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.
Yes, I’m a day late and a dollar short. Autumn is inevitable, and when the sun was shining yesterday, my head got swept up and I ran outside, oblivious to the pile of work on my desk. (Or perhaps the mountainous pile of to-do lists swallowed me whole and I couldn’t come up for air long enough to put together a menu plan worth talking about.) Either way, the fleeting summer sun was here, brightening the day and making it perfect for ice tea.
I was recently sent a selection of whole leaf teas and a Mighty Leaf Tea Top Brew Mug to try, and I’ve been enjoying them thoroughly ever since. You see, iced tea is my summer beverage of choice, and winters call for tea cups firmly clasped between two cold hands, warming them from the chill that sits outside the front door. I have to say I’m excited to use the brew mug, made just for brewing tea on the go with a spot to pull the tea bag into when you’re finished brewing, and I think you should have one too!
To enter to win your own top brew mug and box of delicious whole leaf tea from Mighty Leaf to bring you from summer into fall just (1) leave a comment below, (2) tweet about it and let me know in the comments or (3) Facebook it and let me know in the comments. Winner will be chosen at random next Monday when I’ll be on top of it all and have my menu up by 8:00 a.m. CT.
Monday – Seared Lemongrass Scallops
Tuesday – Quick Chicken Marengo Served Over Cheesy Lemon-Pepper Polenta
Wednesday – Orecchiette with Slow-Roasted Tomatoes, Basil, and Parmesan
Thursday – Thai Curry Flank Steak
Friday – Chicken Veggie Nuggets
The Preparation Shortcuts:
1. Bring another dimension to the flank steak by seasoning it with the leftover lemongrass from Monday’s meal. Don’t let that lemongrass go to waste!
2. Make the roasted tomatoes for Wednesday’s meal ahead while you let the Marengo cook.
3. Make the marinade in advance and store in the fridge until you’re ready to go. While marinating cook sides like rice. Grill vegetables alongside for an easy, complete meal.
4. Rather than using frozen vegetables in the nuggets on Friday, use any leftover vegetables you’ve collected throughout the week. It’s a great way to get rid of scraps, and the kids will love the fun shapes as well!
The Shopping List:
6-8 large sea scallops
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3-pound flank steak
3 ounce prosciutto
2 stalks lemongrass
1 knob ginger
1-2 Thai peppers
1 lemon
4 shallots
4 ounces Parmesan
Pantry Items:
eggs
garlic
onion
kalamata olives
chicken broth
red curry paste
fish sauce
hot chili oil
flour
panko bread crumbs
Orecchiette
rice vinegar
white wine
soy sauce
sesame oil
canola oil
extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt
black pepper
red pepper flakes
onion salt
Garden Items:
thyme
parsley
tomatoes
Thai basil
basil
carrotsLast week from Food for My Family:
Seared Lemongrass Scallops
Getting Your Kids in the Kitchen (Baked Egg Cups Recipe)
Yin and Yang: Black-Bottomed Banana Bread
Perfect Fall Treat: Drunken Apples
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers with an Apricot Glaze
The winner of the Nakano Prize Pack is Sarah H, who said, “I have a great recipe for cucumber pickles (the refrigerator kind) that involves rice vinegar and some sesame oil. I found it on allrecipes. It’s great!”
Congratulations, Sarah!
If you need help organizing your menu, check out my current sponsor: Plan to Eat. They’ve got you covered, integrating recipes and shopping lists to simplify your life.
Your menu looks delicious. And the mug looks perfect for those cold mornings (and afternoons and evenings)!
I always enjoy seeing your menu plans. You’ve given me lots of great Ideas! I love tea, and that mug looks like the perfect way to take it with me.
As much as I love my morning joe, I love having the cup of tea later in the day as my treat.
I drink tea every day so this mug looks like something I could really use! Great giveaway. Thanks for sharing so many great menus!
I’ve just started thinking about mugs of tea or hot apple cider.
I always look forward to your weekly meal plans. I’ve gotten quite a few great ideas and new favorite recipes from you!
Would love to try the tea!
I LOVE to mix my mornings up with tea and coffee…..your meal plan looks fabulous!!
I used to drink a lot of tea, but now that I#m pregnant I crave coffee (and try to avoid it at the same time). So some new teas and al ovely mug would, perhaps, bring me back “to the roots” :o)
Very neat tea mug!
That brew mug looks great! I try to mix it up: coffee some mornings and tea others because I love them both!
excited to try your recipes this week!
My accupuncturist informed me that coffee is what is making me so tired and I need to switch to tea. This fancy mug looks like it would make that switch much less painful.
I just love hot tea… I drink it daily and love it! Thank you for all your recipe inspirations! I love following you!
