This coming week’s meal plan is the Epicurious/Try-Something-New-and-Different version. All the recipes were found while browsing Epicurious.com and feature recipes that are a bit different from the run of the mill – a touch of gourmet that takes advantage of the plentiful fresh vegetables this time of year and a couple that take advantage of the BBQ while the weather is still good. BUT, a bit gourmet doesn’t mean these meals take a lot of time to prepare. A couple require making part up ahead or the night before (these are marked below), then all can be on the table in 30 minutes or less!
This menu may or may not be kid-friendly, depending how picky your kids are. My strategy has been to just leave any fancy sauces off the portion for my picky kid and/or offer a bit of the vegetable cooked up plain.
Again, my weekly plan includes only 5 meals – enough to get through the work-week. If we end up eating leftovers or eating out during the week, the extra meal gets eaten up on the weekend.
Weekly Meal Plan: Late Summer/Early Fall #2
*Bookmark this post to have easy access to linked recipes*
(Permalink: http://www.fortysomething.ca/2008/09/weekly_meal_plan_late_summer2.php)
menu 1: fish
Time to Table: 30 Minutes
Salmon Cakes with Lemon Yogurt Sauce from Epicurious
Succotash of Fresh Corn, Lima Beans, Tomatoes and Onions from Epicurious *Can be made ahead and re-heated.
menu 2: beef
Time to Table: 20 Minutes* (Making Potato Salad ahead or night before)
Steak with Parmesan Butter, Balsamic Glaze and Arugula from Epicurious
Celery and Potato Salad from Epicurious *Made the night before*
My notes: This steak dish was FABULOUS! We used a couple of nice rib-eye which we BBQ’d and served over Spring Mix instead of arugula. I just cooked the shallot/balsamic in a saucepan, since we didn’t pan fry the meat. Next time I would double the shallot sauce. It was yummy and I wanted more. Don’t skimp on the parmesan shavings on the lettuce. The combination of flavours was great and this was quick to the table. Wouldn’t hesitate to serve this to company. Would be great with any nice cut of beef, such as beef tenderloin.
menu 3: eggs/meat-free
Time to Table: 20 Minutes
Poached Eggs and Parmesan Cheese over Toasted Brioche with Pistou from Epicurious
Baked Sweet Potato Fries from Food & Whine
My notes: If you are looking for a dish that’s quick and easy but tastes special, this poached egg dish is it! Make it kid-friendly by eliminating the Pistou and using cheddar cheese instead of Parmesan.
menu 4: chicken
Time to Table: 30 minutes
BLT Chicken with Rosemary Lemon Mayonnaise from Epicurious
menu 5: seafood
Time to Table 25 Minutes* (Starting the Shrimp marinating night or morning before)
Grilled Rosemary Garlic Shrimp from Epicurious (*start shrimp marinating night before or in the morning)
Frisee and Apple Salad with Dried Cherries and Walnut from Epicurious
sweet treat
Cinnamon Crumble Apple Pie from Epicurious
shopping list
** Assumes you always have eggs, milk, bread, butter (salted and un-salted), all-purpose flour, vegetable oil, olive oil, garlic bulbs, soy sauce, salt, pepper, sugar, balsamic vinegar, mayonnaise, white vinegar, baking powder, baking soda on hand. If you are missing any of these, please add to your shopping list.
Each item on the grocery list shows which recipe it corresponds to. If you are skipping any particular item, simply cross out all ingredients from that recipe. Of course, if you already have an item on-hand, cross it off as well before heading out to shop.
meat, fish and poultry
1 lb. of salmon fillet (1a)
4 Small, good quality grilling steaks (like rib-eye) (2a)
4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (4)
16 Jumbo Shrimp (5a)
Bacon (Try the pre-cooked boxed or frozen bacon, for a time-saver) (4)
Pantry Items
Spice Coriander (1a)
Spice Cumin Seeds (4)
Spice Cinnamon (Sweet Treat)
Panko (Japanese Breadcrumbs) – 1 cup (4)
Dark Brown Sugar (2a)
Golden Brown Sugar (Sweet Treat)
Malt Vinegar (2b)
Red Wine Vinegar (4)
Apple Cider Vinegar (5b, Sweet Treat)
Bamboo Skewers (5a)
Dried Tart Cherries – 1/2 cup (5b)
Walnut Pieces – 1/2 cup (5b)
Vegetable Shortening (Sweet Treat)
dairy
Plain Yogurt – 3/4 cup (1a)
Parm Regianno (2a, 3a)
Sour Cream (2b)
produce
Fresh Chives (1a)
Fresh Basil (1b, 3a)
Fresh Rosemary (4, 5a)
4 Lemons (1a, 2a, 4, 5a)
2 onions (1b)
4-5 Shallots (2a, 5b)
1 sweet onion (2b)
5 regular tomatoes (1b)
4 plum tomatoes (4)
4 ears of corn (1b)
Fresh or Frozen Lima Beans -2 cups (1b)
Celery (2b)
3 large sweet potatoes (3b)
Yukon Gold Potatoes – 1 1/2 lbs. (2b)
Arugula (or spinach) (2a)
Mixed Greens (4)
Frisee Lettuce (5b)
1 medium Gala Apple (5b)
3 1/2 lb. Granny Smith Apples (Sweet Treat)
bread
1 Loaf Brioche or Egg Bread
