Tag Archives: Shopping Lists

Mar 5-8 Weekly Menu and Shopping List – Tested Feb 27-Mar 1

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Menu

Monday – Teriyaki Chicken With Snow Peas, Bell Pepper and Quinoa

Tuesday – Pasta and Vegetable Gratin and Side Salad – Tomatoes, Cucumber, Cuties

Wednesday – Baked Lemon-Garlic Tilapia, Yam Rounds, Zucchini

Thursday – Chicken Stir Fry with Vegetables (Broccoli, Yellow Squash, Carrots, Onions) and Peanuts over Brown Rice and Side Salad

Recipes

Teriyaki Chicken With Snow Peas, Bell Pepper and Quinoa

Serves 2 Adults and 2 Kids

Teriyaki Chicken with Snow Peas and Bell Pepper

Ingredients

1.75 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast – Use 3.5 lbs. if you are going to prep the chicken for the chicken stir fry later in the week.

1 C teriyaki sauce – look for low sodium and no preservatives

3/4 C Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acids, divided

1 C Quinoa

1 bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1/2 lbs. snow peas, rinsed

1 pinch brown sugar

Instructions

Pre Heat Oven 375

1. Rinse and cut chicken into 2 -3″ chunks. Ideally prepare an additional 1.75 lbs. of chicken for the chicken stir fry later in the week – you can store it in the refrigerator until you need it later in the week.

2.  Put into a lightly sprayed baking/ roasting pan.

3.  Combine teriyaki and 1/2 C of Braggs Liquid Amino Acids and pour over chicken.

4.  Pop in oven for 20 minutes or until chicken springs back to the touch and is not pink inside.

5. Follow package directions and make Quinoa.

6. Place bell pepper strips and snow peas in a lightly sprayed skillet over medium heat.  Pour in 1/4 C Braggs Liquid Amino Acids and a pinch of brown sugar and sauté 3-4 minutes until just tender. Set aside.

7. When Quinoa is done, remove from heat.  Let sit with lid on until you are ready to serve.

8. Serve by placing a serving of quinoa in the bottom of wide shallow bowl or plate.  Top with chicken and vegetables.

9. Make sure to drip some teriyaki-Braggs sauce on top for an extra juicy meal!

10. Save all leftovers for the chicken stir fry night.  You should have some bell peppers and snow peas left. Save them in the Braggs sauce in the refrigerator.

Pre Prep Opportunities

1. Rinse and cut chicken ahead of time and store in refrigerator.

2. Cut bell pepper ahead of time and store in refrigerator.

3. Make entire meal ahead of time. Store components separately in the refrigerator.  Warm when ready, put together, and serve!

Recipe 

Pasta and Vegetable Gratin and Side Salad

Serves 2 Adults and 2 Kids for 2 meals or 1 meal and lunches

Kid's Portion, Pasta and Vegetable Gratin with Side Salad

Ingredients

16 oz. penne pasta

1 yellow squash, diced

1 bell pepper, diced

2 scallions, finely diced

1 C frozen peas

1.5 C fresh or frozen broccoli

1-2 cloves garlic

1 C sharp cheddar cheese, grated

1 T butter or plant-based margarine

1 T unbleached flour

2 1/4 C milk or 2 C coconut milk drink (original flavor)

