Sunday: Family
Be prepared for heaps of praise from the family with this GARLIC-ROSEMARY CHICKEN, a French classic. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Remove and discard giblets and neck from a 5- to 6-pound roasting chicken; trim excess fat. Starting at neck cavity, including drumsticks, loosen skin with your fingers. Place several sprigs of fresh rosemary and crushed garlic cloves under skin of breast and drumsticks. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under.
Place chicken, breast side up, on broiler pan. Insert meat thermometer into meaty part of thigh, not touching bone. Bake 30 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 1 hour 15 minutes more or until thermometer registers 165 degrees. Remove from oven, tent with foil and let stand 10 minutes. Slice chicken, discard skin and serve with your own OVEN-BROWNED POTATOES. Roast some fresh BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH LEMON AND OLIVE OIL, halved and seasoned to your taste. Add DINNER ROLLS. For dessert, buy a YELLOW LAYER CAKE.
Plan
Save enough chicken and cake for Monday.
Shopping List
roasting chicken, fresh rosemary, garlic, potatoes, fresh Brussels sprouts, lemon, olive oil, coarse salt, pepper, dinner rolls, yellow layer cake.
Monday: Heat and Eat
Turn Sunday's leftover chicken into ASIAN CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES AND NOODLES. Serve with MIXED GREENS and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. Slice leftover CAKE for dessert.
Shopping List
thin no-yolk noodles, packaged fresh matchstick or shredded carrots, fresh broccoli, sweet-and-spicy or citrus stir-fry sauce, canned mandarin oranges, mixed greens, whole-grain rolls.
ASIAN CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES AND NOODLES
Servings: makes 6 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: less than 10 minutes
- 8 ounces thin no-yolk noodles
- 1 8-ounce package fresh matchstick or shredded carrots
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
- 1/2 cup sweet-and-spicy stir-fry sauce (or citrus, if desired)
- 1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges with liquid
Cook noodles according to directions; stir in carrots and broccoli. Cook 2 more minutes or until vegetables are softened; drain and return to pot. Add chicken, stir-fry sauce and oranges with liquid and toss to mix. Serve immediately.
Per serving: 310 calories, 19 grams protein, 5 grams fat (15 percent calories from fat), 0.7 gram saturated fat, 47 grams carbohydrate, 47 milligrams cholesterol, 402 milligrams sodium, 4 grams fiber.
Tuesday: Kids
Treat the kids to CHILI PIZZA. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Brown 1/2 pound ground turkey breast and 1/2 pound lean ground beef in a nonstick skillet on medium 6 minutes or until no longer pink; drain. Stir in 1 (1.25-ounce) packet less-sodium chili seasoning mix, 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can no-salt-added stewed tomatoes and 1 (15-ounce) can rinsed reduced-sodium pinto beans; cook 8 minutes on medium or until heated. Arrange 8 burrito-size tortillas in a circle on a 12-inch pizza pan, overlapping edges where necessary. Spoon ground meat mixture onto tortillas. Top with 1 cup shredded 50% light cheddar cheese. Bake 5 to 8 minutes or until cheese is melted. Slice into wedges and serve with deli CARROT-RAISIN SALAD. How about ANIMAL CRACKERS and PEACHES for dessert?
Shopping List
ground turkey breast, lean ground beef, less-sodium chili seasoning mix, canned no-salt-added stewed tomatoes, canned reduced-sodium pinto beans, burrito-size tortillas, shredded 50% light cheddar cheese, deli carrot-raisin salad, animal crackers, peaches.
Wednesday: Meatless
Skip the meat and enjoy LINGUINE WITH PARSLEY AND PARMESAN for an easy meal. Serve with a ROMAINE SALAD and GARLIC BREAD. Scoop STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM for dessert.
Plan
Save enough ice cream for Saturday.
Shopping List
linguine, butter, onion, garlic, reduced-fat sour cream, pepper, fresh parsley, parmesan cheese, romaine, garlic bread, strawberry ice cream.
LINGUINE WITH PARSLEY AND PARMESAN
Servings: makes 4 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 4 minutes, plus linguine
- 8 ounces linguine
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1/3 cup minced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed
- 8 ounces reduced-fat sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
Cook linguine according to directions; drain and set aside. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook 4 minutes or until softened. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Then stir in sour cream, pepper and parsley. Toss mixture with linguine. Sprinkle with cheese and serve.
Per serving: 325 calories, 11 grams protein, 9 grams fat (26 percent calories from fat), 5.5 grams saturated fat, 48 grams carbohydrate, 33 milligrams cholesterol, 86 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber.
Thursday: Express
Call it a HERO, GRINDER, SUBMARINE or PO'BOY, and it's still a great sandwich no matter where you live. Split a loaf of French or Italian bread. Spread bottom with deli coleslaw and add a variety of sliced deli meats. Layer cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes and whatever else the cook is in the mood for. Slice into portions and serve your masterpiece with deli POTATO SALAD. PEARS are dessert.
Plan
Save enough coleslaw for Friday.
Shopping List
French or Italian bread loaf, deli coleslaw, any sliced deli meats, any sliced cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, any other toppings, deli potato salad, pears.
Friday: Budget
Save money and enjoy SMOTHERED TILAPIA PROVENCAL. Serve the dollar-stretcher with RICE and leftover COLESLAW. Add CRUSTY BREAD to sop up the juices. For dessert, make instant VANILLA PUDDING with 1% milk.
Shopping List
cooking spray, tilapia fillets, jar marinated artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, shallot, pitted kalamata olives, white wine, olive oil, capers, garlic, dried herbes de Provence, coarse salt, pepper, rice, crusty bread, instant vanilla pudding, 1% milk.
SMOTHERED TILAPIA PROVENCAL
Servings: makes 4 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
- 4 (6-ounce) tilapia fillets
- 1 (6.5-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained, coarsely chopped
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved lengthwise
- 1 large shallot, chopped (about 1/4 cup)
- 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved lengthwise
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons capers, rinsed
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried herbes de Provence
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 2 1/2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange fillets in dish, overlapping if necessary. In a medium bowl, combine artichokes, tomatoes, shallot, olives, wine, oil, capers, garlic, herbes de Provence, salt and pepper. Arrange mixture over fillets to "smother." Bake 30 minutes or until fish is opaque throughout. Serve immediately.
Per serving: 315 calories, 36 grams protein, 16 grams fat (43 percent calories from fat), 2.3 grams saturated fat, 10 grams carbohydrate, 85 milligrams cholesterol, 733 milligrams sodium, 3 grams fiber.
Saturday: Entertaining
PORK MEDALLIONS WITH APPLES is a perfect fall entree for guests. Slice 1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin into 8 slices and season on both sides with 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Heat 1 teaspoon canola oil in a large nonstick skillet on medium-high. Brown pork on both sides, remove from pan and set aside. To skillet, add 1 small chopped onion and 1 large cored and coarsely chopped apple; cook 6 minutes or until soft. Add 1/2 cup apple cider or apple juice to skillet. Reduce heat to low. Return pork to skillet, cover and simmer 5 minutes. Serve with BROWN RICE and SUGAR SNAP PEAS. Add WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. For dessert, spoon frozen or fresh STRAWBERRIES over leftover ICE CREAM.
Shopping List
pork tenderloin, pepper, pumpkin pie spice, canola oil, onion, apple, apple cider or apple juice, brown rice, sugar snap peas, whole-grain rolls, frozen or fresh strawberries.