4 fresh medium beets, cut
Sunday (Family)
Prepare a ROAST CHICKEN and serve it with GRAVY for a special family meal. Add MASHEDSWEETPOTATOES, BRUSSELS SPROUTS garnished with crumbled cooked bacon and DINNER ROLLS. For dessert, COCONUT MACAROONS and ORANGE SHERBET are a perfect combination.
Plan ahead: Save enough chicken for Wednesday and enough sherbet for Friday.
Shopping list: chicken to roast, gravy, sweet potatoes to mash, Brussels sprouts, bacon, dinner rolls, coconut macaroons, orange sherbet.
Monday (Budget)
BACON AND BEET HASH (see recipe) is a perfect low-cost dinner. Serve the savory dish with a LETTUCE WEDGE. Enjoy BLUEBERRIES for dessert.
Shopping list: fresh medium beets, red onion, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh rosemary sprigs, cinnamon, coarse salt, freshly ground pepper, bacon, lean ground beef, shredded 50% light cheddar cheese, eggs, green onions, lettuce, blueberries.
Tuesday (Meatless)
CANNELLINI BEANS WITH SAUTEED FENNEL AND BLISTERED TOMATOES (see recipe) is a delicious no-meat dish. Serve with CHEESE SOUP. Add CRUSTY BREAD on the side. How about MANGO CHUNKS for dessert?
Shopping list: extra-virgin olive oil, grape tomatoes, coarse salt, black pepper, fresh fennel, garlic, crushed red pepper, canned reduced-sodium cannellini beans, fresh basil, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, cheese soup, crusty bread, mangoes.
Wednesday (Heat and Eat)
RED BEANS AND RICE keeps the food budget in line. In a 4-quart or larger slow cooker, combine 1 pound red kidney beans (rinsed and picked over), ½ pound andouille smoked chicken sausage (thinly sliced), 3 chopped celery ribs, 1 chopped green bell pepper, 1 chopped medium onion, 3 minced cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning and 7 cups hot water. Cover and cook on high 7 hours or until beans are tender. Spoon over BROWN RICE and garnish with sliced green onions.
Serve with a (leftover) CHICKEN SANDWICH on whole-grain bread and COLESLAW. For dessert, BANANA PUDDING (from mix) made with 1% milk will taste good.
Shopping list: dried red kidney beans, andouille smoked chicken sausage, celery, green bell pepper, onion, garlic, Creole seasoning, brown rice, green onions, whole-grain bread, coleslaw, banana pudding mix, 1% milk.
Thursday (Express)
This is a good time of year for a SUMMER SALAD PLATTER. Arrange pickled beets, marinated vegetables and deli potato-andchicken salad on a platter lined with lettuce. Serve with WHOLE-GRAIN BREAD. Juicy PEACHES are a delicious summertime dessert.
Shopping list: pickled beets, marinated vegetables, deli potato-and-chicken salad, lettuce, whole-grain bread, fresh peaches.
Friday (Kids)
Treat the kids (and the adults!) with these TURKEY BURGERS. In a medium bowl, combine 1 ⅓ pound ground turkey, 2 chopped green onions, 2 tablespoons white wine and herb chicken marinade, ½ teaspoon garlic powder and 1 teaspoon pepper. Divide into 5 (4-inch) patties. Heat a cast-iron skillet on medium-high. Cook patties 5 to 7 minutes per side or until no longer pink in the center. Serve on wholegrain buns with sliced tomatoes, sliced avocados, lettuce and low-fat mayonnaise. Add OVEN FRIES (from frozen) and steamed CARROTS. Scoop leftover SHERBET for dessert.
Shopping list: ground turkey, green onions, white wine and herb chicken marinade, garlic powder, pepper, whole-grain buns, tomatoes, avocados, lettuce, lowfat mayonnaise, frozen oven fries, carrots.
Saturday (Easy Entertaining)
Invite friends for SHRIMP
Servings:
servings
Preparation time:
minutes
Cooking time:
minutes about 35