1/4 C grated parmesan (cow’s milk) or manchenga (sheep’s milk) cheese

1/8 t nutmeg

1/4 t dill

1/2 t salt

1/4 t paprika

pinch cayenne pepper

pepper to taste

2 T bread crumbs

Instructions

1. Cook pasta al dente. Pour into shallow baking dish.

2. Stir all vegetables, including garlic. into pasta.

3. Sprinkle cheese on top and lightly mix in.

4.  Melt butter in sauce pan.  Stir in flour, let bubble and whisk until it turns beige.  Stir for about a minute.

5.  Add milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

5. Remove from heat and stir in cheese and spices.

6. Pour sauce over pasta mixture and stir slightly.  Sprinkle on bread crumbs.

7. Bake 30 minutes or until bubbly and brown on top. Consider baking the yams for tomorrow at the same time.

8. Serve and see if you miss the meat in this hearty vegetarian dish!

Pre Prep Opportunities

1.  Cook pasta ahead of time and store in refrigerator.

2. Dice all vegetables ahead and store in the refrigerator or buy pre chopped.

3. Prepare recipe through step 3 and store in refrigerator until ready to make the sauce.

Recipe

Baked Lemon-Garlic Tilapia, Yam Rounds, Zucchini

Serves 2 Adults and 2 Kids

Baked Lemon Garlic Tilapia, Yam Rounds and Zucchini

Ingredients

2 yams

1.75 lbs. tilapia fillets

3 T fresh lemon juice

1 t basil

1 t dried parsley flakes

1 t paprika

1 t dried thyme

1/2 t salt

2 zucchini

pepper to taste

Make Ahead

1. Bake yams in 350 oven for 45 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork. If time has passed you by on this one, and that has happened to me more than once, pull a frozen vegetable out of the freezer and cook that in the microwave.

Instructions

Pre heat oven to 375
1. Lightly spray a roasting pan.

2. Measure out and combine spices.

3. Place tilapia in pan, and pour lemon juice on top, followed by spices.

4. Place in oven for 20-30 minutes or until tilapia cracks and springs back to the touch.

5. Consider making the brown rice for tomorrow…

6. While tilapia is cooking, slice zucchini, place in a sauté pan lightly sprayed with canola oil and sauté until just tender. Add 1/2 T butter or vegetable based margarine on zucchini and sprinkle one pinch of salt.

7. Cut yams into 1/2″ rounds.  sprinkle two pinches of cinnamon sugar on top – just enough to catch the taste buds, and warm in the microwave for 45 seconds – 1 minute or until just cooked through.

8.  Plate yams, zucchini and fish and serve!


Pre Prep Opportunities

1. Make the yams earlier in the week and store in the refrigerator.

2. Cut zucchini and store in refrigerator until ready to use.

3. Pre-measure spices and store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Recipe

Chicken Stir Fry with Vegetables over Brown Rice and Side Salad

Serves 2 Adults and 2 Kids + 2 Lunches

Chicken Stir Fry and Side Salad

Ingredients

1.75 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast, cooked – baked in teriyaki sauce.

1.5 C broccoli, cut into small pieces

2 carrots, cut into thin rounds

1 yellow squash, diced

1 onion, diced (or buy pre-chopped)

1/4 C Braggs Liquid Amino Acids

left over snow peas and bell pepper and left over sauce

1 C peanuts, roasted, unsalted


Make Ahead:

1. Make brown rice according to package directions.

Instructions

1. If you weren’t able to make brown rice ahead of time (and this is often the case with me), make white rice or quinoa according to package directions. You can make this a day ahead of time – you just have to be organized… Not always my strong suit…

2. Pull cooked chicken out of the refrigerator. Hopefully chicken was cooked when you made the teriyaki chicken earlier in the week. If not, see Teriyaki Chicken recipe to make chicken.

2. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces.

3.  Portion a small salad on each plate, and top with some of the squash, carrots, and some cucumber and a tomato.  Drizzle no oil or low fat salad dressing.

3. Put broccoli, carrots, squash, and onion in a Wok or large sauté pan, lightly sprayed with canola oil spray. Pour in Braggs Liquid Amino Acids. Cook until just tender.

3.  Add chicken to warm.

4. Add bell peppers and snow peas with their sauce to warm.

5. Serve stir fry mixture over brown rice and top with peanuts (optional).

Pre Prep Opportunities

1. Make brown rice ahead of time. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.

2. Make and cut the chicken ahead of time. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.

3. Prepare all vegetables ahead of time and store in refrigerator so they are ready to go into the Wok or large sauté pan.

Shopping List

Entrees

3.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast

1.75 lbs. tilapia

Veggies

2 yellow squash

2 medium zucchini

1 large carrots, thinly sliced

2 bell peppers

1/2 lb snow peas

1 bunch broccoli (or pkg of frozen broccoli)

2 scallions

1 onion

4 cloves garlic

1 yam

8 C salad greens

1 cucumber

2 tomatoes

Fruit

2 cuties

1 lemon

Frozen

1 C frozen peas

Dairy (substitute as needed)

