Sunday: Family
Think of warm tropical breezes instead of cold February winds when you prepare CARIBBEAN ROAST PORK LOIN for the family: Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, blend 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Rub onto each of 2 (1-pound) boneless pork loins (trimmed of visible fat). Place in shallow pan; roast 20 minutes per pound or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes before slicing.
Advertisement
Serve with POPPYSEED NOODLES (toss cooked egg noodles with poppy seeds and a little butter), SUGAR SNAP PEAS and DINNER ROLLS. Buy PEACH CRISP for dessert and top it with VANILLA ICE CREAM.
Plan
Save enough pork for Monday.
Shopping List
olive oil, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, boneless pork loins, egg noodles, poppy seeds, butter, sugar snap peas, dinner rolls, peach crisp, vanilla ice cream.
Monday: Heat and Eat
Make SAVORY PORK STIR-FRY with leftover pork. Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium-high. Add 2 cups cooked (leftover) pork cut into strips; stir-fry 1 minute. Stir 1 (16-ounce) package frozen stir-fry vegetables and 1 tablespoon water into pork. Cover; cook 5 minutes or until vegetables are hot.
Serve over BROWN RICE. Add CRUSTY BREAD. Munch on GINGERSNAPS for dessert.
Shopping List
frozen stir-fry vegetables, brown rice, crusty bread, gingersnaps.
Tuesday: Budget
This COPYCAT CHILI is low in cost and mild in flavor. Add your favorite toppings such as SHREDDED CHEESE, LOW-FAT SOUR CREAM and sliced JALAPENO PEPPERS. Serve with a GRAPEFRUIT SALAD. Make instant CHOCOLATE PUDDING with 1% milk for dessert.
Plan
Save enough chili for Wednesday.
Shopping List
ground beef, celery, white onion, green bell pepper, garlic, tomato juice, can stewed tomatoes, canned Rotel tomatoes, McCormick mild chili seasoning mix, canned red kidney beans, canned ranch-style beans, coarse salt, black pepper, shredded cheese, low-fat sour cream, jalapeno peppers, grapefruit, salad greens, instant chocolate pudding, 1% milk.
COPYCAT CHILI (INSPIRED BY WENDY'S)
Servings: makes 8 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 2 to 3 hours
- 2 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup diced celery
- 2 cups diced white onion
- 1 cup diced green bell pepper (about 1 large pepper)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup tomato juice
- 1 (28-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
- 1 (10-ounce) can Rotel tomatoes
- 1 1/2 (1.25-ounce) packets McCormick mild chili seasoning mix
- 1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans, with liquid
- 1 (15-ounce) can ranch-style beans, with liquid
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
In large pot, brown beef (about 6 or 7 minutes) until no longer pink. Drain excess fat. Add celery, onion, bell pepper and garlic. Cook on medium-high 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally or until vegetables are softened. Add all remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally, until chili reaches desired thickness. (Adapted from "Most Requested Copycat Dishes"; Echo Blickenstaff, Erica and Emily Walker, Elise Donovon; Shadow Mountain Publishing)
Per serving: 447 calories, 35 grams protein, 17 grams fat (35% calories from fat), 5.5 grams saturated fat, 35 grams carbohydrate, 81 milligrams cholesterol, 1,352 milligrams sodium, 10 grams fiber.
Wednesday: Express
Enjoy an easy meal and heat the leftover CHILI tonight. Add a MIXED GREEN SALAD. Buy MINI CUPCAKES for dessert.
Shopping List
mixed greens, mini cupcakes.
Thursday: Kids
Make BACON, LETTUCE, TOMATO AND GUACAMOLE WRAPS, a new twist on an old favorite: Microwave 4 slices bacon 3 to 4 minutes on high (100% power); let stand until crisp. Spread 4 (8-inch) flour tortillas with reduced-fat cream cheese; top each tortilla with 2 tablespoons mild tomato salsa and shredded lettuce; spread evenly. Add 1 bacon slice and 2 tablespoons guacamole; roll tightly.
Serve with BAKED POTATO WEDGES (from frozen). Adults might like chili powder sprinkled on their potatoes. For dessert, fresh PINEAPPLE CHUNKS are kid-friendly.
Shopping List
bacon, flour tortillas, reduced-fat cream cheese, mild tomato salsa, shredded lettuce, guacamole, frozen potato wedges, chili powder if desired, fresh pineapple chunks.
Friday: Meatless
Enjoy this flavorful MOROCCAN BEAN AND PEPPER STEW with COUSCOUS for a no-meat dinner. Add SLICED CUCUMBERS in plain YOGURT on the side, along with FLATBREAD. APRICOTS are dessert.