What a beautiful menu! I love hot tea, and am slowly coming to like iced tea, which is a bit backwards given I’m Texan! Lovely photos as well.
I would love to try some mightyleaf tea!! 🙂
Well, I’m interested (I love the Mighty Leaf logo!), and have been wanting to try them for a while, but I don’t have Twitter or Facebook (since I hate that kind of thing).
So, I blogged about it here, is that ok?
I am definitely a tea drinker! Iced in the summer, hot herbal in the evenings year-round, and hot black for a comforting pick-me-up in the winter. . . and loose-leaf taste *so* much better than bags!
I would use this often. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for the giveaway! Tea is my favorite drink.
I would love to win some tea and that mug is great!!!
i drink iced tea or hot tea by the gallon daily and year round
thanks for the chance to win
Oh my gosh Shaina, tea was the only thing that has helped me make it through these freezing Minnesota winters! This would make that so much sweeter!
I love your blog Shaina… are you sure we can’t hire you to cook for us everyday????
I’ve never seen a brew mug before. It looks like a terrific way to transport my hot tea to work on chilly mornings.
I don’t drink coffee, so tea it is all the time!
Thanks for the chance!
~Liz
Tea is so perfect on a chilly afternoon, from the heating of the water to the steeping and the first fragrant sip. I so love it in the wintertime. Not to mention, a cool and refreshing summer sipper.
(tweeting about it too!!)
This looks like a fun idea. Would love to try it on a cool autumn morning.
I’ve been trying to drink less coffee, so I find myself drinking more tea…and I’ve been enjoying it! Btw, that mug looks great!
I’ve loved tea for years and would love a chance to try Mighty Leaf. And I’ve been drooling over that cup. Thanks!
FB: http://www.facebook.com/Teawench#!/Teawench?v=wall&story_fbid=159996684013220&ref=mf
Hi Shaina, Ginger peach is my favorite tea, but I’d be open to trying something new. Have you tried the Beehouse iced tea pitchers? I got one for my birthday. Lovely, yet functional, and can be found at TeaSource.
See you at school!
Sun tea made with black and mint tea is great in the summer. I love chai tea or earl grey, but have been known to branch out, too. The mug looks great. Your menu looks delicious. I wonder if I could substitute something for scallops (I’m allergic)? I have not cooked with lemongrass, but do like it.
yo yo yo.
Me likey.
🙂
I tweeted! chirpity chirp
Would love this! Looks and sounds so yummy.
Facebooked your giveaway! Thanks for the chance 🙂
What an awesome idea for a mug! Thanks for having the giveaway.
That tea mug looks awesome.
I looovvveee tea on a cool morning. Thanks!
Mmmm, tea. I have been in and out of tea shops, searching for the perfect way to start a “tea hobby”. My husband, however, says I already have too many hobbies. Hah! I say to that.
What a lovely giveaway. Thanks for the chance to win and for another great menu plan.
Just discovered your website and have signed up. Food looks great.
Plus, I would really love to win this prize.
I can’t wait to try seared lemongrass scallops!
What a great prize! I don’t do coffee, so tea is my morning beverage of choice. I would love this.
Those whole leaf teas look delicious!
Tea (hot and cold) is my favorite drink…If I win this, it would be put to great use!! My fingers are crossed 🙂
Here’s to hoping I win! Thanks!
Fall is the perfect time for hot tea.
I would love to win this for my boss. She loves tea and would make a unique gift for her for the upcoming holiday 🙂
Love that tea, both iced and hot. Posting on
Facebook.
I love tea. This would be great to have!
Sounds yummy! Please enter me!
This looks like a great mug. I would love to try it out!
This looks awesome! I would love to be entered into this!
This looks like a great mug.
This looks like one of the “coolest” mugs ever! Would love to have one!
That sounds great! The mug also seems awesome!
Love to try it. Please enter me. thanks!
I would love to get this for my wife!
This would be a great stocking stuffer and I personally love tea
Tea is a favorite in my house, How wonderful!
Awesome. Would love to try it out!
Thanks for the entry!
drink tea all the time, would love to try this!
This tea mug sounds awesome!
I love tea and would like to try this mug out!
that would be perfect for taking to work!
Would love to win this one!!!
Would love to try out such a neat mug!
matthollycart@gmail.com
Oooh…nice mug!
i would love to try this
I know I’m too late for the giveaway, but I need to say how much I love the Mighty Leaf tea products. I’ve been known to pick a brunch spot based on the brand of tea they serve… And whether they serve the water hot enough.
Hot or cold I love tea!
I adore Mighty Leaf Tea, I’ve been buying Marrakesh Mint for a few years now.
Really nice mug.