Plan

Save enough ice cream for Friday.

Shopping List

minestrone soup, deli turkey sandwiches on whole-grain bread, packaged green salad, fat-free chocolate ice cream.

Thursday: Meatless

We're always in the mood for no-meat lasagna, and this ZUCCHINI LASAGNA didn't disappoint. Serve it with MIXED GREENS and ITALIAN BREAD. For dessert, sprinkle sliced PEACHES with nutmeg.

Shopping List

no-salt-added or regular red pasta sauce, large zucchini, dried basil, no-boil lasagna noodles, reduced-fat ricotta or small-curd cottage cheese, parmesan, dried oregano, shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, salad greens, Italian bread, peaches, nutmeg.

Friday: Kids

You'll hit a home run with BAT BOYS on the menu. Spread a thin round of deli-sliced ham with low-fat mayonnaise and sprinkle with any shredded cheese. Place a sesame bread stick or pretzel rod on one edge and roll tightly. Add frozen OVEN FRIES and CARROT SALAD alongside. For dessert, top leftover ICE CREAM with MARSHMALLOW TOPPING.

Shopping List

deli-sliced ham, low-fat mayonnaise, any shredded cheese, sesame bread sticks or pretzel rods, frozen oven fries, carrot salad, marshmallow topping.

Saturday: Easy Entertaining

Our guests were impressed with the flavor of this version of CHICKEN MARBELLA, and I was impressed with how easy it was to prepare. Serve it with MASHED POTATOES to catch the juices. On the side, add a ROMAINE SALAD and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. RASPBERRY SORBET with CHOCOLATE WAFERS is a simple dessert.

Shopping List

pitted dried plums (prunes), brown sugar, dry white wine, pitted green olives, capers, red wine vinegar, olive oil, fresh oregano, garlic, bay leaves, bone-in skinless chicken parts (breasts, thighs or legs or combination), parsley, potatoes to mash, romaine, whole-grain rolls, raspberry sorbet, chocolate wafers.

Sunday: Family

Prepare your own FLANK STEAK for family day. Serve the thinly sliced beef with SPICY CHEESE RICE BAKE. Steam FRESH BROCCOLI SPEARS and offer SOURDOUGH BREAD on the side. For dessert, fat-free STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM is good.

Plan

Save enough beef and the casserole for Monday; save enough ice cream for Thursday.

Shopping List

flank steak, long-grain rice, fat-free chicken broth, cooking spray, canned Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, reduced-fat sour cream, 50 percent reduced-fat cheddar cheese, pickled jalapeno peppers, fresh cilantro, fresh broccoli, sourdough bread, fat-free strawberry ice cream.

Monday: Heat and Eat

These BEEF ROLLS-UPS are easy. Cut the leftover beef in strips, heat and place on a warmed fat-free flour tortilla. Top with deli COLESLAW and roll. Serve the roll-ups with the leftover SPICY CHEESE RICE BAKE. PINEAPPLE CHUNKS are good for dessert.

Shopping List

fat-free flour tortillas, deli coleslaw, pineapple chunks.

Tuesday: Meatless

Friends and registered dietitians Lyssie Lakatos and Tammy Lakatos Shames' new book, "Nutrition Twins Veggie Cure," has some great vegetarian recipes. Try their FENNEL-STUFFED POTATOES for dinner tonight. GREEN BEANS add more color to the plate. Alongside, SPINACH SALAD WITH EGG WEDGES and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS round out the meal. How about instant CHOCOLATE PUDDING made with 1 percent milk with a dollop of light whipped cream for dessert?

Shopping List

baking potatoes, olive oil, fennel, onion, garlic, zucchini, pine nuts, basil, coarse salt, low-sodium vegetable broth, black pepper, shredded low-fat Swiss cheese, green beans, fresh spinach, eggs, whole-grain rolls, instant chocolate pudding, 1 percent milk, light whipped cream.

Wednesday: Budget

LINGUINE WITH TOMATOES AND ARTICHOKES is a money stretcher. Serve it with a MIXED GREEN SALAD and GARLIC BREAD. PLUMS are dessert.

Shopping List

linguine, olive oil, garlic, canned Italian-style tomatoes, jarred marinated quartered artichokes, crumbled reduced-fat herb feta cheese, salad greens, garlic bread, plums.

Thursday: Kids

The kids are usually in the mood for any PASTA AND SAUCE. Choose any fun pasta this time (such as wagon wheels) and top with any tomato-based sauce. Let them munch on CARROT STICKS on the side. Leftover ICE CREAM makes a good dessert.

Shopping List

any fun pasta, any tomato-based sauce, carrot sticks.

Friday: Express

Take it easy tonight and enjoy deli EGG SALAD on a bed of MIXED GREENS. Sprinkle with fresh chopped dill. Have TOMATO BASIL SOUP and BREAD STICKS on the side. For dessert, PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES add a sweet touch.

Shopping List

deli egg salad, mixed greens, fresh dill, tomato basil soup, bread sticks, peanut butter cookies.