1 C cheddar cheese, grated

2 T unsalted butter/ or plant-based margarine

2 1/4 C low-fat milk

1/4 C grated parmesan or manchenga cheese

Dry Goods

1 box penne pasta

1 T unbleached flour

1/8 t grated nutmeg

1/4 t cinnamon

1/4 t dried dill

salt and pepper

2 pinches brown sugar

2 T bread crumbs 2

1 C teriyaki sauce

1 C Braggs Liquid Amino Acids

1 C Quinoa

1 C Brown Rice

1 C dry, unsalted peanuts (optional for stir fry meal)

1/4 C pumpkin seeds


Weekly Dinner Menu and Shopping List – Tested Jan 17-20

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Weekly Dinner Menu

Tested Jan 17-20 

Menu

Monday:  Seasoned Tilapia, with Onions and Red Peppers, Green Beans, Fresh Avocado, and a Side Salad

Tuesday: Hawaiian Chicken, Broccoli and Rice

Wednesday: Meatloaf w/ Ground Chicken and Beans, Broccoli

Thursday: Lettuce (or Tortilla) Hawaiian Chicken Tacos, with Mango, Avocado, Cheese, Tomato and Lettuce

Bonus: Weekend Dinner or Lunch:  Meatloaf Sandwiches!

 

Pre-Prep

There are lots of pre-prep opportunities to make the actual dinner time prep even faster and easier. They are mentioned at the end of each recipe.  Consider carving out time at the beginning of the week to get some or all of the suggested pre-prep done.

 

 

Recipes

Seasoned Tilapia, with Onions and Red Peppers, Green Beans, Fresh Avocado, and a Side Salad

Serves 2 Adults and 2 Kids

Seasoned Tilapia with Onions and Red Peppers, Green Beans and Side Salad

Ingredients
1 Large Onion

2 Red Bell Peppers

1.5 lbs. Tilapia

2 t Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasoning Blends Seafood Magic

Green Beans, Fresh or Frozen

Greens for Salad

1 Tomato

1 Avocado

Low Fat Dressing – I use no oil balsamic or a low-fat balsamic vinaigrette

Instructions

Pre-heat Grill to high or oven to 350

  1. Cut onion and bell pepper into strips.  (If you can buy pre-chopped, go for it.)
  2. Rinse tilapia and place on foil on top of a baking sheet.
  3. Sprinkle Seafood Magic seasoning on tilapia and top with onions and red bell pepper.
  4. Place on grill and turn heat down to low, or place in oven.
  5. Place enough green beans for your family in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 2 ½ minutes.  Check and heat for another 2 ½ minutes.  Repeat until beans are done. (Based on how quickly your microwave cooks, adjust the time intervals as necessary.)
  6. In the meantime check tilapia after 4-5 minutes.
  7. Portion greens on plates and top with tomato and avocado and a light sprinkling of dressing.  For my kids, I put a few leaves of lettuce, and separate the tomato and avocado on the plate.  I also sprinkle a bit of salt on the avocado.
  8. Pull tilapia when the top of the fish begins to crack and the fish springs back to the touch (like in baking).
  9. Serve and see if this isn’t one of the easiest dinner recipes out there!

 Pre-Prep Opportunity

1.  Cut onions and bell pepper up to a day ahead of time.  Store in refrigerator until ready to use.

Hawaiian Chicken, Broccoli, Tomato, and Rice

Serves 2 Adults and 2 Kids + Enough Chicken for another meal (Hawaiian Tacos) + 2-3 Lunches

Hawaiian Chicken, Broccoli and Rice

Ingredients

1 Cup White Rice (If you can make ahead, change to brown rice as it is healthier but takes longer to cook)

2 Cups Water

3.0 lbs. of Chicken (You will be cooking all the chicken for the week.  If you are cooking this stand alone, use 1.5 lbs. of chicken.)

Braggs Hawaiian Dressing and Marinade

1 Bunch Broccoli*

1 t salt*

1 T Basil*

1 T Oregano*

1 T Minced Onion*

1 Tomato

*Make a double batch so that the broccoli is cooked for the week. You just have to warm up!