Shopping List
olive oil, yellow or red bell peppers, butternut squash, onions, cinnamon, garlic powder, cumin, ginger, crushed red pepper, coarse salt, canned reduced-sodium chickpeas, canned reduced-sodium kidney beans, canned no-salt-added diced tomatoes, couscous, cucumbers, plain yogurt, flatbread, apricots.
MOROCCAN BEAN AND PEPPER STEW
Servings: makes 6 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups chopped yellow or red bell peppers
- 2 cups peeled butternut squash chunks (see NOTE)
- 1 1/2 cups chopped onions
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 (16-ounce) can reduced-sodium chickpeas, rinsed
- 1 (15 1/2-ounce) can reduced-sodium kidney beans, rinsed
- 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, with liquid
- 1 cup water
Heat oil in a 3-quart saucepan on medium-high. Add peppers, squash and onions; cook and stir 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Add cinnamon, garlic powder, cumin, ginger, red pepper and salt; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in chickpeas, beans, tomatoes and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, covered, 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
NOTE: Some supermarkets sell butternut squash that is already peeled and cut into chunks.
Per serving: 223 calories, 10 grams protein, 3 grams fat (12% calories from fat), 0.4 gram saturated fat, 41 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 186 milligrams sodium, 11 grams fiber.
Saturday: Easy Entertaining
Guests will want seconds of creamy RIGATONI AND CHICKEN: Cook 8 ounces rigatoni or other tube pasta according to directions; drain. Cut 8 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast into 1/2-inch slices and season with 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add chicken; cook 1 1/2 minutes per side or until edges are lightly browned. Add 3 1/2 to 4 ounces sliced shiitake mushrooms; cook, stirring continuously, 2 to 4 minutes or until softened. Add 1 cup half-and-half; cook 3 minutes or until mixture is reduced by half. Stir in 1/3 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese and 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Simmer and stir 1 minute or until cheese melts. Toss hot pasta with sauce and divide among six plates. Garnish with extra Parmesan (if desired) and chopped flat-leaf parsley.
Serve with an ITALIAN SALAD and CRUSTY ROLLS. Your guests will swoon over STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE CREAM PUFFS.
Tip
Guests will want seconds of creamy RIGATONI AND CHICKEN: Cook 8 ounces rigatoni or other tube pasta according to directions; drain. Cut 8 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast into 1/2-inch slices and season with 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add chicken; cook 1 1/2 minutes per side or until edges are lightly browned. Add 3 1/2 to 4 ounces sliced shiitake mushrooms; cook, stirring continuously, 2 to 4 minutes or until softened. Add 1 cup half-and-half; cook 3 minutes or until mixture is reduced by half. Stir in 1/3 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese and 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Simmer and stir 1 minute or until cheese melts. Toss hot pasta with sauce and divide among six plates. Garnish with extra Parmesan (if desired) and chopped flat-leaf parsley.
Serve with an ITALIAN SALAD and CRUSTY ROLLS. Your guests will swoon over STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE CREAM PUFFS.
Shopping List
rigatoni or other tube pasta, boneless skinless chicken breast, coarse salt, pepper, olive oil, shiitake mushrooms, half-and-half, crumbled gorgonzola cheese, Parmesan cheese, flat-leaf parsley, Italian salad, crusty rolls, butter, flour, eggs, reduced-fat cream cheese, strawberry preserves, frozen whipped topping, powdered sugar.
STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE CREAM PUFFS
Servings: makes 12 servings
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 30 to 40 minutes; cooling time: 20 minutes
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 cup flour
- 4 eggs
- 1 (8-ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup strawberry preserves
- 1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a 2-quart saucepan, bring water, butter and salt to a boil on medium-high. With wooden spoon, stir in flour. Reduce heat to low; beat vigorously about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat. Beat in 1 egg at a time, beating vigorously after each addition, until mixture is smooth and glossy. Drop dough by 1/4 cupfuls, 3 inches apart on cookie sheet, forming 12 mounds. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until puffed and golden. Remove from pan to cooling rack; prick side of each puff with tip of sharp knife to release steam. Cool completely, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat cream cheese and preserves with electric mixer on medium until smooth. Fold in whipped topping until combined; refrigerate. Just before serving, cut each puff in half horizontally. Spoon about 1/3 cup cream cheese mixture into bottom half of each puff. Place tops over filling. Sprinkle with sugar. Serve immediately. Refrigerate remaining puffs.
Per serving: 265 calories, 5 grams protein, 17 grams fat (58% calories from fat), 11.2 grams saturated fat, 22 grams carbohydrate, 96 milligrams cholesterol, 206 milligrams sodium, no fiber.