Sunday: Family
Gather the family for WHITE CHRISTMAS CHILI for a casual meal. Serve the chili with MIXED GREENS and CORNBREAD (from a mix). CHRISTMAS COOKIES make an appropriate dessert. Tuck the kids in early.
Plan
Save enough cookies for Monday and enough chili for Tuesday.
Shopping List
canola oil, onion, celery, unsalted chicken broth, canned reduced-sodium great northern beans, canned chopped green chilies, cumin, bay leaf, coarse salt, cayenne pepper, cooked chicken breast, fresh cilantro, baked tortilla chips, 50 percent light cheddar cheese, reduced-fat sour cream, salsa, mixed greens, cornbread mix, Christmas cookies.
WHITE CHRISTMAS CHILI
Servings: makes about 13 cups
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: a little more than 1 hour
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
- 3 (14-ounce) cans unsalted chicken broth
- 3 (16-ounce) cans reduced-sodium great northern beans, rinsed (or 4 1/2 cups cooked)
- 3 (4-ounce) cans chopped green chilies
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 bay leaf
- Coarse salt to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- GARNISHES:
- baked tortilla chips
- shredded 50 percent light cheddar cheese
- reduced-fat sour cream
- salsa
Heat oil in a Dutch oven to medium; add onion and celery and cook 6 minutes or until softened. Add broth, beans, chilies, cumin, bay leaf, salt and cayenne pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 50 minutes or until thickened; add chicken. Cook 10 more minutes or until heated through. Remove bay leaf; stir in cilantro just before serving. Serve with desired toppings.
Per cup: 154 calories, 15 grams protein, 2 grams fat (14 percent calories from fat), 0.4 gram saturated fat, 16 grams carbohydrate, 28 milligrams cholesterol, 278 milligrams sodium, 4 grams fiber.
Monday:
SOUTHWEST BRUNCH CASSEROLE
Servings: makes 8 servings
Prep time: about 15 minutes; standing time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 40 to 50 minutes
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 small red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 (8-ounce) loaf Italian bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 5 cups)
- 1 (15-ounce) can reduced-sodium black beans (or 1 1/2 cups cooked)
- 2 cups shredded 50 percent light sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups 2 percent milk
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet to medium. Add onion and pepper; cook and stir 3 minutes or until softened. Spread half of the bread cubes in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Layer with half of each of onion mixture, beans, cheddar and Monterey jack. Repeat layers. Beat eggs in a medium bowl until foamy. Add milk, chili powder, oregano, cumin and salt; beat until blended. Pour evenly over top layer. Press remaining bread cubes lightly into egg mixture until completely covered. Let stand 10 minutes before baking. Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until center is set and top is golden.
Per serving: 367 calories, 24 grams protein, 18 grams fat (43 percent calories from fat), 8 grams saturated fat, 31 grams carbohydrate, 172 milligrams cholesterol, 712 milligrams sodium, 5 grams fiber.
Tuesday: Heat and Eat
Spoon the leftover CHILI over BROWN RICE for a simple meal. Garnish with shredded 50 percent light cheddar cheese. Add a ROMAINE SALAD and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. Enjoy STRAWBERRIES for dessert.
Shopping List
brown rice, 50 percent light cheddar cheese, romaine, whole-grain rolls, strawberries.
Wednesday: Express
Make a quick meal of VEGETABLE CHOWDER tonight. In a 2- or 3-quart microwaveable dish, combine 1 tablespoon butter, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper and 1 cup chopped carrots. Microwave on high (100 percent power) 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of potato soup, 1 cup 1 percent milk and 1 (16-ounce) can cream-style corn. Cover and microwave on high 8 to 10 minutes or until hot. Let stand covered 2 minutes; serve. Add GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES with SWEET PICKLES and CHERRY TOMATOES on the side. For dessert, try PEACHES.
Shopping List
butter, onion, green bell pepper, carrots, canned condensed cream of potato soup, 1 percent milk, canned cream-style corn, cheese and bread for sandwiches, sweet pickles, cherry tomatoes, peaches.
Thursday: Meatless
Black sesame seeds add color, texture and flavor to a SESAME PEANUT NOODLE BOWL. Serve with sliced CUCUMBERS and BREAD STICKS. APRICOTS are an easy dessert.
Shopping List
black sesame seeds, spaghetti, peanut butter, light soy sauce, white wine vinegar, light or dark sesame oil, brown sugar, ground ginger, crushed red pepper, shredded carrots, green onions, cucumbers, bread sticks, apricots.
SESAME PEANUT NOODLE BOWL
Servings: makes 4 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 2 minutes, plus pasta
- 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons light or dark sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 cup coarsely shredded carrots
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions (green part only)
Heat a small skillet to medium. Add sesame seeds; cook and stir about 2 minutes or until fragrant. Immediately pour out of hot pan to avoid over-toasting. Cook spaghetti according to directions. Meanwhile, mix peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, oil, sugar, ginger and red pepper in large bowl with wire whisk until smooth. Stir in carrots and sesame seeds. Drain spaghetti, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water. Add spaghetti and water to sesame seed mixture; toss to coat well. Sprinkle with green onion tops. Serve immediately.
Per serving: 417 calories, 13 grams protein, 15 grams fat (32 percent calories from fat), 2.6 grams saturated fat, 59 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 444 milligrams sodium, 4 grams fiber.
Friday: Budget
It's time to save money with (frozen) VEGGIE BURGERS WITH AVOCADO TOPPING. For the topping: In a small bowl, mash 1 ripe Hass avocado until creamy. Mix in 1/2 cup diced seeded cucumber, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon chopped green onions and 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt. Arrange a lettuce leaf on each of 4 whole-grain hamburger buns. Place a cooked burger on each leaf; top with sliced tomatoes, additional cucumber slices and the avocado mixture. Serve with OVEN FRIES (from frozen). Fresh PEARS are your dessert.
Shopping List
Hass avocado, cucumber, lemon, green onions, coarse salt, lettuce, whole-grain hamburger buns, frozen veggie burgers, tomatoes, frozen oven fries, fresh pears.
Saturday: Easy Entertaining
Any guest will like the mild flavor of BAKED FISH FILLETS. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with nonstick foil. In a shallow dish, combine 1/2 cup cornflake crumbs or crushed baked corn chips, 2 tablespoons cornmeal, 2 teaspoons grated parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper. In another shallow dish, whisk together 2 egg whites until frothy. Dip 4 tilapia, sole or flounder fillets (about 6 ounces each) in egg white and then in crumb mixture to coat evenly all over. Place on baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until opaque throughout.
Serve with ROASTED RED POTATOES, ASPARAGUS, MIXED GREENS and WHOLE-GRAIN BREAD. For dessert, CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH LIGHT WHIPPED CREAM is always a favorite.
Shopping List
cornflake crumbs or baked corn chips, cornmeal, parmesan cheese, coarse salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, eggs, tilapia, sole or flounder fillets, red potatoes, asparagus, mixed greens, whole-grain bread, chocolate mousse mix, light whipped cream.