Welcome to the weekend! I missed the meal plan last week, so decided to get a jump on things and get this out a little early. You’ll find plenty of old favorites here, plus a recipe for old-fashioned, open-faced strawberry shortcake. Yum! Happy cooking.
Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs
These meatballs are satisfying, easy to make, and on the lighter side. Serve them with crusty baguette to swipe in the sauce. Alternatively, spoon over cooked vegetables or spaghetti.
Spring Vegetable Flatbread Pizza
It’s high time to make this pizza now that asparagus and peas are in season. It’s quick to pull together (especially if you use store-bought pesto) and marries fresh mint, lemon zest, goat cheese, and plenty of veggies.
Pork Tenderloin Lettuce Wraps with Ginger Lime Dressing
These lettuce wraps are made with pork tenderloin, crunchy vegetables, and a ginger lime dressing. Since they’re pretty light on the appetite, you might want to add a side of brown basmati rice or a favorite Asian noodle tossed with fish sauce, sesame oil, and sliced scallions. Swap chicken thighs for pork, if you like. Vegetarians could use firm or extra-firm tofu.
Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
This is a fresh, bright answer to supper when the weather warms up. I like to set it up as a DIY summer roll bar, and let everyone make their own. Minimize your hands-on time at dinner time by prepping your peanut sauce and veggies ahead of time. The salad in this recipe pairs nicely with summer rolls.
Weeknight Spaghetti with Clams
This is the spaghetti and clams I grew up on. It relies on canned clams, lemon, and lots of garlic. If you like a kick of heat, add a big pinch of red pepper flakes when you add the clams.
Basil Lime Edamame Toast
Whirl together this nourishing spread, made with avocado, edamame, lime, and herbs. It’s terrific on toast and doubles as a tasty dip for veggies.
Healthier Strawberry Shortcake with Yogurt Whip
A few little tricks give these shortcakes a healthier spin on the standard recipe. The biscuits have less butter and more whole-grain flour and the whipped topping is equal parts Greek yogurt and heavy cream. Serving them open-faced keeps them on the lighter side. All that being said, they remain a scrumptious treat. Serve leftover shortcakes for breakfast, warmed in the oven and spread with a favorite jam.
SHOPPING LIST
Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs
1 pound ground turkey
1 link uncooked spicy Italian turkey sausage (~1/4 to 1/3 pound)
1/3 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 tablespoon dried oregano
One 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 teaspoons dried garlic
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
Spring Vegetable Flatbread Pizza
6 scallions (about 1 bunch)
1 1/3 cups asparagus
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
2/3 cup fresh or frozen English peas
Pinch salt
Two 8×10-inch pieces whole-wheat or white lavash bread
¼ cup basil pesto
3 to 4 ounces fresh goat cheese
1 lemon
2 tablespoons fresh mint
Pork Tenderloin Lettuce Wraps with Ginger Lime Dressing
1/2 cup lime juice (4 to 5 limes)
1/2 cup seasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha sauce or other favorite hot sauce
2 tablespoons fresh ginger
1 pound pork tenderloin
1 1/2 cups mung bean sprouts
1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 English cucumber
1/4 cup roasted, salted peanuts
1/3 bunch fresh cilantro
1 large head butter lettuce or Romaine lettuce
Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
3 ounces thin rice vermicelli noodles
1 cup coarsely grated carrots
1 cup mung bean sprouts
8 ounces medium peeled, deveined cooked shrimp
2 avocados
1/2 English cucumber
Several sprigs fresh mint leaves
Several sprigs fresh cilantro leaves
Ten 8 to 9-inch rice paper sheets
1/3 cup unsweetened creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons honey
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 small clove garlic
1-2 squirts Sriracha
Spaghetti and Clams
1 pound spaghetti
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
4 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
Four 6.5 ounce cans chopped clams in clam juice
1/3 cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
Zest of 1/2 lemon plus 2 tablespoons juice
Big pinch red pepper flakes
Basil Lime Edamame Toast
1 cup shelled edamame (5 ounces)
1 scallion
1 medium ripe avocado
6 large fresh basil leaves
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 to 6 thick slices crusty bread such as whole-grain levain
Open-Faced Strawberry Shortcake
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour (or white whole wheat flour)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons sugar
Zest of 1 medium lemon
2 teaspoons baking powder
6 tablespoons cold butter
1 egg
1 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons milk (whatever you have in the fridge)
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract