health

7 Day Menu Planner for April 06, 2014

7 Day Menu Planner  by by Susan Nicholson
by Susan Nicholson
7 Day Menu Planner | April 6th, 2014

Sunday: Family

Keep family day simple with your own ROAST TURKEY BREAST. Pair it with OVEN-ROASTED SWEET POTATOES AND ONIONS. Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, combine 2 1/4 pounds (about 4 medium) sweet potatoes (peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces), 1 pound sweet onions (such as Vidalia), 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 3/4 teaspoon garlic-pepper blend and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt; toss to coat. Bake 35 minutes or until tender; stir occasionally.

While the potatoes bake, prepare SPICY BRUSSELS SPROUTS. Halve and then shred 1 pound fresh brussels sprouts. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick skillet on medium-high. Add 1 small, fresh, seeded and chopped jalapeno pepper and 1 clove minced garlic; cook 2 minutes or until tender. Add sprouts; cook 2 minutes. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar and cook 1 minute. Serve immediately.

Add PICKLED BEETS alongside. Finish the meal with warm BREAD PUDDING.

Plan

Save enough turkey for Monday and Tuesday; save enough bread pudding for Monday.

Shopping List

turkey breast to roast, sweet potatoes, sweet onions (such as Vidalia), extra-virgin olive oil, garlic-pepper blend, coarse salt, fresh brussels sprouts, butter, fresh jalapeno pepper, garlic, sugar, pickled beets, bread pudding.


Monday: Heat and Eat

Use some of the leftover turkey in TURKEY TORTELLINI SOUP. Add a LETTUCE WEDGE and CRACKERS on the side. Warm the leftover BREAD PUDDING for dessert.

Shopping List

fat-free chicken broth, canned no-salt-added diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, canned white beans, sliced fresh mushrooms, fresh spinach, refrigerated cheese tortellini, parmesan cheese, lettuce, crackers.


Tuesday: Kids

Call the kids for DAGWOOD DELI SANDWICHES. Cut 1-pound loaf of French bread into 4 to 6 equal pieces and then halve horizontally. Brush cut sides of bread with honey-mustard salad dressing. Layer bottom half with thinly sliced deli ham, thinly sliced (leftover) turkey, 50 percent reduced-fat cheddar cheese slices, sliced tomatoes and shredded lettuce. Top with remaining bread. Secure with wooden picks, cut in half and serve.

Add deli CARROT SALAD on the side. Buy CUPCAKES and serve them with PEACHES for dessert.

Shopping List

French bread, honey-mustard salad dressing, deli ham, 50 percent reduced-fat cheddar cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, deli carrot salad, cupcakes, peaches.


Wednesday: Express

Make it a quick meal tonight with deli TUNA SALAD on packaged MIXED GREENS (stir grape halves and toasted walnuts into the tuna salad for extra flavor) and add WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS on the side. Munch on PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES for dessert.

Shopping List

deli tuna salad, packaged mixed greens, grapes, walnuts, whole-grain rolls, peanut butter cookies.


Thursday: Budget

Carry on with this week's soup theme and serve economical CHICKPEA AND PASTA SOUP. Add a SPINACH SALAD with egg wedges and CRUSTY BREAD. Fresh PINEAPPLE SPEARS are good for dessert.

Shopping List

canned reduced-sodium chickpeas (garbanzo beans), fat-free chicken broth, canned no-salt-added diced tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, fresh rosemary, crushed red pepper, coarse salt, freshly ground pepper, short pasta such as ditalini or tubetti, spinach, eggs, crusty bread, fresh pineapple spears.


Friday: Meatless

These MUSHROOM SLOPPY JOES prove that you don't need meat to have good flavor. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon canola oil over medium. Add 1 pound chopped fresh white mushrooms; cook and stir 8 minutes or until browned and liquid has evaporated. Stir in 1 (15 1/2-ounce) can sloppy Joe sauce. Cook mixture 3 minutes or until thick. Divide and spoon mushroom mixture among 4 split and toasted whole-grain hamburger buns.

Serve immediately with canned VEGETARIAN BAKED BEANS. Add a MIXED GREENS SALAD. Bring some happiness with fat-free VANILLA ICE CREAM with toasted coconut and chocolate chips for dessert.

Tip

Check the labels of sloppy Joe sauces and buy the lowest-sodium one.

Plan

Save enough ice cream for Saturday.

Shopping List

canola oil, fresh white mushrooms, canned sloppy Joe sauce, whole-grain hamburger buns, canned vegetarian baked beans, salad greens, fat-free vanilla ice cream, coconut, chocolate chips.


Saturday: Easy Entertaining

Invite friends for HONEY ORANGE PORK CHOPS. Mix 1/3 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro leaves, 1 tablespoon seasoned salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon cumin and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Reserve 3 tablespoons marinade; set aside. Place 4 (1/2-inch-thick) boneless pork chops in resealable plastic bag; add unreserved marinade; turn to coat. Refrigerate 1 to 3 hours, turning several times; remove pork; discard marinade. Broil or grill on medium 3 to 4 minutes per side or until 145 degrees, brushing with reserved 3 tablespoons marinade halfway through cooking.

Serve the chops with RICE PILAF. Add a BIBB LETTUCE SALAD and SOURDOUGH ROLLS. Layer leftover ICE CREAM with fresh strawberries in stemmed glasses and top with a dollop of light whipped cream for a festive dessert.

Shopping List

orange juice, honey, olive oil, fresh cilantro, seasoned salt, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, boneless pork chops, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, wild rice, fat-free chicken broth, long-grain rice, fresh parsley, Bibb lettuce, sourdough rolls, fresh strawberries, light whipped cream.

health

7 Day Menu Planner for March 30, 2014

7 Day Menu Planner  by by Susan Nicholson
by Susan Nicholson
7 Day Menu Planner | March 30th, 2014

Sunday: Family

Make RED PEPPER BEEF KEBABS for family day. Cut 1 1/2 pounds beef top-sirloin steak into 1-inch cubes. Cut 1 large red bell pepper into 1-inch pieces. Marinate beef, peppers and 8 large, stemless, whole fresh mushrooms in any marinade, tossing to coat. Alternately thread beef, peppers and mushrooms on each of 4 (12-inch) metal skewers. Heat broiler. Place skewers on rack in broiler pan 3 to 4 inches from heat. Broil 8 to 10 minutes for medium-rare to medium doneness, turning occasionally. Serve the colorful kebabs with BROWN RICE.

On the side, cook 2 pounds baby carrots in 1 (10 1/2-ounce) can condensed, undiluted chicken broth until fork-tender. Stir in 1 (10 1/2-ounce) jar of red pepper jelly, and you have PEPPER JELLY-GLAZED CARROTS.

Add WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. For dessert, serve a DEEP-DISH PEACH COBBLER.

Plan

Save enough peach cobbler for Tuesday.

Shopping List

beef top-sirloin steak, red bell pepper, whole fresh mushrooms, any marinade, brown rice, baby carrots, canned condensed chicken broth, red pepper jelly, whole-grain rolls, deep-dish peach cobbler.


Monday: Budget

We're crazy about chili, so we loved this easy SANTA FE WHITE CHILI. On the side, you can munch on JICAMA and CELERY STICKS. Add CORNBREAD (from a mix). PEARS are a simple dessert.

Plan

Save enough chili for Tuesday.

Shopping List

garlic powder, cumin, dried oregano, olive oil, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, onion, fat-free chicken broth, canned chopped green chiles, bay leaf, canned reduced-sodium cannellini beans, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, green onions, jicama, celery, cornbread mix, pears.


Tuesday: Heat and Eat

Make dinner easy tonight with CHILI SPUDS. Bake potatoes (6 to 8 ounces each) and slash the tops; spoon hot (leftover) chili over them. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro if you like. Add steamed fresh ZUCCHINI along with WHOLE-GRAIN BREAD. Warm the leftover COBBLER for dessert.

Shopping List

baking potatoes, fresh cilantro if desired, fresh zucchini, whole-grain bread.


Wednesday: Express

Make it quick tonight with BEEF, ORANGE AND SPINACH SALAD. In a large bowl, gently mix segments from 3 oranges, 8 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves, 1/4 cup fresh chives, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger, 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon rice vinegar. Divide among 4 serving plates. Top with 1 pound any grilled and thinly sliced steak or deli sliced roast beef. (Adapted from "Cooking With an Asian Accent," Ying Compestine; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014.)

Add deli SOUP along with CRUSTY ROLLS. End the meal with a scoop of fat-free CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM.

Plan

Save enough ice cream for Thursday and enough soup for Friday.

Shopping List

oranges, fresh baby spinach, fresh chives, garlic, fresh ginger, extra-virgin olive oil, rice vinegar, any steak or deli roast beef, deli soup, crusty rolls, fat-free chocolate ice cream.


Thursday: Kids

Make the kids happy with CHICKEN FINGERS WITH HONEY-MUSTARD DIP. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix together 16 finely crushed saltine crackers, 1/4 cup finely chopped toasted pecans, 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt and 2 teaspoons paprika. Whisk 2 egg whites until frothy; one at a time, dip 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenders into egg white and then into cracker mixture. Coat chicken on both sides with cooking spray; place on rack coated with cooking spray on a broiler pan. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until chicken fingers are golden brown; turn once. Serve with honey-mustard dip.

Add HASH-BROWNED POTATOES (frozen), GREEN BEANS and SOFT ROLLS on the side. For dessert, top leftover ICE CREAM with STRAWBERRY SAUCE.

Plan

Cook rice for Friday's risotto. Save enough strawberry sauce for Saturday.

Shopping List

saltine crackers, pecans, coarse salt, paprika, eggs, chicken breast tenders, cooking spray, honey-mustard dip, frozen hash-browned potatoes, green beans, soft rolls, strawberry sauce.


Friday: Meatless

Start your meal with leftover SOUP and follow it with this delicious version of BAKED RISOTTO that's easy to prepare. Serve with a ROMAINE SALAD and GARLIC BREAD. For dessert, enjoy PEACHES.

Shopping List

canned no-salt-added diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, canned no-salt-added vegetable broth, fresh mushrooms, rice, small pasta shells (such as ditalini), green bell pepper, Italian seasoning, shredded 50 percent reduced-fat cheddar cheese, slivered almonds, romaine, garlic bread, peaches.


Saturday: Easy Entertaining

We recommend serving ROSEMARY CHICKEN WITH ARTICHOKES to your guests and adding it to your favorites file. Serve with COUSCOUS and a SPINACH SALAD. Buy a CHEESECAKE for dessert and top it with leftover strawberry sauce and light whipped cream.

Shopping List

boneless, skinless chicken breasts, coarse salt, pepper, paprika, olive oil, butter, canned water-packed artichokes, green onions, fat-free chicken broth, dry sherry, cornstarch, fresh rosemary, couscous, fresh spinach, cheesecake, light whipped cream.

health

7 Day Menu Planner for March 23, 2014

7 Day Menu Planner  by by Susan Nicholson
by Susan Nicholson
7 Day Menu Planner | March 23rd, 2014

Sunday: Family

This simple LEMON ROAST CHICKEN is just right for family day. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over a 4 1/2- to 5-pound chicken; put rind in cavity. Place chicken on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Brush chicken with canola oil; sprinkle with coarse salt and dried thyme. Roast 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

Serve the juicy bird with your own MASHED POTATOES and GRAVY. Add fresh steamed BRUSSELS SPROUTS and a ROMAINE SALAD on the side. Don't forget the DINNER ROLLS. For dessert, fat-free STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM is simple, too.

Plan

Save enough chicken for Monday. Make 2 extra cups mashed potatoes and save enough ice cream for Tuesday.

Shopping List

chicken to roast, lemon, canola oil, coarse salt, dried thyme, potatoes to mash, gravy, fresh brussels sprouts, romaine lettuce, dinner rolls, fat-free strawberry ice cream.


