Seven-Day Menu Planner

7/1

WILD CARD SUNDAY

Open your Global Pantry and look to Japan for the family day meal and try Japanese Steak Salad With Sesame Dressing (see recipe). Serve with crusty rolls.

The family will line up for

raspberry crisp for dessert: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss 3 pints fresh raspberries with 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium baking dish. Separately, combine 1 cup coarse fresh bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons melted butter and 2 tablespoons sugar. Scatter topping evenly over berries and bake 40 minutes or until topping is golden and berries are bubbly. Cool slightly and serve.

Plan ahead: Save some steak and dessert for Monday.

Tip: Substitute blackberries for raspberries if desired. 7/2

HEAT-AND-EAT MONDAY Make Ginger Beef and

Noodle Bowls with Monday’s leftovers. Combine 2 (14-ounce) cans unsalted beef broth, 3/4 cup thinly sliced green onions and 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice wine vinegar in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, divide 6 cups cooked refrigerated vermicelli or other thin-cut noodles and leftover beef among 4 large soup bowls. Bring broth mixture to a boil; ladle boiling mixture evenly over beef and noodles. Garnish the soup with some matchstick-cut carrots. Serve with a spinach salad and

crackers. Warm the leftover crisp for dessert. 7/3 EXPRESS TUESDAY Make it fast tonight with Sweet-and-Sour Ham Steaks. Heat 1/2 teaspoon canola oil in a large nonstick skillet on mediumhigh. Add 2 (7- to 8-ounce) ham steaks (halved) and cook 4 minutes or until lightly browned, turning once. Remove to serving platter. Add 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen sliced peaches (thawed and cut into bite-size chunks) and 1 (9-ounce) jar hot or sweet mango chutney and cook, just until hot, stirring frequently. Spoon over ham. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro if desired.

Serve with mashed sweet potatoes, a packaged green salad and cornbread (from a mix). Apple slices are dessert. 7/4 BUDGET WEDNESDAY Celebrate July 4th with Classic Cheeseburgers (see recipe). Alongside, grill some corn-onthe-cob. For dessert, what’s more Fourth of July than watermelon and chocolate chip cookies? Plan ahead: Save enough cookies for Friday. 7/5 KIDS THURSDAY It’s great to be a kid and have Peanut Butter Roll-Ups for dinner. Spread peanut butter and honey or cheese slices on multigrain tortillas, roll and heat slightly. Add carrot salad on the side. The kids will love to make Blue Banana

Boats (see recipe) for dessert. 7/6 MEATLESS FRIDAY

For a no-meat dinner, Scrambled Eggs With Chilies and Cheese are so easy. Beat 8 eggs in a bowl with a fork. Stir in 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chilies and 1 cup shredded 50 percent light cheddar cheese. Scramble as usual. Add a spinach salad with orange sections and red onion rings. Serve with leftover

cookies and vanilla ice cream. Plan ahead: Save enough ice cream for Saturday. 7/7 EASY ENTERTAINING SATURDAY Invite special friends for Baked Chicken With White Beans, Tomatoes and Avocado. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large ovenproof skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil on medium. Add 2 medium chopped onions; cook 10 minutes or until browned and crisped. Stir in 1 (14-ounce) can undrained Italian-style diced tomatoes and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning and boil, uncovered, 1 minute. Stir in 2 (15-ounce) cans rinsed reduced-sodium white beans. Bring to a simmer. Place 4 (5- to 6-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts among beans, spooning some of the bean mixture over chicken. Cover chicken and beans with 1 thickly sliced avocado. Bake, uncovered, 25 to 30 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees and bean mixture is bubbly.

Serve with a mixed green salad and garlic bread. For dessert, buy some brownies and make chocolate brownie sundaes with leftover vanilla ice cream. Top with fresh strawberries and light whipped cream. Susan Nicholson is an Atlantabased cookbook author and registered dietitian. Reach her at susan@7daymenu.com. Follow Susan on Twitter: @7DayMenu. The Menu Planner is also accessible at 7daymenuplanner.com.

Susan@7daymenu.com www.7daymenu.com