This is the 4th edition of the weekly 30-minute menus for 2011. These are published on a weekly basis; I like to develop the weekly menus on Thursday or Friday, grocery shop on Saturday, and start the week's menus on Sunday.
Cabin fever anyone? While the weather outside may be beautiful, it is very cold making it easy to stay indoors (and get cabin fever!). The menus this week will have your house smelling wonderful with all those great winter-time aromas. The menus are also easy on the budget for smiles all around!
The Saturday menu, Beef Burgundy, has an easy prep that makes it great for a family night but is also fancy enough for company! If you are having company, I would recommend a Curry Shrimp Cocktail appetizer course consisting of: a Camembert Round; Shrimp Cocktail with Tamarind Coconut Curry; Endive, Snow Peas, Asparagus Spears, Bell Peppers with Pineapple Chipotle Salsa; Sea Salt Pita Chips and Simple Water Crackers; Wasabi & Soy Sauce Almonds. This will complement the meal nicely and leave you time to enjoy your guests, too!
You will find that I use several cooking methods, mix and match, to get dinner on the table quickly! (The ingredients in parenthesis show some of my quick-prep steps.) You can always substitute your favorite made-from-scratch recipes when you have more time.
I hope you have a great week!
Sunday:
Chicken Veronique (boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders, sliced mushrooms; purchase extra mushrooms for Saturday)
Rice or Pasta
Sauteed Yellow Squash
Caprese Salad
Double Chocolate Torte (purchased pound cake and chocolate frosting)
Monday:
Mexican Beef and Cheese Soup (shredded cheese; purchase extra shredded cheeses for Thursday)
Tortillas with Guacamole Spread
Brownies (purchased brownies)
Tuesday:
Speedy BBQ Chicken Sandwiches (canned or deli chicken, bottled BBQ sauce; purchase extra chicken for Friday)
Buns and Condiments (purchased buns, jarred condiments)
Baked Potato Wedges
Cole Slaw (bagged slaw mix, jarred slaw dressing)
Fruit Pizza Cookies (purchased sugar cookie dough)
Wednesday:
Lemony Pan Seared Pork Chops (prepared lemon juice, jarred capers)
Pasta (boxed pasta)
Fresh Broccoli Spears
Rice Krispy Treats (rice cereal, mini-marshmallows, chocolate morsels)
Thursday:
Super Supper Stuffed Spuds (vegetarian; microwave potatoes and bake in oven to finish, shredded cheeses, bagged chopped veggies)
Mandarin Spinach Salad (bagged baby spinach, canned Mandarin oranges, bottled Asian-type salad dressing)
Single Layer Yellow Cake with Berries (yellow cake mix, frozen whipped topping, seasonal berries)
Friday:
Weeknight Chicken Divan (canned or deli chicken, frozen broccoli and cheese mix)
Long-Grain White Rice
Fruit Salad (fresh, seasonal fruit)
Apple Pie a la Mode (purchased apple pie and ice cream; purchase extra ice cream for Saturday)
Saturday:
Beef Burgundy (sliced mushrooms; any leftovers make a fine soup base)
Wide Egg Noodles
Marinated Green Bean and Red Pepper Salad (jarred herb vinaigrette)
Warm French Rolls (purchased bread)
Peach Sundaes (purchased ice cream and jarred peach preserves)
I sincerely hope you have fun with your meal planning and preparation,
Elizabeth Randall and Family
Cabin fever anyone? While the weather outside may be beautiful, it is very cold making it easy to stay indoors (and get cabin fever!). The menus this week will have your house smelling wonderful with all those great winter-time aromas. The menus are also easy on the budget for smiles all around!
The Saturday menu, Beef Burgundy, has an easy prep that makes it great for a family night but is also fancy enough for company! If you are having company, I would recommend a Curry Shrimp Cocktail appetizer course consisting of: a Camembert Round; Shrimp Cocktail with Tamarind Coconut Curry; Endive, Snow Peas, Asparagus Spears, Bell Peppers with Pineapple Chipotle Salsa; Sea Salt Pita Chips and Simple Water Crackers; Wasabi & Soy Sauce Almonds. This will complement the meal nicely and leave you time to enjoy your guests, too!
You will find that I use several cooking methods, mix and match, to get dinner on the table quickly! (The ingredients in parenthesis show some of my quick-prep steps.) You can always substitute your favorite made-from-scratch recipes when you have more time.
I hope you have a great week!
Sunday:
Chicken Veronique (boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders, sliced mushrooms; purchase extra mushrooms for Saturday)
Rice or Pasta
Sauteed Yellow Squash
Caprese Salad
Double Chocolate Torte (purchased pound cake and chocolate frosting)
Monday:
Mexican Beef and Cheese Soup (shredded cheese; purchase extra shredded cheeses for Thursday)
Tortillas with Guacamole Spread
Brownies (purchased brownies)
Tuesday:
Speedy BBQ Chicken Sandwiches (canned or deli chicken, bottled BBQ sauce; purchase extra chicken for Friday)
Buns and Condiments (purchased buns, jarred condiments)
Baked Potato Wedges
Cole Slaw (bagged slaw mix, jarred slaw dressing)
Fruit Pizza Cookies (purchased sugar cookie dough)
Wednesday:
Lemony Pan Seared Pork Chops (prepared lemon juice, jarred capers)
Pasta (boxed pasta)
Fresh Broccoli Spears
Rice Krispy Treats (rice cereal, mini-marshmallows, chocolate morsels)
Thursday:
Super Supper Stuffed Spuds (vegetarian; microwave potatoes and bake in oven to finish, shredded cheeses, bagged chopped veggies)
Mandarin Spinach Salad (bagged baby spinach, canned Mandarin oranges, bottled Asian-type salad dressing)
Single Layer Yellow Cake with Berries (yellow cake mix, frozen whipped topping, seasonal berries)
Friday:
Weeknight Chicken Divan (canned or deli chicken, frozen broccoli and cheese mix)
Long-Grain White Rice
Fruit Salad (fresh, seasonal fruit)
Apple Pie a la Mode (purchased apple pie and ice cream; purchase extra ice cream for Saturday)
Saturday:
Beef Burgundy (sliced mushrooms; any leftovers make a fine soup base)
Wide Egg Noodles
Marinated Green Bean and Red Pepper Salad (jarred herb vinaigrette)
Warm French Rolls (purchased bread)
Peach Sundaes (purchased ice cream and jarred peach preserves)
I sincerely hope you have fun with your meal planning and preparation,
Elizabeth Randall and Family