What to Cook for Dinner this Week
This week, it was my turn to fight off The Cold That Will Not Leave. E and L still show signs of it hanging on to them after three solid weeks, and I am debating about whether or not I will ever leave L in the church nursery again (but I’ll save this quandary of ethics for another post). Knowing that rest is always the best weapon, I’ve tried to get as much as I can this week, which is why my presence here on the blog has been a bit spotty. But I’ve been thinking of you all anyway, and doodling new post ideas in my notebook (I have a lot on my mind these days), and planning next week’s dinner menu in my head. I’ve also continued to cook from Keys to the Kitchen, and I have some recipe riffs to share over the next week. Aida Mollenkamp has successfully reminded me that eggs can be the center – or the punctuation mark, if you will – of a satisfying dinner. They’re not just for breakfast. In no way do I feel I’ve truly explored this amazing cookbook, but it’s time to choose a new book for March and begin paging through that instead.
So here, friends, is the weekly menu. If you’re new here, each day has a dinner recipe link for you – just click on it to get the details. Every dinner idea is meant to keep you in the kitchen for no more than an hour at the most while cooking from scratch as much as possible. Use the recipe ideas however you like. Take just one menu idea or two, mix and match, shuffle the order, whatever will help make your busy life just a little simpler. You’ll notice that Friday night is always Takeout Night – that’s my way of exhorting you to take a night off from the kitchen once a week, whether you go on a date and leave the munchkins at home, pick up a pizza from Costco to eat at your own dinner table, or collapse into a booth at Chick fil-A, where you and your husband stare at each other across the table in relief as the kiddos are wearing themselves out in the play area. Even if you love to cook, you need a night off from the kitchen every so often. Finally, I usually include an idea for a cooked breakfast, perfect for Saturday mornings (or any morning that works for you), and a weekly treat for those of you who like to bake and prefer to feed your family homemade treats rather than storebought ones.
Monday: Chicken Chilaquiles. This is an easy stovetop or Crock-pot dinner that everyone loves. Serve this just-spicy enough chicken over tortilla chips, with a sprinkle of cheese, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole. If you want to up the vegetable score, add some chopped green peppers.
Tuesday: Asian Chicken Skewers and Cold Noodles. This is part dinner-on-a-stick and part slippery noodle bowl. The flavors are reminiscent of Thai food – sesame and lime. Simple and easy. Rice noodles make it gluten-free, and it’s dairy-free as well.
Wednesday: Moroccan Meatballs. This Whole30 recipe is by nature both gluten-free and dairy-free. If your people won’t do cabbage, serve them with rice instead. A salad or some steamed broccolini on the side adds green to your plate.
Thursday: Not Your Mama’s Shepherd’s Pie. I made this for the first time last month, and have been thinking about it ever since.
Friday: Takeout Night. Get out of the kitchen for a night, and relax with your favorite takeout. For us, it’s usually Five Guys for burgers and cajun fries, California Tortilla for fish tacos, or Chick fil-A.
Saturday: Slow-cooked Southern-style Barbecue. Fantastic on a busy Saturday, you can make this with pork, beef, venison, or even chicken. Serve it up on whole wheat or gluten-free buns, with Tangy Apple Slaw. In lieu of chips, serve crunchy fresh veggies – baby carrots, celery sticks, cucumber coins – on the side. Spicy Sweet Potato Oven Fries are also great with this dinner.
Sunday: Stuffed Shells. These are a perennial favorite around here, and they take less time to assemble than you think, I promise! Serve with a Caesar or green salad alongside.
Weekend Breakfast: Popovers. If you’ve never had these delectable, airy, muffin-like pastries, you simply must not skip this recipe. If you don’t have a popover pan, you can just use a regular muffin pan (they just won’t be as tall). Serve with butter and jam. And be prepared for everyone to inhale them.
Weekly Treat: No-bake Peanut Butter Snack Bites. These easy, healthy treats won’t leave you feeling guilty. They’re full of good stuff!
