What to Cook for Dinner this Week
We’re home from Michigan, but it seems the deep freeze decided to follow us. It’s 15 degrees out as I type this, which is the coldest temperature we’ve experienced since moving to Virginia 16 months ago. So my body is still craving warm, comforting foods even as my mind is on the forecast two weeks out of temperatures in the mid-fifties. I’m envisioning the opportunity to bundle L into the jogger and get out for some fresh air that doesn’t burn my lungs.
I managed to get my hands on a few new cookbooks while I was in Michigan, including Jenny Rosenstrach‘s Time for Dinner, so I’ll be playing around with some new eats in the coming weeks, which you’ll hopefully end up seeing here. I’m ready for more variety, and I’m sure you are, too. I’m also committed to keeping things as healthy as possible this year, incorporating even more fresh, whole foods. The farmers’ markets here are open year-round, so I’m planning to shop local more often throughout the winter months, something I couldn’t do as easily in Grand Rapids.
Here’s the weekly dinner menu:
Monday: Chicken Soup with Thyme, White Wine, and Orzo. L and I have been under the weather this week, so chicken soup sounds good to me right now. It’s warm and nourishing, and I firmly believe in its healing abilities, mythical or not.
Tuesday: Mediterranean Turkey Burgers, Spicy Sweet Potato Oven Fries, and Tangy Apple Slaw. Serve on whole grain or gluten-free buns. Yum!
Wednesday: Crock-Pot Moroccan Chicken. Serve with brown basmati or jasmine rice. Note: make a double portion of rice, and use the leftovers with Thursday’s gumbo!
Thursday: Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo. Serve with the extra brown rice you made the day before!
Friday: Takeout Night. We’re shooting to stay healthy, so we’ll stick to places like Chipotle, California Tortilla, and Baja Fresh, choosing menu items that are low on refined carbs and high in fresh veggies.
Saturday: Pasta Harmonia. Use whole grain or brown rice pasta in this one. If you can’t find fresh leeks, use some finely sliced sweet shallots instead, or even a Vidalia onion.
Sunday: Pork Shoulder Ragu. If you can find whole grain pappardelle, snatch it up. Serve with a green salad.
Happy weekend!
