Sunday: Family
Make family-day dining a tasty experience with SAGE AND WILD MUSHROOM PORK CHOPS. Alongside, add PARSLEY-BUTTERED POTATOES, GREEN BEANS and DINNER ROLLS. Buy a BOSTON CREAM PIE for dessert.
Plan
Save enough pie for Monday.
Shopping List
dried sage, ground ginger, black pepper, center-cut, bone-in pork chops, canola oil, sliced fresh mushrooms (such as shiitake or crimini), unsalted chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, pure maple syrup, dried thyme, garlic powder, fresh parsley, butter, potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls, Boston cream pie.
SAGE AND WILD MUSHROOM PORK CHOPS
Servings: makes 4 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 to 30 minutes
- 2 teaspoons dried sage
- 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 center-cut, bone-in pork chops (trimmed, 1 inch thick), about 1 1/4 pounds
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 2 cups thinly sliced fresh mushrooms (such as shiitake or crimini)
- 1 cup unsalted chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
In a small bowl, mix together sage, ginger and pepper. Rub evenly on both sides of chops. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet on medium-high. Add chops; cook 5 to 6 minutes per side or until desired doneness. Remove from skillet; cover with foil to keep warm. Add mushrooms to skillet; cook and stir 5 minutes. Stir in broth, vinegar, maple syrup, thyme and garlic powder, scraping browned bits from bottom of skillet. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 5 to 10 minutes or until sauce begins to thicken. Spoon over chops and serve.
Per serving: 222 calories, 21 grams protein, 9 grams fat (38 percent calories from fat), 1.9 grams saturated fat, 12 grams carbohydrate, 63 milligrams cholesterol, 79 milligrams sodium, 1 gram fiber.
Monday: Kids
Tell the kids that FLASHY FISH TACOS are for dinner and watch them hurry to the table. In a 1-quart baking dish, mix together 1 tablespoon canola oil, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano and 1/4 teaspoon cumin; microwave on high (100 percent power) for 30 seconds. Stir in 2 (6-ounce) cans drained, water-packed light tuna, 1 (14-ounce) can drained no-salt-added petite diced tomatoes, 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce and juice of 1/2 lime. Microwave on high 2 minutes or until heated through; stir once.
Microwave 4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas for 10 seconds on high until warm. Spoon some of the hot filling onto each tortilla; top each one with 1/4 cup shredded 50 percent light cheddar cheese, and fold over.
Serve with YELLOW RICE (from a mix) and AVOCADO SLICES. Enjoy leftover PIE for dessert.
Shopping List
canola oil, dried oregano, cumin, canned water-packed light tuna, canned no-salt-added petite diced tomatoes, hot pepper sauce, lime, fat-free flour tortillas, 50 percent light cheddar cheese, yellow rice mix, avocados.
Tuesday: Budget
It's easy, low-cost and has lots of flavor, and that's why WHITE CORN CHILI is for dinner. Brown 3/4 pound lean ground beef in a large pot for 5 minutes on medium-high or until it's no longer pink; drain. Add 1 (15 1/4-ounce) can drained no-salt-added whole-kernel white corn, 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes with garlic and onion, 2 cups salsa and 1 (16-ounce) can rinsed, reduced-sodium kidney beans. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until hot. Garnish with shredded 50 percent light jalapeno cheddar cheese.
Serve with a MIXED GREENS SALAD and BAKED TORTILLA CHIPS. Add PEARS for dessert.
Plan
Double the chili recipe for Thursday night.
Shopping List
lean ground beef, canned no-salt-added whole-kernel white corn, canned diced tomatoes with garlic and onion, salsa, canned reduced-sodium kidney beans, 50 percent light jalapeno cheddar cheese, mixed salad greens, baked tortilla chips, pears.
Wednesday: Meatless
Skip meat for ASIAN VEGETABLES AND NOODLES WITH PEANUT SAUCE. Add a LETTUCE WEDGE and SESAME BREAD STICKS. Make PISTACHIO PUDDING with 1 percent milk for dessert
Shopping List
stir-fry rice noodles (such as Thai Kitchen or another brand), crunchy peanut butter, unsalted vegetable stock, dry sherry, chives, fish sauce, sugar, sesame oil, canola oil, bok choy, fresh bean sprouts, red bell pepper, lettuce, sesame bread sticks, pistachio pudding, 1 percent milk.