Instructions

Preheat Grill to High or Oven to 350

  1. Measure 1 Cup rice and 2 Cups Water in a rice cooker and turn on. Or prepare using your preferred method.
  2. Wash Chicken and mix with Hawaiian Dressing. Set aside.
  3. Wash Broccoli and cut into small florets.
  4. Place on lightly sprayed roasting pan and sprinkle salt, basil, oregano, and minced onion.
  5. Place Chicken on grill and turn heat down to medium, or place in oven.
  6. Place broccoli in oven.
  7. Slice tomato and divide across plates.
  8. Check on broccoli and chicken.  Stir broccoli and if chicken is on grill turn it over.
  9. Broccoli should be done in 8 -9 minutes.  Oven chicken should take about 15-20 minutes and grilled chicken 12-15 minutes, (flipping chicken halfway through.)

10. Portion plates with chicken, rice, broccoli, and tomato.

11. Drizzle some extra Hawaiian Dressing on the chicken.

12. Serve and enjoy!

Pre-Prep Opportunities
1.  Make rice a day ahead or earlier in the day that you will be serving it.  Use brown rice since it will have more time to cook.

2.  Wash chicken a day or two ahead and store in fridge.

3.  Wash and cut the broccoli a day or two ahead and store in the fridge.

 

 

 

Meatloaf w/ Ground Chicken and Beans, Broccoli, Tomato

Serves 2 Adults and 2 Kids for 2 meals -Meatloaf sandwiches, are in you future! YUM!)

Meatloaf w/ Ground Chicken and Beans, Broccoli

Ingredients

1 15 oz. can or other shelf stable container of White Beans

½ of a 15 oz. can or other shelf stable container of Black Beans

5 Cloves Garlic, minced or pressed – include the garlic membranes if pressing

1 lb. Ground Chicken*

1 lb. Ground Beef*

1 small onion, diced – or purchase pre-chopped onion

5 oz. of tomato paste (buy smallest can and use it all)

Olive or canola oil spray

1 Bunch Broccoli**

1 t Salt

1 T Basil

1 T Oregano

1 T Minced Onion

1 Tomato

*You can substitute turkey or pork for chicken and beef – be sure to modify your shopping list accordingly.

**If you made all the broccoli yesterday, you have saved yourself some time. Just warm it up for today!

Instructions

Ahead of Time:

Mash white and black beans with 5 cloves of minced or pressed garlic (throw in garlic membranes if pressing).  Store in fridge until ready to use.

Side Bar:  Snack opportunity!  Warm a small portion of bean and garlic mixture and spread on rice cracker or other cracker.  My son loves this as a snack on teriyaki rice crackers!

Pre-heat oven to 350

  1. Lightly spray loaf pan with olive or canola oil.
  2. Mix bean-garlic mixture, ground chicken, ground beef and diced onion in a bowl.
  3. Form mixture into a meatloaf shape and put in loaf pan.
  4. Top with tomato paste.
  5. Pop in oven for 1 – 1.25 hours, until meatloaf starts to pull away from pan.  (Like in baking)
  6. Wash and slice tomato, portioning across 4 plates.
  7. Wash broccoli and cut into small florets.*
  8. Sprinkle with 1 t Salt, 1 T Basil, 1 T Oregano, 1 T Minced Onion.
  9. Catch up on the mail, help kids with homework, drive a carpool, call your mother – you can relax for a while!

10. Place broccoli in oven for about the last 5 minutes of the meatloaf’s bake time, stirring broccoli around just before you take the meatloaf out.

11. When meatloaf starts to pull from the sides of the pan, remove from oven – let rest for 5-10 minutes.

12. Remove broccoli from oven after about 10 minutes, when broccoli stems can be easily pierced with a fork.

  1. 13.  Portion meatloaf and broccoli and serve!

14. This is not the way your mother made meatloaf, but it is really delicious!

Pre-Prep Opportunities

  1. Put the meatloaf together ahead of time, place in loaf pan and store in fridge until ready to use.   All that is left to do is pop it in the oven.  Because it will be cold, you might consider putting the meatloaf in the oven earlier – during preheating.
  2. Wash and cut the broccoli up to two days before.

*If you made the broccoli in yesterday’s meal, skip broccoli preparation steps.   You just have to warm it up!

