One of the things we strive for when planning our menus is making everything fit together into one nice, neat little package. We look to use ingredients in different ways throughout the week so that we’re benefiting from the ability of do-aheads and being able to buy in bulk. We also benefit from a well-stocked pantry.
“It looks like somebody’s got a case of the Mondays.”
Hey, Monday. Thanks for showing your face. I could have used an extra 6 hours of weekend. Let’s keep that in mind as we head toward the next one, mm-kay?
I’m flying solo at the end of this week, which should be interesting, especially when you consider everything else going on with basketball tournaments and school carnivals. If anyone wants to find me, I’ve been stampeded by a herd of fun-hungry kids in search of raffle baskets and the carnival game to rule them all.
Monday – BBQ Ribs (thanks, sweetie!)
Tuesday – Roast Turkey Breast and Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Wednesday – Butternut Kale Risotto
Thursday – Turkey, Avocado and Sprouts Sandwiches
Friday – Butternut Squash Soup with Bacon and Sage
The Preparation Shortcuts:
1. Buy a turkey breast on the bone. Cook it and eat. Separate leftover meat into two meals. One with nice slices for sandwiches. One of scraps to turn into soups, turkey salad for lunches or a weekend meal.
2. Make stock with the turkey carcass. Use some for soup. Use the rest for risotto.
3. Roast a giant butternut squash so you have plenty for soup and plenty for risotto. Ignore your family when they wonder why their food is orange all week.
4. Bacon gets used in both sandwiches and soup. Broth in soup and risotto. Turkey twice.Last week from Food for My Family:
Babble’s Family Kitchen:
Transitioning Baby to Solid Foods: The When, What and How
7 Ways to Get Your Buffalo Chicken Dip On
Magnolia’s Valentine’s Day Offerings
Making the Perfect Cup of Winter Tea
Lifetime Moms:
Sometimes Breakfast Is Best: Buttermilk Pancake Recipe
Valentine’s Day Crème Brûlée
Can Chicken Nuggets be Healthy?
Kristen says
Your menus are always so fresh and healthy!
Phoebe B. says
Wow, nice line up of food for the family. Which is the healthiest of all? I’ll try to make some of those for my family as well.
Thanks for sharing the recipe and ideas!
-Phoebe
TidyMom says
I love how you do my meal planning for me Shaina!! {wink}
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Thanks for the meal planning — I wish I had an ounce of your meal planning creativity 🙂
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Ha! I like the ignore your family when they ask why their food is orange all week. I could easily eat butternut squash for a week straight, good stuff.
Shaina says
Me too. My poor family. Perhaps the orange tone of their skin could pass as a suntan from a tropical getaway?
Gina says
You rock, Shaina! You actually do all that weekly prep that I intend to do each week but often don’t. While we plan our meals every week, there are some nights that just don’t go as planned – playmates, I’m at the office too late, train delays, etc. The only thing that keeps us out of the drive thru is having a few meals that we can whip up anytime. Like scrambled eggs with spinach in a wrap.
Fingers crossed we don’t meet a week where that’s dinner five nights in a row!
Candace says
Whatever that meal is in the picture looks amazing. What is it?
Shaina says
Thanks! Those are maple roasted sweet potatoes and parsnips over on Simple Bites.
Family Recipes says
I love BBQ ribs!!! and the butternut squash Yummy :0)