Sunday: Family
For family day, roast a large TURKEY BREAST. This BAKED RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS, SPINACH AND PARMESAN is perfect alongside. Add a MIXED GREEN SALAD and CRUSTY BREAD.
For dessert, CHOCOLATE MALT ICE CREAM CAKE will win some fans: Arrange 4 ice cream sandwiches, long sides touching, on a serving plate. Spread an even layer of light whipped cream over the top. Scatter with 1/3 cup chopped malted milk balls. Repeat layers twice, garnishing top with a few whole malt balls. Freeze 6 hours. Slice and serve.
Plan
Save enough turkey and cake for Monday.
Shopping List
turkey breast, olive oil, onion, arborio rice, fresh spinach, unsalted chicken broth, coarse salt, nutmeg, Parmesan cheese, fresh asparagus, mixed greens, crusty bread, ice cream sandwiches, light whipped cream, malted milk balls.
BAKED RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS, SPINACH AND PARMESAN
Servings: makes 10 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: about 35 minutes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 8 cups fresh spinach (about 4 ounces, thick stems removed)
- 2 1/2 cups unsalted chicken broth
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 1/2 cups diagonally sliced fresh asparagus
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Heat oil in a Dutch oven on medium. Add onion; cook 4 minutes or until tender. Add rice; stir well. Stir in spinach, broth, salt and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer; cook 7 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese. Cover and bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Stir in asparagus; sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese. Cover and bake an additional 15 minutes or until liquid is almost absorbed.
Per serving: 119 calories, 4 grams protein, 3 grams fat (24% calories from fat), 1.1 grams saturated fat, 18 grams carbohydrate, 5 milligrams cholesterol, 191 milligrams sodium, 1 gram fiber.
Monday: Heat and Eat
Make TURKEY WRAPS with the leftover turkey. For each wrap, spread 1 tablespoon reduced-fat cream cheese over half of 1 (9-inch) spinach or tomato-basil flour tortilla. Spread other half with 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard. Top with sliced cooked turkey breast, sliced tomatoes, 1/2 cup chopped lettuce, 2 tablespoons shredded Monterey Jack cheese and some chopped fresh basil. Wrap tightly and cut on a diagonal. Serve with deli COLESLAW. Slice the leftover CAKE for dessert.
Shopping List
reduced-fat cream cheese, spinach or tomato-basil flour tortillas, Dijon mustard, tomatoes, lettuce, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, fresh basil, deli coleslaw.
Tuesday: Meatless
Use corn tortillas instead of the traditional pasta, and you have MEXICAN LAYERED LASAGNA: Heat oven to 375 degrees. From 2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes with green chiles, spoon one-third of tomatoes across the bottom of a 7-by-11-inch baking dish. Arrange 3 corn tortillas over tomatoes, cutting them to cover bottom and avoid overlap. Top with 1/2 cup shredded 50% reduced-fat cheddar cheese and one-third of 2 (15-ounce cans) rinsed reduced-sodium black beans. Repeat layers twice. Cover loosely with foil and bake 35 minutes. Remove foil; bake 10 more minutes or until bubbly.
Serve with a SPINACH SALAD. Sliced KIWIS are dessert.
Shopping List
canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes with green chiles, corn tortillas, shredded 50% reduced-fat cheddar cheese, canned reduced-sodium black beans, fresh spinach, kiwifruit.
Wednesday: Budget
You won't mind saving money with SASSY SALMON BURGERS. Top the burgers with sliced avocado, sliced tomato and chopped lettuce; serve on toasted whole-grain hamburger buns. Add POTATO WEDGES (from frozen). Fresh PINEAPPLE CHUNKS are perfect for dessert.
Shopping List
canned salmon, toasted wheat germ, green onions, eggs, reduced-fat mayonnaise, coarse salt, hot pepper sauce, canola oil, avocado, tomato, lettuce, whole-grain hamburger buns, frozen potato wedges, fresh pineapple.
SASSY SALMON BURGERS
Servings: makes 5 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: less than 10 minutes
- 3 (5-ounce) cans skinless boneless salmon, drained
- 1 cup toasted wheat germ, divided
- 1/3 cup sliced green onions
- 3 egg whites, divided
- 4 tablespoons water, divided
- 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
In a medium bowl, combine salmon, 1/2 cup wheat germ and onions. In a small bowl, beat together 2 egg whites, 2 tablespoons water, mayonnaise, salt and hot pepper sauce. Add to salmon mixture; mix well. Shape into 5 patties, each about 1 inch thick. In a shallow dish, place remaining 1/2 cup wheat germ. In a second shallow dish, beat remaining egg white with remaining 2 tablespoons water until frothy. Dip each patty in wheat germ, then in egg white mixture, then again in wheat germ. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil on medium. Cook patties over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden and heated through.
Per serving: 254 calories, 28 grams protein, 11 grams fat (37% calories from fat), 1.4 grams saturated fat, 13 grams carbohydrate, 69 milligrams cholesterol, 491 milligrams sodium, 4 grams fiber.
Thursday: Express
Make it quick tonight with CAJUN SAUSAGE AND RICE: Boil 3 1/2 cups water in a large pan. Add 1 (8-ounce) package red beans and rice mix; reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat 1 teaspoon canola oil in a large nonstick skillet. Cut 2 red or green bell peppers (or one of each) into bite-size pieces; cook peppers on medium-high for 5 minutes until lightly charred in a few places. Add 4 sliced, fully cooked spicy beef sausages (from a 14-ounce package); cook 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Place mixture on rice; do not stir. Cover and simmer 10 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir to mix; garnish with sliced green onions if desired.
Serve with a GREEN SALAD and CORNBREAD (from mix). For dessert, try CHUNKY APPLESAUCE.
Shopping List
red beans and rice mix, canola oil, red or green bell peppers, fully cooked spicy beef sausages, green onions, salad greens, cornbread mix, chunky applesauce.
Friday: Kids
Get the kids ready for Halloween with BLACK BEAN AND PUMPKIN SOUP and GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES. Munch on a few BABY CARROTS on the side.
Get in the Halloween mood with HALLOWEEN PRETZEL WANDS: Arrange assorted colored sugars (such as orange, black and green) or Halloween sprinkles on parchment paper or a cutting board. In a microwave safe bowl, microwave 1 cup white chocolate chips at 50% power for 1 minute. Stir and microwave in additional 10-second intervals until smooth and melted, stirring after each interval. Dip top third of 12 pretzel rods into melted chocolate; shake off excess chocolate and then roll pretzel in the sugars or sprinkles. If the melted chocolate gets too thick, return it to the microwave and heat at 50% power in 10-second intervals. (You can also stir in about a teaspoon of vegetable oil to loosen up the warm chocolate.) Arrange the chocolate-dipped pretzels on waxed or parchment paper and let stand until the chocolate has set, at least 30 minutes. (Recipe by Gwynn Galvin, www.SwirlsOfFlavor.com.)
Shopping List
canned reduced-sodium black beans, canned no-salt-added diced tomatoes, butter, onions, garlic, coarse salt, pepper, cumin, unsalted chicken broth, canned pure pumpkin, reduced-fat sour cream, bread and cheese for sandwiches, baby carrots, assorted colored sugars (orange, black and green) or Halloween sprinkles, white chocolate chips, pretzel rods.
BLACK BEAN AND PUMPKIN SOUP
Servings: makes about 13 cups
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: about 35 minutes
- 3 (15-ounce) cans reduced-sodium black beans, rinsed
- 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/8 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 4 teaspoons cumin
- 4 1/2 cups unsalted chicken broth
- 1 (16-ounce) can pure pumpkin
- Reduced-fat sour cream for garnish
In a blender, puree beans and tomatoes in several batches. In a large pan, melt butter on medium. Add onion, garlic, salt, pepper and cumin; cook 6 minutes or until onion is softened and light brown. Stir in bean and tomato puree. Add broth and pumpkin; mix well. Simmer 30 minutes. Garnish with sour cream.
Per cup: 129 calories, 6 grams protein, 1 gram fat (9% calories from fat), no saturated fat, 24 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 166 milligrams sodium, 8 grams fiber.
Saturday: Easy Entertaining
Prepare STEAK WITH PEPPERCORN WINE SAUCE for your lucky guests: Heat a large heavy skillet on medium for 5 minutes. Place 4 beef round or tenderloin steaks (cut 1 inch thick) in skillet and cook 8 to 10 minutes for rare to medium, turning once. Meanwhile, in a small pan, dissolve 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch in 1 cup lower-sodium beef broth. Bring to a boil and cook 1 minute or until slightly thickened. Stir in 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme and 1 small bay leaf. Reduce heat to medium; cook 5 minutes or until mixture is reduced to 1/2 cup. Stir in 2 tablespoons dry red wine and 1/8 teaspoon crushed peppercorns; cook 3 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Spoon sauce over steaks.
Serve with STEAMED RED POTATOES and a ROMAINE SALAD. Add WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. Buy a LEMON MERINGUE PIE for dessert.
Shopping List
beef round or tenderloin steaks, cornstarch, lower-sodium beef broth, dried thyme, bay leaf, dry red wine, peppercorns, red potatoes, romaine lettuce, whole-grain rolls, lemon meringue pie.