Lettuce or Tortilla Hawaiian Chicken Tacos, with Mango, Avocado, Cheese, Tomato and Lettuce

Serves 2 Adults and 2 Kids; with extra chicken for another dinner or 4 lunches

Lettuce (or Tortilla) Hawaiian Chicken Tacos, with Mango, Avocado, Cheese, Tomato and Lettuce

Ingredients

1 Avocado

1 Tomato

1 Mango

Remaining ½ can of Black Beans

Whole Wheat Tortillas, corn tortillas and/or big leaves of lettuce – boston leaf lettuce, romaine, other good “sandwich” lettuce

Cheddar Cheese –  derived from cow or goat or soy

1 radish (optional)

1.5 lbs. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast – use the left over from the Hawaiian Chicken

Salsa

Bragg Hawaiian Fat Free Dressing and Marinade

Instructions

  1. Slice and Dice Avocado, Tomato, and Mango.
  2. Dice chicken and warm on skillet over medium heat.  Set chicken aside.
  3. Heat Tortilla(s) on a skillet over medium heat.
  4. When tortilla starts to bubble ( is heated through), flip tortilla, sprinkle cheese on the hot side, and turn off heat.
  5. As cheese begins to melt, sprinkle chicken, avocado, tomato, mango, radish (if including) and black beans.
  6. If using flour tortillas, roll into a “burrito”: fold the bottom 1/8 of the tortilla on top of the chicken and other stuffings.  Fold in the sides  of the burrito and roll the tortilla into a log.
  7. Set on the side of the grill and make one for each person.
  8. If using corn tortillas, serve as a taco
  9. If using lettuce (and I used tortillas for the kids and lettuce for me):
    1. Warm chicken and beans.
    2. Sprinkle cheese in lettuce cup
    3. Add chicken and beans
    4. Top with avocado, tomato and mango, salsa, and Hawaiian dressing.

10. Serve – with carbs or without!

Pre-Prep Opportunities

1.  Make tacos as the second chicken meal of the week.  Prepare all chicken at the beginning of the week, storing leftovers in the refrigerator for later use.

2. Cut Mango, tomato, and radish ahead of time.  Store in refrigerator until ready to use.

Bonus Meal:  Meatloaf Sandwiches!

Serves 2 Adults and 2 Kids

Meatloaf Sandwiches with Side Salad

Ingredients

Left over meatloaf from above

Baguette / baguette rolls or other preferred bread

Barbeque Sauce

Side Salad – what’s leftover in your fridge?  Lettuce, tomato, nuts, sunflower seeds, avocado, broccoli, green beans, bell pepper, mango, radish? – Finish things up!

Instructions

  1. Slice meatloaf into ½ – ¾ inch slices.
  2. Lightly spray griddle with canola oil and warm meatloaf on medium heat, flipping after a few minutes.
  3. Portion salad on plates.
  4. Spread barbeque sauce on bread – consider using ½ a roll or less bread since the meatloaf is so satisfying.
  5. When Meatloaf is heated through, 6-8 minutes, make into a sandwich and serve.
  6. Now that’s a sandwich!

Shopping List

For 2 Adults and 2 Kids

Entrees

1.5 lbs. Tilapia

3.0 lbs. of Chicken

1 lb. Ground Chicken*

1 lb. Ground Beef*

* substitute ground turkey if preferred

Vegetables

1 Large Onion

2 Red Bell Peppers

Green Beans, Fresh or Frozen

2 Tomatoes

1 Avocado

Greens for Salad

lettuce, romaine, other good “sandwich” lettuce

2 Bunches Broccoli – for 2 meals

1 Tomato

5 Cloves Garlic, minced or pressed – use the garlic membranes if pressing

1 small onion, diced – or purchase pre-chopped onion

1 Avocado

1 Tomato

1 radish (optional)

Fruit

1 Mango

Dry Goods

2 t Salmon Seasoning

Low Fat Dressing – I use no oil balsamic

1 Cup White Rice (If you can make ahead change to brown rice as it takes much longer to cook)

Bragg Hawaiian Fat Free Dressing and Marinade

1 t salt

1 T Basil

1T Oregano

1 T Minced Onion

1 15 oz can or other shelf stable container of White Beans

1 15 oz can or other shelf stable container of Black Beans

Olive or canola oil spray

3.5 oz of tomato paste

Salsa

Barbeque Sauce

Bakery

Whole Wheat Tortillas, corn tortillas and/or big leaves of lettuce – boston leaf

Baguette / baguette rolls or other preferred bread – despite the goal of shopping 1 time per week, fresh bread is key to a successful sandwich.  You may want to purchase this bread over the weekend if you plan to have for a weekend meal.

