Sunday: Family
Prepare a BAKED TURKEY BREAST according to directions on the package. Pair it with COUNTRYSIDE WHITE BEANS AND ARTICHOKES. Add SALAD GREENS sprinkled with PISTACHIOS. Buy a CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE for dessert.
Plan
Save enough turkey and cake for Monday.
Shopping List
turkey breast to bake, canned reduced-sodium cannellini beans, canned quartered artichokes, ripe olives, unsalted chicken broth, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, Dijon mustard, dried marjoram (or fresh), pepper, unseasoned bread crumbs, extra-virgin olive oil, salad greens, pistachios, chocolate layer cake.
COUNTRYSIDE WHITE BEANS AND ARTICHOKES
Servings: makes 8 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: less than 10 minutes
- 2 (1.5 ounce) cans reduced-sodium cannellini beans (or 3 cups cooked), rinsed
- 1 (14-ounce) can quartered artichokes, drained (or fresh cooked artichokes, chopped)
- 3/4 cup ripe olives, quartered
- 3/4 cup unsalted chicken broth
- 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained (see Note) and thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried marjoram (or 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh), divided
- Pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
In a medium saucepan, combine beans, artichokes, olives, broth, tomatoes, mustard and 1/2 teaspoon marjoram; mix well. Bring to boil on medium-high; simmer 3 or 4 minutes or until hot. Season with pepper to taste. Spoon into a 7-by-11-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray; set aside. In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs, olive oil and remaining marjoram; mix well. Sprinkle evenly over top of tomato mixture. Broil 1 minute or until golden.
Note: Press tomatoes between several layers of paper towels to remove excess oil.
Per serving: 159 calories, 6 grams protein, 5 grams fat (27 percent calories from fat), 0.6 gram saturated fat, 23 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 503 milligrams sodium, 6 grams fiber.
Monday: Heat and Eat
Use the turkey leftovers for TURKEY ENCHILADAS WITH AVOCADO CORN SALAD. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a 7-by-11-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Microwave 8 fat-free flour tortillas as package directs until softened. Divide 2 cups shredded cooked turkey and 3/4 cup shredded Mexican-blend cheese among tortillas. Roll and place seam-side down in dish. Pour 1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce over tortillas; top with 1/4 cup more cheese. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until hot.
Meanwhile, combine 1 diced Hass avocado, 1 pint halved grape tomatoes, 2 cups cooked fresh corn, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, coarse salt and pepper to taste; toss to mix. Serve with enchiladas. Add a ROMAINE SALAD. Slice the leftover CAKE and serve with FRESH CHERRIES for dessert.
Shopping List
cooking spray, fat-free flour tortillas, shredded Mexican-blend cheese, canned enchilada sauce, Hass avocado, grape tomatoes, fresh corn, lime, coarse salt, pepper, romaine, cherries.
Tuesday: Express
TORTELLINI WITH HAM AND PEAS is fast and easy. Cook 1 (9-ounce) package refrigerated mushroom tortellini (or another flavor) according to directions; drain.
Meanwhile, combine 3/4 cup sun-dried tomato Alfredo sauce, 1 cup cooked green peas (fresh or frozen) and 1/2 cup diced ham; mix well. Pour over tortellini and toss to mix. Serve with packaged SPINACH and GARLIC BREAD. Sliced CANTALOUPE is a refreshing dessert.
Shopping List
refrigerated mushroom tortellini (or another flavor), sun-dried tomato Alfredo sauce, fresh or frozen green peas, diced ham, packaged spinach, garlic bread, cantaloupe.
Wednesday: Meatless
For a flavor-packed, no-meat dinner, you'll like SEASONED BLACK BEANS. Serve them over BROWN RICE and garnish with plain yogurt. Serve with MIXED SALAD GREENS, sliced AVOCADOS and some FLATBREAD. Try FRESH PLUMS for dessert.
Shopping List
onion, green bell pepper, olive oil, garlic, zucchini, tomatoes, dried or fresh tarragon, dried or fresh oregano, dried or fresh basil, coarse salt, black pepper, canned reduced-sodium black beans, brown rice, plain yogurt, mixed salad greens, avocados, flatbread, fresh plums.
