Welcome to the weekend! This week’s line-up is a mix of make-ahead, slow cooker, and easy peasy recipes. As always, your shopping list is at the bottom of the page.
SPINACH & FETA PIE
A lighter spin on a Greek-style spanikopita, this is an excellent make-ahead dish that doubles as a leftover for lunch. Don’t worry, filo dough is pretty easy to work with and seeing that golden puff come out of the oven is darn satisfying. As for sides? Maybe start with a cup of tomato soup or your favorite store-bought boxed soup (p.s. did you know that the vitamin C in tomato soup will boost the absorption of the iron in spinach?)
SLOW COOKER PORK TINGA TACOS
Cooking pork low and slow in a crock pot with a serious hit of chipotle is an excellent starting point for weeknight tacos. From there it’s a matter of gathering your best taco fixings with a salad or street corn on the side.
WEEKNIGHT FRIED RICE
This is a dinner built on leftovers. Rice, plus whatever vegetables you have in the fridge and whatever meat, tofu, or chicken is tucked in there too. You can also pick up a rotisserie chicken if the fridge is near empty. Leftover fried rice makes a terrific lunch.
EVERYTHING CHICKEN
Everything Chicken is my quick fix for a chicken dinner. The options for what to serve alongside are endless…roasted potatoes, delicata squash, or this Reset Button Salad are all fair game.
3-INGREDIENT BLACK BEAN SOUP
This black bean soup is about as quick as it comes as far as getting dinner on the table. I like to set up a little toppings bar and include favorite fixings, such as salsa, sour cream, avocado, crumbled bacon, and fresh cilantro. Simple cheese quesadillas, cornbread, or these sweet potato “fries” make a suitable side.
BANANA DATE SHAKE
This shake is a study in simplicity. It has just four ingredients, all of which you may already have in your pantry and fridge. Best of all, it tastes like a creamy treat, even though it doesn’t have a lick of ice cream or a spoonful of sugar.
BAGEL KABOBS
Most kids are back in school at this point, so I figured some lunch box inspo might be in order. Switch up your sandwich routine by making these bagel kabobs instead. You can do any combination that suits you, but several ideas are included in the recipe (and on the shopping list below).
SHOPPING LIST // WEEK 2
Spinach and Feta Pie
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 large yellow onion
1 pound frozen chopped spinach
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese
6 ounces feta cheese (~1 1/4 cup crumbled)
2 eggs
6 sheets whole-wheat or regular filo dough
3 tablespoons butter
Slow Cooker Pork Tinga Tacos
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion
1 large tomato
One 7-ounce can tomatillo salsa (~1 cup tomatillo salsa)
2 cloves garlic
1 chipotle chile en adobo
1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from canned chipotle chiles)
1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water
One 2 to 2-1/2 pound boneless pork loin roast
Weeknight Fried Rice
3 tablespoons canola oil, avocado, or other vegetable oil
1 small yellow onion
4 cups cooked rice
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups bite-size pieces cooked meat or fish
2 cups packed baby spinach, 1 cup cooked small broccoli florets, or 1/2 cup frozen peas (thawed)
Leaves from 2 sprigs thyme
3 tablespoons oyster sauce
Everything Chicken
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (~1 1/2 lbs)
1 lemon
3 tablespoons “everything bagel” spice blend
3-Ingredient Black Bean Soup
Three 15-ounce cans black beans
One 12-ounce container pico de gallo salsa (~1 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup sour cream, plus any other favorite garnishes such as shredded Jack or Cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, salsa
Banana Date Shake
1 cup low-fat milk (cow’s or plant milk)
1 ripe frozen banana
1 to 2 large Medjool dates
6 walnut halves
Bagel Kabobs
2 wooden skewers for making kabobs
Caprese Kabobs:
– 1 Plain or whole-wheat bagel
– 6 cherry tomatoes
– 6 small Mozzarella Balls (bocconcini)
– 6 basil leaves
Ham & Cheese Kabobs:
– 1 “everything” bagel
– Favorite mustard
– 6 cubes Cheddar or Swiss cheese
– 3 slices Ham
– 6 cornichons or pickle slices
Nut Butter & Jam Kabobs:
– 1 cinnamon raisin bagel
– Favorite nut or seed butter
– Favorite jam
– 6 raspberries
Cream Cheese & Lox Kabobs:
– 1 “everything” bagel
– Cream cheese
– 3 thin slices lox or smoked salmon
– 6 slices English or Persian cucumber
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