Sunday: Family
There's hardly anything easier to prepare than a BAKED TURKEY BREAST. Serve it with your MACARONI AND CHEESE. Stir in a drained can of diced tomatoes with green chilies (such as Rotel) to perk up the flavor. Alongside, add a SPINACH SALAD and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. For dessert, buy a BOSTON CREAM PIE.
Plan
Save enough turkey and pie for Monday.
Shopping List
turkey breast to roast, macaroni and cheese, diced tomatoes with green chilies (such as Rotel), fresh spinach, whole-grain rolls, Boston cream pie.
Monday: Heat and Eat
Use the leftover turkey for TURKEY MELTS. Set oven to broil. Place 4 slices toasted whole-grain bread on a baking sheet. Spread 2 teaspoons grainy mustard on each slice. Top each with 2 slices turkey and slices from 1 apple, then divide 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese among sandwiches. Broil 6 inches from heat source until cheese melts. Serve open-faced with BROWN RICE and a ROMAINE SALAD. Slice the leftover PIE for dessert.
Shopping List
whole-grain bread, grainy mustard, apple, shredded cheddar cheese, brown rice, romaine.
Tuesday: Kids
Make SLOPPY JOES from a seasoning mix and serve them over WHOLE-GRAIN HAMBURGER BUNS. Add OVEN FRIES (from frozen) and CARROT AND CELERY STICKS. PEACHES make a good dessert.
Shopping List
lean ground beef, sloppy Joe seasoning mix, whole-grain hamburger buns, frozen oven fries, carrots, celery, peaches.
Wednesday: Entertaining
Expect a new tiara when your cupcake swoons over MAPLE-MUSTARD PORK TENDERLOIN WITH PEARS. Cut 1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin into 8 medallions. In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons honey mustard, 2 teaspoons lemon juice and 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Heat 2 teaspoons canola oil in a large nonstick skillet on medium-high; add pork and cook both sides 4 to 5 minutes total. Add maple-mustard sauce and 2 firm pears, cored and cut into 8 wedges each. Cook 2 more minutes or until pears are tender. Spoon medallions, pears and sauce over MASHED SWEET POTATOES. Add GREEN PEAS (from frozen), a BIBB LETTUCE SALAD and DINNER ROLLS. For a sweet finish, RED VELVET BROWNIE CONVERSATION HEARTS will spell it out for your Valentine.
Plan
Save enough dessert for Friday.
Shopping List
pork tenderloin, honey mustard, lemon, maple syrup, canola oil, pears, sweet potatoes, green peas, Bibb lettuce, dinner rolls, family-size package fudge brownie mix, sour cream, eggs, red food coloring, cooking spray, confectioners' sugar, light corn syrup, vanilla extract, assorted food coloring.
RED VELVET BROWNIE CONVERSATION HEARTS
Servings: makes 24 servings
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: according to directions
- 1 family-size package fudge brownie mix
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 eggs
- 1 (1-ounce) bottle red food coloring
- 8 cups (2 pounds) confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Assorted food coloring as desired
FOR THE BROWNIES: Empty mix into large bowl. Add sour cream, eggs and red food coloring; mix well. Spoon batter into a 9-by-13-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Bake and cool as directed on package. Cut out cooled brownies with heart-shaped cookie cutters. Place brownies on wire rack set over baking sheet.
FOR THE ICING: Mix sugar, water and syrup in medium saucepan. Cook on medium-low until sugar is melted, stirring occasionally. Stir in vanilla. Divide and tint with desired colors. Spoon icing over top and sides of brownies. If icing is too thick, gently heat to pouring consistency. Let stand until icing is set. Use remaining icing to decorate or write on brownies with a pastry bag.
Per serving: 274 calories, 2 grams protein, 4 grams fat (13 percent calories from fat), 1.3 grams saturated fat, 58 grams carbohydrate, 19 milligrams cholesterol, 74 milligrams sodium, no fiber.
Thursday: Meatless
Tonight's GRILLED THREE-CHEESE SANDWICHES are easy and full of flavor. Coat one side of dense white bread with cooking spray and place coated side down on a preheated skillet or grill. Sprinkle with coarsely shredded asiago, sliced low-fat mozzarella and sliced fontina cheeses. Top with another slice of bread and coat top with cooking spray. Grill, pressing down with spatula, until bread is golden and cheese is melted, turning once. Repeat for each sandwich. Serve with creamy, ready-to-eat, lower-sodium TOMATO SOUP (such as Pacific) and a SPINACH SALAD. For a light dessert, try chunky APPLESAUCE.
Shopping List
dense white bread, cooking spray, asiago, low-fat mozzarella, fontina, lower-sodium tomato soup (such as Pacific), fresh spinach, chunky applesauce.
Friday: Budget
For an easy meal, SOUTHWEST CHICKEN SKILLET is just right. Serve the one-dish meal with a LETTUCE WEDGE and extra TORTILLAS. For dessert, enjoy ORANGE SECTIONS.
Shopping List
canola oil, chicken tenders, frozen vegetable mix (with broccoli, red bell pepper, onions and mushrooms or similar), canned reduced-sodium black beans, chunky salsa, flour tortillas, shredded light cheddar cheese, reduced-fat sour cream, lettuce, oranges.
SOUTHWEST CHICKEN SKILLET
Servings: makes 5 servings
Prep time: less than 15 minutes
Cook time: less than 15 minutes
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 pound chicken tenders, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 (16-ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables with broccoli, red bell pepper, onions and mushrooms (or similar)
- 1 (15-ounce) can reduced-sodium black beans, rinsed
- 1 cup chunky salsa
- 1 (8-inch) flour tortilla cut into 2-by-1-inch strips (see note)
- 1 cup shredded light cheddar cheese
- Reduced-fat sour cream
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet on medium-high. Cook chicken 3 to 4 minutes or until no longer pink. Stir in vegetables, beans and salsa; reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until vegetables are softened. Sprinkle with tortilla strips and cheese. Cover and cook 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with sour cream and serve.
Note: For crisp tortilla strips, bake at 425 degrees for 4 to 7 minutes.
Per serving: 312 calories, 32 grams protein, 10 grams fat (29 percent calories from fat), 3.1 grams saturated fat, 21 grams carbohydrate, 70 milligrams cholesterol, 687 milligrams sodium, 6 grams fiber.
Saturday: Easy Entertaining
Invite guests for a special meal of SCAMPI WITH FETTUCCINE. Add a MIXED GREEN SALAD and GARLIC BREAD. For dessert, serve RASPBERRY SORBET with BUTTER COOKIES.
Shopping List
fettuccine, olive oil, uncooked medium shrimp (shelled and deveined), green onions, garlic, fresh basil, fresh parsley, lemon, coarse salt, mixed greens, garlic bread, raspberry sorbet, butter cookies.
SCAMPI WITH FETTUCCINE
Servings: makes 4 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: about 5 minutes, plus pasta
- 8 ounces fettuccine
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds uncooked medium shrimp, shelled, deveined and tails removed
- 2 medium green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
Cook and drain fettuccine according to directions. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat oil on medium. Cook remaining ingredients in oil 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently until shrimp are pink. Remove from heat; toss fettuccine and shrimp together in skillet and serve. (Adapted from "Betty Crocker: The Big Book of Pasta," Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.)
Per serving: 424 calories, 42 grams protein, 9 grams fat (18 percent calories from fat), 1.2 grams saturated fat, 45 grams carbohydrate, 274 milligrams cholesterol, 330 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber.