7-day menu planner

5/7 FAMILY SUNDAY Prepare your own Baked Ham for the family dinner. Add a special dish such as Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Apples With Pecan Streusel Topping (see recipe), along with green

peas (frozen) and dinner rolls. You’ll love how easy raspberry

shortcake can be using sliced poundcake with fresh raspberries and light whipped cream for dessert. Plan ahead: Save enough ham and raspberries for Monday; save enough cake for Tuesday. 5/8 HEAT-AND-EAT MONDAY

Use the leftover ham for Grilled Ham and Swiss Cheese Sandwiches on rye. Serve with tomato basil soup anda lettuce wedge. Munch on leftover raspberries for dessert. 5/9 KIDS TUESDAY The kids will be all over Tortilla

Casserole tonight. Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a 7-by-11inch baking dish, mix 1 (10- to 13-ounce) package refrigerated cooked carved chicken breasts, 1 (14.75-ounce) can cream-style corn, 1 (15-ounce) can rinsed reduced-sodium black beans, and 2 medium seeded and chopped tomatoes until well blended. Smooth top. Cover and bake 35 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle top with 1/2 cup coarsely crushed baked tortilla chips and 1/2 cup shredded 50 percent light cheddar cheese. Bake 2 more minutes or until tortilla chips are toasted and cheese is melted. Serve with a chopped lettuce salad. Slice the leftover cake for dessert and top it with sliced peaches.

5/10 MEATLESS WEDNESDAY Skip meat for Fettuccine With NoCook Tomato Sauce for an easy meal. In a medium bowl, combine 12 chopped, seeded plum tomatoes, 1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette, 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil and 1 teaspoon minced garlic; mix well. Toss with hot fettuccine and serve. Adda spinach salad with hardcooked egg wedges and garlic bread .Try fresh tropical fruits for dessert.

5/11 EXPRESS THURSDAY

Layered Beef Salad is on the menu tonight. In a glass serving bowl (straight-sided, if available), layer shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, canned artichokes (drained), and strips of deli roast beef and (any) cheese (repeat layers once). Top with reduced-fat ranch dressing. To serve, spoon through all layers. Serve with deli minestrone soup and flatbread .Buy tapioca

pudding for dessert. 5/12 BUDGET FRIDAY It’s low cost and has lots of flavor, two good reasons to put Santa Fe

Rice and Beans (see recipe) on the menu tonight. Serve with a sliced avocado salad and corn tortillas. Plums are good for dessert.

5/13 EASY ENTERTAINING SATURDAY Invite extra-special friends for the

spring flavors in Grilled LimeButter Salmon (see recipe).

Add roasted potatoes, green beans ,a bibb lettuce salad and baguettes. For dessert, buy a coconut cream pie.