Dairy

Cheddar Cheese –  derived from cow or goat or soy

Oct 10-13 Weekly Menu and Master Shopping List

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 It’s Shop on Sunday or bust.  The next two weeks are going to be really busy as I push a big project to close. As I look at my calendar, I will need meals I can prepare ahead of time, or VERY, VERY quickly, given the upcoming weekday schedule.

My kids have some requests, which I have worked into this week’s schedule.  Oldies but goodies…

Weekly Menu

Monday: Chinese Chicken Salad

Tuesday: Tortilla Soup

Wednesday: Baked chicken, Peas, Fruit, and Side Salad

Thursday: Tortilla Soup – The encore presentation!

Master Shopping List

Entrees

5.0 lbs. Boneless skinless chicken breast

Vegetables

3 Anaheim peppers

2 Bell peppers

1 Large onion

1 Bunch, cilantro

4 Radishes

Romaine Lettuce, 1 large or 3 small heads

4 Tomatoes

1 pint Cherry Tomatoes

Fruit

3 T Lime Juice

1 Lime

2 Avocados

6 Mandarins or 3 larger oranges

Fruit for breakfast, lunch and dinner:

5 Pears

8 Apples

1 Pineapple

Grapes

Bananas

Dry Goods

Canola oil or olive oil spray

2 t Ground cumin

8 C Chicken broth, one low sodium

1 28 oz. Can or shelf stable container of diced tomatoes

1 4 oz. Can mild chiles

Salt

Island Teriyaki Marinade

2 Packs Ramen Noodles (noodles only – throw seasoning packet away)

½ C Slivered almonds

1/8 C Sesame seeds

Dairy

¼ C Butter or vegetable spread

Frozen

1 Bag frozen corn

1 Bag frozen peas

Bakery

10-12 Corn Tortillas (or you can use flour if you prefer)

Oct 3-6 Weekly Menu and Master Shopping List

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I am going to shop on Sunday again this week.  Right now I consider myself a working mom.  Between this website and some big projects at school, my schedule is very tight.  Mondays in particular seem to be very busy for me and don’t allow time for shopping.

But I have “made lemonade out of lemons!”  Sunday is a great day for me to get organized for the week. In addition to the shopping, I have committed 45 minutes to pre-prep the last couple of weeks and that has made all the difference – Monday through Thursday dinner prep has been so easy and much less stressful!

Do you use Sunday as a day to get organized for the week? Have any of you shopped my list and done any of the pre-prep on Sunday?  Let me know! Blog!

As for this week’s menu, I found inspiration and recipes from Real Simple.  Real Simple is one of my favorite magazines – A good friend gave me one of their cookbooks.  This week I am using 3 recipes from my Real Simple cookbook – I reinvented one of them for the fourth dinner:

Weekly Menu

Monday: Roasted Chicken, Apples, Pears, and Leeks, Pumpkin, and Side Salad

Tuesday: Winter Lentil Soup with Apple-Cinnamon Muffins

Wednesday: Chicken Enchiladas, with Salsa, and Pumpkin

Thursday: Winter Lentils over Pasta with Pears and Side Salad

Master Shopping List

For 2 Adults and 2 Kids

Entrees

3.0 lbs. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2.0 lbs. Chicken legs

Vegetables/ Fresh Herbs

8 Leeks

2 Small zucchini, diced

1 Small red onion

1 Small cooking pumpkin

3 Sweet potatoes

1 Bunch kale

Greens for salad

Tomatoes and other salad fixings

2 Small sprigs of fresh rosemary

1 ½ T Fresh thyme

Optional for homemade salsa made in a food processor for Wednesday night. Or you can save time and just buy salsa verde in a jar:

1 lb. Tomatillos

1 Jalapeno (I am only going to use 1/3 of one)

1 C Fresh cilantro

1 T Fresh lime juice

Fruit

6 Crisp apples (Braeburn, or other)

4 Pears (Bartlett or Bosc)

Extra or other Fruit for breakfast and lunch

Dry Goods

3 T Olive oil

Canola oil spray

Shell pasta

2 28-Ounce can whole tomatoes, drained – or other non-canned shelf stable tomatoes