ASIAN VEGETABLES AND NOODLES WITH PEANUT SAUCE
Servings: makes 4 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
- 7 ounces stir-fry rice noodles (such as Thai Kitchen or another brand)
- 1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup unsalted vegetable stock
- 3 tablespoons dry sherry
- 2 tablespoons chives
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce (see Note)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 2 cups coarsely chopped bok choy
- 1 cup fresh bean sprouts
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
Prepare rice noodles as directed on package. Rinse under cold water; drain well. Set aside. Place peanut butter, vegetable stock, sherry, chives, fish sauce, sugar and sesame oil in bowl of food processor; cover. Process until smooth. Set aside. Heat canola oil in large skillet or wok on medium heat. Add bok choy, bean sprouts and bell pepper; stir-fry 3 to 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Stir in peanut butter mixture. Bring to simmer. Add noodles; toss to coat. Spoon noodle mixture into serving bowls and serve.
Note: Fish sauce is made from anchovies. If you cannot eat it, delete it and substitute with 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt.
Per serving: 432 calories, 9 grams protein, 18 grams fat (38 percent calories from fat), 2.8 grams saturated fat, 57 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 708 milligrams sodium, 3 grams fiber.
Thursday: Heat and Eat
Enjoy having leftover CHILI for dinner. Serve it over BROWN RICE this time. Add COLESLAW and CORNBREAD (from a mix). Enjoy TANGERINES for dessert.
Shopping List
brown rice, coleslaw, cornbread mix, tangerines.
Friday: Express
Tonight's REUBEN PIEROGI BAKE will be on the table quickly. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Coat a shallow 10-inch round baking dish with cooking spray. In a large saucepan, heat 1 (14.1- to 16.9-ounce) package frozen pierogies (any kind, such as Mrs. T's) in 2 quarts boiling water for 5 minutes or until they float. Drain well and transfer to prepared baking dish. Layer 4 ounces thinly sliced deli corned beef (cut into 2-inch squares) and 1 cup rinsed and drained refrigerated sauerkraut over pierogies; drizzle with 1/3 cup reduced-fat Thousand Island dressing and top with 4 ounces thinly sliced Swiss cheese. Bake 10 minutes or until pierogies are hot and cheese melts.
Serve with PICKLED BEETS. Buy a CHEESECAKE for dessert.
Plan
Save enough cheesecake for Saturday.
Shopping List
cooking spray, any packaged frozen pierogies (such as Mrs. T's), deli corned beef, refrigerated sauerkraut, reduced-fat Thousand Island dressing, Swiss cheese, pickled beets, cheesecake.
Saturday: Easy Entertaining
You'll be busy tonight, so BEEF AND SMOKED GOUDA GRITS will be perfect. Serve with a ROMAINE SALAD and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. Top leftover CHEESECAKE with warm CHERRY PRESERVES.
Shopping List
quick-cooking grits, smoked Gouda cheese, butter, extra-virgin olive oil, portobello mushrooms, red onion, packaged refrigerated fully cooked beef tips with gravy, fresh parsley, romaine, whole-grain rolls, cherry preserves.
BEEF AND SMOKED GOUDA GRITS
Servings: makes 6 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: less than 20 minutes
- 3 1/2 cups water
- 1 cup quick-cooking grits
- 1 cup shredded smoked Gouda cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 ounces coarsely chopped portobello mushrooms
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1 (17-ounce) package refrigerated fully cooked beef tips with gravy
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Boil water in a medium pan. Slowly add grits, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook 5 to 7 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Add cheese and butter; stir until cheese and butter are completely melted. Remove from heat. Cover; set aside.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet on medium-high. Add mushrooms and onion. Cook 4 to 5 minutes or until onion is softened, stirring occasionally. Stir in beef tips with gravy; continue cooking 5 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Divide grits among 4 shallow bowls. Top with beef mixture, garnish with parsley and serve.
Per serving: 370 calories, 26 grams protein, 16 grams fat (38 percent calories from fat), 7.6 grams saturated fat, 31 grams carbohydrate, 78 milligrams cholesterol, 824 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber.