Sunday: Family
Serve the family your own ROAST CHICKEN (5 to 7 pounds) today. Alongside, add WHITE BEANS WITH LEMON, FENNEL AND AVOCADO, MIXED GREENS and CRUSTY ROLLS. Buy a CARROT CAKE for dessert.
Plan
Save enough cake for Monday.
Shopping List
roasting chicken, canned reduced-sodium cannellini beans, fennel bulb, grape tomatoes, red onion, flatleaf parsley, Kalamata olives, olive oil, lemons, fresh basil, coarse salt, pepper, avocados, mixed greens, crusty rolls, carrot cake.
WHITE BEANS WITH LEMON, FENNEL AND AVOCADO
Servings: makes 6 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
- 2 (15-ounce) cans reduced-sodium cannellini beans, rinsed
- 1 medium bulb fennel, trimmed and shredded
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
- 1/4 cup minced red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped flatleaf parsley
- 1/4 cup sliced and pitted Kalamata olives
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 avocados, diced
In a large bowl, combine the beans, fennel, tomatoes, onion, parsley and olives. In another small bowl, mix the oil, lemon juice and basil to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Add the dressing to the bean mixture and toss to coat. Fold in the avocados and serve immediately.
Per serving: 193 calories, 5 grams protein, 12 grams fat (53 percent calories from fat), 1.6 grams saturated fat, 18 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 210 milligrams sodium, 7 grams fiber.
Monday: Budget
Economical SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN AND BARLEY SOUP is easy to prepare. In a 6-quart Dutch oven or other pot, combine 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes (undrained), 1 (16-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce, 5 3/4 cups unsalted chicken broth, 1 cup medium pearled barley (not quick cooking), 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, dash cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil; add 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, 40 minutes or until barley is tender and chewy and chicken is no longer pink. Add 1 (15-ounce) can rinsed reduced-sodium black beans and 1 cup frozen corn. Simmer 5 more minutes. Garnish as desired and serve.
Serve the flavorful soup with an AVOCADO SALAD and CHEESE TOAST. Leftover CAKE works for dessert.
Tip
Economical SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN AND BARLEY SOUP is easy to prepare. In a 6-quart Dutch oven or other pot, combine 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes (undrained), 1 (16-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce, 5 3/4 cups unsalted chicken broth, 1 cup medium pearled barley (not quick cooking), 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, dash cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil; add 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, 40 minutes or until barley is tender and chewy and chicken is no longer pink. Add 1 (15-ounce) can rinsed reduced-sodium black beans and 1 cup frozen corn. Simmer 5 more minutes. Garnish as desired and serve.
Serve the flavorful soup with an AVOCADO SALAD and CHEESE TOAST. Leftover CAKE works for dessert.
Plan
Save enough soup for Tuesday.
Shopping List
canned no-salt-added diced tomatoes, canned no-salt-added tomato sauce, canned unsalted chicken broth, medium pealed barley, chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, chicken breast, reduced-sodium black beans, frozen corn, avocados and lettuce for salad, bread and cheese for toast.
Tuesday: Heat and Eat
You can relax since dinner is ready as soon as you reheat the leftover SOUP. Serve the soup with GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES and a LETTUCE WEDGE SALAD. Juicy PEACHES are dessert.
Shopping List
bread and cheese for sandwiches, lettuce, fresh peaches.
Wednesday: Express
Make it quick and colorful tonight with TUNA-STUFFED AVOCADOS. Buy deli tuna salad and heap on top of avocado halves. Garnish with a little paprika. Add TOMATO WEDGES, DEVILED EGGS and a WHOLE-GRAIN ROLL to the plate. For dessert, fresh RASPBERRIES are in season. Top them with a little LIGHT WHIPPED CREAM.
Tip
Make it quick and colorful tonight with TUNA-STUFFED AVOCADOS. Buy deli tuna salad and heap on top of avocado halves. Garnish with a little paprika. Add TOMATO WEDGES, DEVILED EGGS and a WHOLE-GRAIN ROLL to the plate. For dessert, fresh RASPBERRIES are in season. Top them with a little LIGHT WHIPPED CREAM.
Shopping List
deli tuna salad, avocados, paprika, tomatoes, deviled eggs, whole-grain rolls, fresh raspberries, light whipped cream.
Thursday: Meatless
For a unique no-meat dinner, serve ROASTED ZUCCHINI WITH ALMONDS AND OLIVES over BROWN RICE. Add MIXED GREENS and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. For dessert, top FRESH PINEAPPLE with TOASTED COCONUT.
Shopping List
zucchini, coarse salt, olive oil, garlic, pimento-stuffed green olives, whole almonds, brown rice, mixed greens, whole-grain rolls, fresh pineapple, coconut.
ROASTED ZUCCHINI WITH ALMONDS AND OLIVES
Servings: makes 4 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes; standing time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
- 5 medium zucchini
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped pimento-stuffed green olives
- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped almonds
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Using a vegetable peeler, slice zucchini lengthwise into long, thin strips and put into medium bowl. Add salt and toss. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add oil, garlic, olives and almonds; toss lightly. Arrange in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet and bake 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
Per serving: 161 calories, 5 grams protein, 13 grams fat (66 percent calories from fat), 1.6 grams saturated fat, 10 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 371 milligrams sodium, 3 grams fiber.
Friday:
Saturday: Easy Entertaining
Your guests will feel extra-special when you serve them SHEET PAN PECAN-CRUSTED SALMON WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS. Serve with ORZO tossed with chopped FRESH PARSLEY, a SPINACH SALAD and BAGUETTES. For dessert, ICE CREAM SOUP is fun. Stir 1 pint slightly softened strawberry ice cream in a bowl until smooth and creamy. Pour 1/2 cup into each of 4 small bowls, top each with 1/4 cup any fresh fruit and serve.
Shopping List
finely chopped pecans, salmon fillets (skin removed), coarse salt, pepper, olive oil, fresh Brussels sprouts, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, pecan halves, balsamic vinegar, honey, orzo, fresh parsley, fresh spinach, baguettes, strawberry ice cream, any fresh fruit.
SHEET PAN PECAN-CRUSTED SALMON WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Servings: makes 4 servings
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 15 to 18 minutes
- 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
- 4 (4- to 6-ounce) salmon fillets, skins removed
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts, halved
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup pecan halves
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons honey
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cover a large rimmed baking pan with nonstick foil. Place chopped pecans in a pie plate. Season fillets with half the salt and pepper and brush top with about 2 teaspoons oil. Press fillets, top side down, into the chopped pecans to coat. Arrange in center of baking sheet. In a medium bowl, combine Brussels sprouts, remaining oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, pecan halves and remaining salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Transfer to baking sheet, not touching salmon. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until Brussels sprouts are fork-tender and salmon is cooked through. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil. Continue to boil, stirring continuously, about 10 minutes or until liquid has been reduced by half. Remove from heat, stir in honey and allow to cool until ready to serve. Drizzle over salmon and sprouts just before serving.
Per serving: 542 calories, 30 grams protein, 31 grams fat (50 percent calories from fat), 3.7 grams saturated fat, 40 grams carbohydrate, 53 milligrams cholesterol, 372 milligrams sodium, 7 grams fiber.