1 C Brown lentils

Salt

Pepper

Dairy

1 ½ C Grated cheddar or Monterey cheese (from cow or goat’s milk)

½ C Plain yogurt (from cow or goat or vegan)

½ C Grated parmesean or manchenga cheese

Frozen

½ C Corn (from ear or frozen and thawed)

Bakery

12 Tortillas (corn or flour)

Final Sept 12-15 Menu and Master Shopping List

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Final Sept 12-15 Menu and Master Shopping List

This week was not without it’s craziness and frenetic pace, but having a plan for dinners, shopping ahead of time, and even doing some pre-prep on Sunday, brought a bit of calmness to dinner prep AND gave me confidence that I could accomplish 4 healthy meals.

I was very happy with the on-the-fly modifications I made to the menus this week and have revised the menu accordingly.

So, who’s going to try this menu next week?!?!  C’mon, you can do it!!!

Menu:

Monday: Southwest Chicken, side salad, green beans, and fruit

Tuesday:  Turkey Burgers, green beans, fruit, and side salad

Wednesday: Asian Lettuce Wraps with Ground Turkey, avocado-tomato salsa, and fruit

Thursday:  Chicken Chili Bake and a side salad with figs, mangos, and tomatoes

Shopping List:

Please check this list against your pantry, particularly the dry goods. There are several items on the list that you might already have, and if you’re like me, you don’t want to buy more than you need, especially if you already have the ingredients in your pantry!

Entrees

3.5 lbs Boneless skinless chicken breast

3 lbs Ground turkey

Veggies

1 Bunch cilantro

2 Onions

Boston Bibb lettuce

Extra greens for salad – I get enough for lunch and dinner

3 Cloves Garlic

3 Tomatoes

1 Bunch green onions, chopped

2 Avocados

1 1/2 lbs Green beans (2 dinners and snack)

3 Bell peppers – you pick the color

1/2 lb Snow peas

Fruit

2 Limes for 1/4 c of lime juice for cilantro chicken – or purchase a bottle

Fruit for breakfast, lunch, and dinner:

Pineapple

Cantaloupe

1 QT Strawberries

3 Mangos

1 Pint figs (Just because I love them)

(Still have oranges from last week)

Dairy

Cheddar cheese or sheep’s / goat’s milk equivalent

Plain Yogurt or Goat milk yogurt if you don’t do dairy or you can use sour cream)

Frozen

I could not find the Tex Mex frozen mixture I used to buy so I have switched to 1 can of black beans and 2 bell peppers. If you find a frozen Tex Mex mixture or something similar, use it.

Dry Goods

1 Can black beans

Salsa

1 T + 1/4 cup Olive oil (or canola oil)

Olive or canola spray

1 T Soy sauce

1/4 C Hoisin sauce

1 T Rice wine vinegar

Asian chili pepper sauce (or sweet chili sauce)

1 8 oz can Water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped

2 t Asian (dark) sesame oil

1 T Ground cumin

Salt and pepper

1/4 Worcestershire sauce

Bragg’s liquid amino acids all-purpose seasoning spray (optional) – I use instead of soy sauce

Bakery

Tortillas

Small Hamburger buns (can also use for sandwich bread to avoid getting too much bread…

Recipes

Southwest Chicken, Fresh Green Beans, Side Salad and Fruit

For 2 Adults and 2 Kids

For the Chicken:

1.75 lbs Boneless skinless chicken breasts

¼ C Olive oil

¼ C Lime juice

½ C Chopped Cilantro

1 T Ground Cumin

½ t salt

1/8 t pepper

For the Rest of the Meal:

Greens for salad

Toppings for salad

Fruit

Healthy handful of green beans

Olive Oil or Canola Spray

Salt

Make Ahead

1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, holding the chicken out until mixed thoroughly.  Let marinate 30-40 minutes.  I prefer marinating overnight – the flavor is amazing.


