Sunday: Family
For an easy family favorite, serve a BAKED TURKEY BREAST, DRESSING, GRAVY and these GREEN BEANS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS: In a large nonstick skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter on medium. Add 1 large sweet onion, quartered and sliced; cook 15 minutes. Stir occasionally until golden and tender. Meanwhile, cook 1 1/2 pounds trimmed fresh green beans 5 to 7 minutes in boiling water. Drain; return to pot. Reserve some of the onions for garnish. Add remaining onions to pot. Season with coarse salt and pepper; toss to coat. Transfer to serving dish. Garnish with reserved onions.
Add SOURDOUGH BREAD to this fine meal, and buy a COCONUT PIE for a luscious dessert.
Plan
Save enough turkey for Monday; save enough pie for Tuesday.
Shopping List
turkey breast, dressing, gravy, butter, sweet onion, fresh green beans, coarse salt, pepper, sourdough bread, coconut pie.
Monday: Heat and Eat
Turn the leftover turkey into TURKEY REUBEN PANINIS. For one sandwich: Spread one side of each of 2 slices thinly sliced rye bread with 1 1/2 teaspoons of Thousand Island dressing total. Place one thin slice Swiss cheese, 1 tablespoon rinsed and drained refrigerated sauerkraut and 2 ounces leftover sliced turkey on the bread. Top with 1 more slice cheese and the other bread slice with dressed side down. Coat outside of sandwich with cooking spray. Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium-high. Add sandwiches; place a heavy skillet on top of sandwiches; press gently to flatten. Leaving heavy skillet, cook 2 minutes per side or until browned and cheese melts. Serve with OVEN FRIES (from frozen) and a MIXED GREEN SALAD. Enjoy TROPICAL FRUITS for dessert.
Shopping List
thinly sliced rye bread, Thousand Island dressing, Swiss cheese, refrigerated sauerkraut, cooking spray, frozen oven fries, mixed greens, tropical fruits.
Tuesday: Budget
Economical and easy to prepare, SWEET AND SPICY CHICKEN THIGHS will be a hit. Serve with a LETTUCE WEDGE and WHOLE-GRAIN BREAD. For dessert, slice the leftover PIE.
Shopping List
lower-sodium soy sauce, honey, spicy brown mustard, boneless skinless chicken thighs, whole-wheat couscous, unsalted chicken broth, frozen petite peas, coarse salt, pepper, lettuce, whole-grain bread.
SWEET AND SPICY CHICKEN THIGHS
Servings: makes 6 servings
Prep time: less than 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes, plus couscous
- 1 tablespoon lower-sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs, well-trimmed (about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds)
- 3/4 cup whole-wheat couscous
- 1 3/4 cups unsalted chicken broth
- 1/2 cup frozen petite peas, thawed
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey and mustard. Place chicken in a 7-by-11-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Brush chicken with half the soy sauce mixture. Bake 15 minutes. Brush with remaining soy sauce mixture; bake 15 more minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Meanwhile, prepare couscous according to directions using chicken broth instead of water. Stir in the peas, salt and pepper. Serve chicken with couscous.
Per serving: 268 calories, 27 grams protein, 5 grams fat (18% calories from fat), 1.3 grams saturated fat, 27 grams carbohydrate, 107 milligrams cholesterol, 322 milligrams sodium, 4 grams fiber.
Wednesday: Meatless
Skip meat without missing it and enjoy LENTIL STEW. Add a SPINACH SALAD with EGG WEDGES and CRUSTY ROLLS. Make instant BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING with 1% milk for dessert.
Shopping List
lentils, unsalted chicken broth, canola oil, cumin seeds, shallots, gold potato, fresh baby spinach, eggs, crusty rolls, instant butterscotch pudding mix, 1% milk.
LENTIL STEW
Servings: makes 4 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 to 35 minutes
- 1 cup lentils, picked and rinsed
- 2 cups unsalted chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- 1 (10-ounce) gold potato, peeled and cubed
- 1 (5- or 6-ounce) package fresh baby spinach
In a 2-quart saucepan, combine lentils, broth and water. Bring to a boil on medium-high. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, in a large, deep, nonstick skillet, heat oil on medium. Add cumin seeds; cook 15 to 30 seconds or until fragrant, stirring. Add shallots; cook 3 minutes or until golden, stirring occasionally. Stir in potato and cook 3 minutes. Carefully pour lentil mixture into skillet; stir to combine. Cover and cook 10 minutes. Stir in spinach. Cook 2 minutes or until spinach is wilted; serve.
Per serving: 278 calories, 15 grams protein, 5 grams fat (15% calories from fat), 0.4 gram saturated fat, 45 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 102 milligrams sodium, 13 grams fiber.
Thursday: Kids
Let the kids try WHOLE-GRAIN CHICKEN BREAST NUGGETS (from frozen). Serve the nuggets with SWEET POTATO FRIES and a CARROT SALAD for a meal loaded with vitamin A. Fresh PINEAPPLE SPEARS are perfect for dessert.
Shopping List
whole-grain chicken breast nuggets, sweet potato fries, carrot salad, fresh pineapple spears.
Friday: Express
Stop at the deli for a ROTISSERIE CHICKEN. Serve with quick BROWN RICE and fresh BROCCOLI. Add a packaged CAESAR SALAD. CUPCAKES are a terrific dessert.
Shopping List
rotisserie chicken, quick brown rice, fresh broccoli, packaged Caesar salad, cupcakes.
Saturday: Easy Entertaining
Serve a spectacular meal to your guests with MARINATED LAMB CHOPS WITH ROSEMARY AND GARLIC on the menu. Add RICE and GREEN BEANS, a BOSTON LETTUCE SALAD and a BAGUETTE alongside. For dessert, buy FRUIT TARTS.
Shopping List
extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, fresh rosemary, lemons, coarse salt, pepper, lamb loin chops (1 inch thick) or lamb rib chops, rice, green beans, Boston lettuce, baguette, fruit tarts.
MARINATED LAMB CHOPS WITH ROSEMARY AND GARLIC
Servings: makes 4 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes; marinating time: 30 minutes to overnight
Cook time: 8 to 12 minutes
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Zest of one lemon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 12 lamb loin chops (1 inch thick) or lamb rib chops
Combine the oil, garlic, rosemary, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Place lamb in a sealable bag; pour mixture over lamb, seal and marinate 30 minutes to overnight. Remove lamb from marinade and discard; pat chops dry before grilling.
Heat grill to 500 degrees and cook chops 4 to 6 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Let lamb rest 3 minutes before serving.
Per serving: 197 calories, 27 grams protein, 9 grams fat (42% calories from fat), 3.2 grams saturated fat, no carbohydrate, 87 milligrams cholesterol, 557 milligrams sodium, no fiber.