Monday: Heat and Eat

Use the leftover chicken in CHICKEN AND CHIVE FETTUCCINE. Serve with a LETTUCE WEDGE with crumbled blue cheese along with BREAD STICKS. For dessert, PEACHES are just fine.

Shopping List

spinach-flavored or other fettuccine, olive oil, grape tomatoes, chive and onion cream cheese, Italian seasoning, lettuce, crumbled blue cheese, bread sticks, peaches.


Tuesday: Budget

Many of us like salmon any way it's prepared, so this SALMON CHOWDER fills the bill. Cook 1 (10-ounce) package frozen corn and butter sauce according to directions. In a large bowl, combine the cooked corn mixture, 1 (14 3/4-ounce) can drained salmon, 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes, 1 cup 1 percent milk and 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper. Microwave on high (100 percent power) 3 or 4 minutes or until hot. Mix well; stir in 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice. Ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

Serve with a deli CARROT SALAD and WHOLE-GRAIN BREAD. For dessert, leftover ICE CREAM is waiting.

Shopping List

frozen corn and butter sauce, canned salmon, 1 percent milk, red bell pepper, lemon, fresh parsley, deli carrot salad, whole-grain bread.


Wednesday: Express

Give yourself a break and pick up a package of Lloyd's BARBECUE PORK (or another brand) for dinner tonight. Heat it and serve on toasted whole-grain hamburger buns. Top with sliced DILL or JALEPENO PICKLES. Stop by the deli for COLESLAW. For dessert, make instant VANILLA PUDDING with 1 percent milk and swirl in a little honey.

Plan

Save enough barbecue pork for Thursday.

Shopping List

Lloyd's barbecue pork (or another brand), whole-grain hamburger buns, sliced dill or jalapeno pickles, deli coleslaw, instant vanilla pudding, 1 percent milk, honey.


Thursday: Kids

Reinvent yesterday's barbecue pork into BARBECUE TACOS. Heat and spoon the leftover meat into warmed taco shells. Add mild salsa, chopped lettuce and chopped tomatoes. Top with any shredded cheese and reduced-fat sour cream. The tacos go well with canned, heated REFRIED BEANS. For dessert, halve KIWIFRUIT and eat it with a spoon.

Shopping List

taco shells, mild salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, any shredded cheese, reduced-fat sour cream, canned refried beans, kiwifruit.


Friday: Meatless

Keep it simple tonight with BROILED PEPPER JACK CHEESE AND ROASTED RED PEPPER SANDWICHES. Heat broiler. Drain the red peppers (from a jar) on paper towels before placing on rye bread. Top with cheese slices. Broil until cheese melts. Serve with O'BRIEN POTATOES (frozen) and BROCCOLI. PEARS are dessert.

Shopping List

pepper jack cheese, jar of roasted red peppers, rye bread, frozen O'Brien potatoes, broccoli, pears.


Saturday: Easy Entertaining

This SHRIMP SCAMPI couldn't be easier to prepare for guests. Serve it over ORZO. On the side, GREEN BEANS WITH GINGERED WALNUTS would impress any guest. Add a MIXED GREENS SALAD and SOURDOUGH BREAD. Buy FRUIT TARTS for dessert.

Shopping List

butter, uncooked shrimp with tails, green onion, garlic powder, parsley, pepper, white wine or lemon, orzo, canola oil, soy sauce, ground ginger, walnuts, fresh green beans, olive oil, salad greens, sourdough bread, fruit tarts.

Next up: More trusted advice from...

  • Abuse Victim Can't Get Mother To See Truth
  • Fiance Sees Video and Pics From the Bachelorette Party
  • Husband's Drinking Puts Family at Risk and Marriage in Doubt
  • Environmentally Smart Gardening
  • Gardening by Design
  • Small but Mighty Bulbs
  • LEAD STORY -- Bright Idea
  • LEAD STORY -- There Are Rules
  • LEAD STORY -- They're Lovin' It
UExpressLifeParentingHomePetsHealthAstrologyOdditiesA-Z
AboutContactSubmissionsTerms of ServicePrivacy Policy
©2022 Andrews McMeel Universal