Dinner Time Prep

1. Pre-heat grill on high or pre-heat oven to 350

2. Lay plates out and portion greens

3. Put chicken on grill or in oven (in a roasting / baking pan)

4. Add salad fixings and a light drizzle of dressing on the greens

5. If chicken is on grill, flip the chicken

6. Portion the fruit on each plate

7. Cut tops off green beans, wash, and lightly spray with olive oil spray, lightly salt, and portion on plates

8. Pull chicken off grill, portion and serve!

 

Turkey Burgers, Fresh Green Beans, and Mango

For 2 Adults and 2 Kids

1.75 lbs. Ground Turkey

1 3/4 T Bragg’s Liquid Aminos

1 3/4 T Worcestershire Sauce

Small Roll for Burgers (optional)

For the side dishes:

Large Handful of Fresh Green Beans

1 Mango cut up and divided across 4 plates

Instructions:

1.  Mix ground turkey, Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl.

2.  Divide the burgers into 7 equally-sized balls and form 1/4 lb. patties about 1/2 ” thick. The burgers will feel moist and a bit sticky – like dough that needs more flour.  Resist the temptation to add anything like oats or bread crumbs to the mixture…

3. Preheat grill on high

4. Put the burgers on and turn the heat down to medium

6. Rinse the green beans, cut off the stems, and spray a bit of olive oil (or canola oil), salt (light salt) the beans, and portion them on the plates.

7. Flip the burgers. (about 4-5 minutes)

8. Portion the mango across the plates.

9. Pull burgers off  (about 3 more minutes).

10.  Serve and see if that isn’t one of the best turkey burgers you’ve had!

 

Asian Lettuce Wraps

For 2 Adults and 2 Kids

 

12-16 Boston Bibb or butter lettuce leaves

1.75 lbs. ground turkey

1 T cooking oil

1 large onion, chopped

3 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1T plus a little bit, soy sauce (or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos)

1/3 Hoisin sauce

1 T plus a little bit, rice wine vinegar

Asian chile pepper sauce or sweet chili sauce

1 8 oz can water chestnuts, sliced or finely chopped

¼ C chopped green onions

2 t Asian dark sesame oil

For the sides:

1 Avocado

1 Large tomato, or 2 smaller tomatoes

Fresh, seasonal fruit

Instructions:

  1. Rinse lettuce leaves and set aside to dry
  2. Brown the ground turkey.  Remove from pan
  3. In same pan, sautee onion.
  4. Add garlic, soy sauce (Bragg’s), hoisin sauce, vinegar, and chili pepper sauce (or sweet chili sauce) to the onions and stir.
  5. Stir in water chestnuts, green onions, sesame oil, and cooked ground turkey
  6. Lay out plates and add fruit and one or two lettuce leaves
  7. Dice a tomato and avocado and mix them together with a touch of salt.  (for those kids who have strong preferences, add avocado, tomato or both separately on the plate (see the four settings: the adults got the mixture, and one had no tomatoes and one had avocado and tomato separate on the plate…)
  8. Make sure turkey mixture is still warm.  Spoon the mixture into center of leaves, making sure not to put too much in as it will be difficult to wrap.
  9. Serve!
  10. Show the kids how to “wrap” the lettuce like a tortilla – see how many points you get for creativity

 

Chicken Chile Bake

For 2 Adults and 2 Kids

For the “Casserole”

1.75 lbs. Chicken

1 Can black beans, drained

2 Bell peppers diced

1 onion, diced

1 jar salsa (you can mix a few together)

1 C plain yogurt

Cilantro

Canola oil spray

1 8 Whole-wheat tortillas

For the side dishes:

1 avocado

Greens with fresh fruit, tomatoes, or whatever salad fixin’s you have

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375

1.  Cook chicken – bake or grill.  Hopefully you can pair this dish with another chicken dish and cook the chicken at the same time and save time.

2.  In a large bowl mix all casserole ingredients, except the tortillas, in a large bowl

3.  Lightly spray bottoms and sides of a 9 X 13 and 8 X 8 baking pan

4. Place one layer of whole-wheat tortillas on the bottom of the pan, followed by some of the chicken mixture.

5. Repeat step 4, alternating a layer of tortillas and a layer of chicken mixture.

6.  Top with a final layer of tortilla and lightly sprinkle cheddar cheese on top.

7. Place in 375 oven for 20 minutes to heat through

8. While Chicken Chile Bake is heating, divide the avocado across the 4 plates and lightly sprinkle salt if desired.  Portion some greens and salad fixin’s on each plate.

9.  Once Chicken Chile Bake is hot, pull out and serve with salsa on the side.  Ol´e!