Saturday: Easy Entertaining

Treat your guests to TUNA WITH PESTO. Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Add 2 medium sliced green onions; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until softened. Stir in 1/2 cup pesto and 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice. Top with 1 pound (3/4-inch thick) fresh tuna cut into 4 pieces. Heat skillet until hot; reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 5 to 7 minutes or until desired doneness.

Serve with ANGEL HAIR PASTA tossed with olive oil and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Add a BOSTON LETTUCE SALAD and CRUSTY ROLLS.

For dessert, BAKED PEARS will wow any guest. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Drain 1 (28-ounce) can pear halves on paper towels. Place pears, cut sides down, in a pie plate coated with cooking spray. Drizzle 1/4 cup caramel topping over pears. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until warm. Spoon topping over pears in dish and sprinkle with cinnamon. Add a little fat-free VANILLA ICE CREAM to take it up a notch.

Shopping List

olive oil, green onions, pesto, lemon, fresh tuna, angel hair pasta, parmesan cheese, Boston lettuce, crusty rolls, canned pears, cooking spray, caramel topping, cinnamon, fat-free vanilla ice cream.

Sunday: Family

For family day, serve CITRUS GINGER-GLAZED TURKEY TENDERLOINS. Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in large nonstick skillet. Add 1 1/4 pounds turkey breast tenderloins and cook 5 minutes on medium or until brown on one side. Turn and stir in 1/4 cup orange marmalade, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until sauce is thickened and juice of turkey is no longer pink; stir occasionally. Cut turkey into thin slices and serve with sauce.

Add RICE and GREEN BEANS along with DINNER ROLLS to your meal. Buy or make APPLE COBBLER for dessert.

Plan

Save enough apple cobbler for Monday.

Shopping List

turkey breast tenderloins, orange marmalade, ground ginger, Worcestershire sauce, rice, green beans, dinner rolls, apple cobbler.

Monday: Meatless

You'll never miss meat with POLENTA WITH RED PEPPERS on the menu. Serve the flavor-packed recipe with a SPINACH SALAD garnished with thinly sliced red onion and sliced hard-cooked eggs. Add WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. Warm the leftover COBBLER for dessert and top it with fat-free VANILLA ICE CREAM.

Plan

Save enough ice cream for Thursday.

Shopping List

red bell peppers, canned no-salt-added diced tomatoes, cooking spray, ready-to-slice polenta, fontina cheese, fresh basil, fresh spinach, red onion, eggs, whole-grain rolls, fat-free vanilla ice cream.

Tuesday: Express

Pick up some deli SOUP for an easy meal. Serve it with GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES. Add a packaged GREEN SALAD. For dessert, PEARS are perfect.

Shopping List

deli soup, bread and cheese for sandwiches, packaged green salad, pears.

Wednesday: Budget

Pile up the savings with this SEA SHELL CASSEROLE. Cook 12 ounces medium seashell pasta according to directions; drain and set aside. In a large nonstick skillet, cook 1 pound lean ground beef on medium with 1 tablespoon minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder for 5 minutes or until no longer pink; drain well. Add 3 to 3 1/2 cups red pasta sauce and cook 4 minutes. Add cooked pasta and continue to cook 5 minutes or until heated through. Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Serve with a MIXED GREEN SALAD and ITALIAN BREAD. For dessert, try SLICED PEACHES.

Plan

Save enough casserole for Friday.

Shopping List

medium sea shell pasta, lean ground beef, garlic, onion powder, red pasta sauce, parmesan cheese, salad greens, Italian bread, peaches.

Thursday: Kids

Let the kids pick their favorite PIZZA tonight. Serve it with CELERY STICKS AND DIP. Top leftover ICE CREAM with CHOCOLATE SAUCE.

Plan

Save enough chocolate sauce for Friday.

Shopping List

pizza, celery sticks, dip, chocolate sauce.

Friday: Heat and Eat

Heat the leftover SEA SHELL CASSEROLE for a quick meal. Add a ROMAINE SALAD and GARLIC BREAD on the side. Buy TAPIOCA PUDDING for dessert and drizzle it with leftover chocolate sauce.

Shopping List

romaine, garlic bread, tapioca pudding.

Saturday: Easy Entertaining

For your guests, prepare PORK CHOPS WITH DIJON SAUCE. Serve the chops with frozen O'BRIEN POTATOES, FRESH BROCCOLI SPEARS (drizzle fresh lemon juice over the broccoli), BIBB LETTUCE and BAGUETTES. For dessert, you will understand why Cathy Weichert of Mound, Minn., was a 2013 finalist in the Pillsbury Bake-Off with her ORANGE CARDAMOM BLUEBERRY CROSTATA.

Shopping List

bone-in center-cut pork chops, coarse salt, pepper, olive oil, fat-free chicken broth or dry white wine, honey, Dijon mustard, frozen O'Brien potatoes, fresh broccoli, lemons, bibb lettuce, baguettes, refrigerated pie crust, orange marmalade, flour, ground cardamom, blueberries, egg, coarse white sparkling sugar or regular sugar.