SEASONED BLACK BEANS
Servings: makes 6 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: about 15 minutes; standing time: 2 minutes
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped zucchini
- 1 cup coarsely chopped tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried tarragon or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 tablespoon fresh
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried
- Coarse salt to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (15-ounce) can reduced-sodium black beans (or 1 3/4 cups cooked), rinsed
In a 3-quart microwave-safe baking dish, combine onion, bell pepper, oil and garlic. Cover and microwave on high (100 percent power) 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Add zucchini, tomatoes, tarragon, oregano, basil, salt and pepper; stir and cover. Cook on high 4 minutes. Add beans; stir and cover. Cook on high 4 to 6 minutes or until heated through. Let stand 2 minutes and serve.
Per serving: 95 calories, 5 grams protein, 2 grams fat (15 percent calories from fat), 0.3 gram saturated fat, 17 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 76 milligrams sodium, 6 grams fiber.
Thursday: Kids
MANGO QUESADILLAS are a good dinner for kids and an easy way to encourage them to eat more fruit. Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium. Coat one side of 6 (8-inch) flour tortillas with cooking spray. Place uncoated side down in skillet. Heat 15 seconds or until heated through. Flip tortilla, reduce heat to low, and sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups shredded 50 percent light cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup finely chopped onion and 2 cups chopped mango, leaving 1/2 inch margin around edges. Sprinkle top with pinch ground cumin and pinch chili powder. When the cheese has melted, flip one half of the tortilla over the other half. Remove from skillet; cut into wedges. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
On the side, add CARROT STICKS to munch on. Make CHOCOLATE PUDDING with 1 percent milk for dessert.
Shopping List
flour tortillas, cooking spray, 50 percent light cheddar cheese, onion, mango, cumin, chili powder, carrot sticks, chocolate pudding, 1 percent milk.
Friday: Budget
You won't put too much strain on the budget with SPICY PEANUT SAUCE OVER PASTA SHELLS for dinner. Cook 8 ounces (any) small pasta shells according to directions; drain. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups peanut (or satay) sauce, 2 cups shredded cooked chicken, 1 cup shredded carrots, 3 sliced green onions and 1/2 seedless cucumber (chopped). Add to cooked pasta; toss to mix. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, if desired.
Serve with a LETTUCE WEDGE and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. WATERMELON SLICES are a hydrating dessert.
Shopping List
any small pasta shells, peanut or satay sauce, cooked chicken, carrots, green onions, seedless cucumber, peanuts if desired, lettuce, whole-grain rolls, watermelon.
Saturday: Easy Entertaining
Your friends will love your classic GRILLED BURGERS (using lean ground beef) on SESAME SEED BUNS. Top them with cheese and add lettuce, tomatoes, mustard, low-fat mayonnaise and pickles. Serve with GRILLED CORN-ON-THE-COB WITH CONFETTI PEPPER BUTTER and COLESLAW. What's more appropriate for dessert with this meal than your own PEACH COBBLER topped with a dab of VANILLA ICE CREAM?
Shopping List
lean ground beef for burgers, sesame seed buns, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, mustard, low-fat mayonnaise, pickles, olive oil, mini bell peppers (red, yellow and orange), garlic, unsalted butter, flatleaf parsley, coarse salt, corn-on-the-cob, coleslaw, your own peach cobbler, vanilla ice cream.
GRILLED CORN-ON-THE-COB WITH CONFETTI PEPPER BUTTER
Servings: makes 8 ears of corn
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 5 to 6 minutes
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 mini red, yellow and orange bell peppers, seeded and finely chopped (See Note)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 1 tablespoons finely chopped flatleaf parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 8 ears corn-on-the-cob, shucked, with silk removed
- Heat oil in a small saucepan on medium; cook peppers and garlic together 2 minutes or until the peppers are just starting to soften. Remove from heat; cool to room temperature. In a bowl, using a fork, mash the peppers with the butter, parsley and salt until well blended. Spoon butter into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap. Chill completely until serving time.
- Grill corn on a medium-hot fire for 5 to 6 minutes, turning frequently to create grill marks all over. Serve on a platter and slather with the pepper butter.
- Note: The mini peppers are usually sold in bags. Choose the colors you like.
- (Adapted from "Red, White and 'Que," Karen Adler and Judith Fertig; Running Press, 2017.)
Per ear of corn: 88 calories, 3 grams protein, 1 gram fat (12 percent calories from fat), no saturated fat, 19 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 15 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber.
Carb count: 1.
Per tablespoon butter (12 tablespoons per recipe): 81 calories, no protein, 9 grams fat (96 percent calories from fat), 5 grams saturated fat, 1 gram carbohydrate, 20 milligrams cholesterol, 42 milligrams sodium, no fiber.