Sunday: Family
For family day, prepare PORK TENDERLOIN WITH RED AND YELLOW PEPPERS. Serve the colorful entree over BROWN RICE. Add PETITE GREEN PEAS (from frozen), a LETTUCE WEDGE and SOURDOUGH BREAD. Buy a CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE for dessert and skip most of the frosting.
Plan
Save enough pork, rice and cake for Monday.
Shopping List
pork tenderloins, coarse salt, black pepper, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh rosemary, garlic, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, balsamic vinegar, brown rice, frozen petite green peas, lettuce, sourdough bread, chocolate layer cake.
PORK TENDERLOIN WITH RED AND YELLOW PEPPERS
Servings: makes 4 servings for now and 4 for later
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: less than 20 minutes
- 2 pork tenderloins, sliced into 1-inch-thick medallions
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1 1/2-inch strips
- 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1 1/2-inch strips
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium-high. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Add oil to skillet; add pork and cook 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; turn pork. Cook 3 minutes. Remove one tenderloin; refrigerate until Monday. Continue cooking remaining pork 2 more minutes. To the skillet, add 1 teaspoon rosemary, garlic and bell peppers; cook 7 minutes or until peppers are tender and pork is done. Drizzle with vinegar. Top with remaining 1/2 teaspoon rosemary; serve.
Per serving: 205 calories, 25 grams protein, 9 grams fat (39% calories from fat), 2.3 grams saturated fat, 5 grams carbohydrate, 75 milligrams cholesterol, 176 milligrams sodium, 1 gram fiber.
Monday: Heat and Eat
Use the leftover pork for ORANGE STIR-FRY and serve it over leftover RICE. Add a MIXED GREEN SALAD and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. Slice the leftover CAKE for dessert.
Shopping List
orange, cornstarch, less-sodium soy sauce, corn syrup, ground ginger, canola oil, carrots, celery, cashews, mixed greens, whole-grain rolls.
ORANGE STIR-FRY
Servings: makes 4 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: less than 10 minutes
- 1 pork tenderloin, partially cooked and sliced into 1-inch-thick medallions
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon less-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup corn syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons canola oil, divided
- 2 large carrots, sliced diagonally
- 2 ribs celery, peeled and sliced diagonally
- 1/2 cup cashews
Cut pork medallions into thin strips. Set aside. Combine orange zest, juice, cornstarch, soy sauce, syrup and ginger; mix well. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet on medium. Add carrots and celery; stir-fry 3 minutes. Remove vegetables; set aside. Pour remaining oil into skillet. Add pork; stir-fry about 3 minutes. Return vegetables to pan, stir juice mixture and add along with cashews. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened; serve.
Per serving: 435 calories, 28 grams protein, 19 grams fat (38% calories from fat), 4 grams saturated fat, 40 grams carbohydrate, 75 milligrams cholesterol, 379 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber.
Tuesday: Meatless
Forgo the meat tonight with TOMATO-BRIE FLATBREAD: Heat oven to 425 degrees. Roll out refrigerated pizza dough and top with sliced tomatoes, chunks of brie cheese and sliced red onion. Drizzle with olive oil; season with coarse salt and pepper. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or according to dough directions.
Serve with a SPINACH SALAD with hard-boiled egg slices. Munch on OATMEAL COOKIES for dessert.
Shopping List
refrigerated pizza dough, tomatoes, brie cheese, red onion, olive oil, coarse salt, pepper, fresh spinach, eggs, oatmeal cookies.
Wednesday: Kids
Kids will like PICADILLO BURRITOS. Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium-high. Add 1 pound lean ground beef; cook 5 minutes or until no longer pink. Drain well. Stir in 1 (14-ounce) can undrained diced tomatoes, 1/4 cup sliced pimento-stuffed olives, 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, 3/4 teaspoon cumin, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, 10 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Warm 4 burrito-size tortillas according to directions. Top each with 1/4 of beef mixture and 1/4 cup shredded lettuce; fold in the sides and roll. Serve with PINTO BEANS, CELERY STICKS and DIP. For dessert, FRESH PINEAPPLE SPEARS are perfect.
Shopping List
lean ground beef, canned diced tomatoes, pimento-stuffed olives, cider vinegar, cumin, cinnamon, ground cloves, burrito-size tortillas, lettuce, pinto beans, celery, dip, fresh pineapple spears.
Thursday: Budget
We gobbled up this delicious BEEF TACO AND RICE SKILLET. Make instant BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING with 1% milk for dessert. Garnish the pudding with light whipped cream.
Shopping List
lean ground beef, onion, garlic, reduced-sodium or regular taco seasoning, no-salt-added tomato sauce, salsa, brown rice, shredded cheddar jack cheese blend, lettuce, reduced-fat sour cream, tomato, sliced jalapenos, cilantro, instant butterscotch pudding mix, 1% milk, light whipped cream.
BEEF TACO AND RICE SKILLET
Servings: makes 4 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
- 1 1/4 pounds lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium or regular taco seasoning
- 1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup uncooked instant brown rice
- 2/3 cup water
- 1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese blend
- 1 cup chopped lettuce
- Reduced-fat sour cream
- 1 small tomato, chopped
- Sliced jalapenos to taste
- Cilantro leaves
Heat large nonstick skillet with deep sides on medium-high. Cook ground beef, onion, garlic and taco seasoning until beef is browned. Stir in tomato sauce, salsa, brown rice and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook until rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Top with cheese, chopped lettuce, sour cream, tomato, jalapenos and cilantro (or your favorite toppings). Serve on its own or in taco shells or tortillas. (Adapted from SwirlsOfFlavor.com.)
Per serving: 452 calories, 40 grams protein, 16 grams fat (33% calories from fat), 7.9 grams saturated fat, 33 grams carbohydrate, 103 milligrams cholesterol, 659 milligrams sodium, 4 grams fiber.
Friday: Express
For an easy meal, pick up CORNED BEEF SANDWICHES ON RYE from the deli. Add some GERMAN POTATO SALAD and PICKLED BEETS on the side. APPLE SLICES are a crunchy fall dessert.
Shopping List
deli corned beef sandwiches on rye, German potato salad, pickled beets, apples.
Saturday: Easy Entertaining
Invite friends for HERB-CRUSTED CHICKEN WITH PARSLEY ORZO: Cook 3/4 cup orzo according to package directions; drain. Stir in 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, 2 teaspoons butter, 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Keep warm. Meanwhile, sprinkle 4 (6-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts with a little salt and pepper. Mix together 2 teaspoons dried basil and 3 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning. Sprinkle over both sides of chicken; press gently to adhere. Melt 4 teaspoons butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to pan. Add chicken; cook 4 minutes or until brown. Turn; cook 5 to 6 more minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Remove from skillet; let stand 3 minutes. Serve chicken over orzo.
Add STEAMED FRESH ZUCCHINI and a BIBB LETTUCE SALAD. Make or buy FLAN for dessert.
Shopping List
orzo, parsley, butter, coarse salt, pepper, boneless skinless chicken breasts, dried basil, dried Italian seasoning, olive oil, fresh zucchini, bibb lettuce, flan.