Weeknight Rescue // Week 1 // Aug. 2018

Welcome to the first installation of Weeknight Rescue, a new feature on Mom’s Kitchen Handbook designed with one thing in mind: to make it easier to plot out weekly meals. Below you’ll find three dinner recipes, one good thing to batch cook and use throughout the week, a bonus recipe, and a printable grocery list with everything you’ll need to make it happen. This is early days, so I’d love to hear your feedback. Kindly leave comments below. Also, if you are not a subscriber already, be sure to pop your email address in the SUBSCRIBE box on the right of this page to be sure you get your weekly meal plan.
NO NOODLE ZUCCHINI LASAGNA

Serve with a crusty baguette and an arugula salad dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar (or try this vinaigrette). If you have kids who love lasagna but don’t love tofu, give this a whirl, since they might just like it (especially if you keep the secret ingredient to yourself).
PESTO PASTA WITH CHICKEN
Serve with buttered green beans and/or a crunchy salad (Romaine, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber tossed with dressing). The dish serves four, but the portion is on the smaller side, so if you have teenagers or hearty appetites, you might want to scale up the recipe (worse case you have leftovers, which are great for school or work lunches). Lastly, if you need a MAJOR short cut, buy basil pesto at the market and assemble the rest according to the recipe (I won’t judge).
THREE-INGREDIENT BLACK BEAN SOUP
Little cheese quesadillas or tortilla chips and guacamole make a suitable side. Alternatively, serve with corn on the cob or Corn Salad with Avocado and Quick Pickled Onions (enjoy fresh corn while it’s still in season!).
LIGHTER GREEN GODDESS DRESSING
Make a batch of this creamy dressing to drizzle over salads, use on sandwiches in lieu of mayo, or pack into small containers to serve with vegetables for school lunch or afternoon snack (kids love to dunk). It’s particularly good with tomatoes and cucumbers, which are extra tasty this time of year.
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI MUFFINS
Made with yogurt, zucchini, and whole grain flour, this is sort of a cupcake/muffin hybrid. They make a nice treat for after school or dessert and beg for a glass of milk to go with. Make them in a mini muffin tin if you want to keep the portions in check.
PRINTABLE WEEKNIGHT RESCUE GROCERY LIST// WEEK ONE
Lasagna
4 large zucchini
16 ounces extra firm tofu
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Black pepper
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
12 ounces fresh Mozzarella cheese
3 cups marinara sauce (24-ounce jar)
⅓ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Pesto Pasta
12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Cooking spray
8 ounces fusilli or rotini
2 garlic cloves
2 cups basil leaves
1/4 cup shelled dry-roasted pistachios
1 lemon
1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 medium red onion
Black Bean Soup
Three 15-ounce cans black beans
One 12-ounce container pico de gallo salsa
1/4 cup sour cream
Favorite garnishes: shredded Jack or Cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, salsa
Green Goddess Dressing
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1/2 cup light sour cream
4 scallions
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1 lemon
1 medium clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
2 eggs
1/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt
1/3 cup canola oil
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 medium zucchini
1/2 cup bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting (optional)
Comments
08.26.2017 at6:31 AM #
Jessica @ Small Bites by Jessica
Love this new series Katie! Delicious recipes for this week
08.26.2017 at6:31 AM #
katiemorford
Thanks Jessica.
08.26.2017 at2:29 PM #
Firouzeh Foroutan
Going to the grocery store with your list now!! THANK YOU!
xo
08.26.2017 at2:29 PM #
katiemorford
Oh good! Happy shopping!
08.26.2017 at9:14 PM #
Jennifer
Love this series already!! Thank you!
08.26.2017 at9:14 PM #
katiemorford
You are welcome. It was fun to pull together.
08.27.2017 at12:09 PM #
Patti
HI Katie – This is such a great idea and for sure – it’s going to be a part of our families dinners! Thank you!!
08.27.2017 at12:09 PM #
katiemorford
Thanks Patti. I hope it’s sarah approved 🙂
08.27.2017 at3:45 PM #
Sophie Ziegler
This is the best! Thank you!!
08.27.2017 at3:45 PM #
katiemorford
Thank you Sophie! I appreciate the feedback.
08.28.2017 at6:33 PM #
Erin Gordon
Just made the chocolate muffins – YUM!!!
08.28.2017 at6:33 PM #
katiemorford
That makes me so happy!
09.22.2017 at3:01 AM #
kelly http://kitchentuts.com/
OMG!!! mY KIDS SURELY LOVE THIS thing, YOU MAKE IT VERY COLORFUL AND KIDS EVER HAPPY TO EAT SUCH THINGS. iLL DEFINITELY TRY THIS RECIPE.
My kids are not interested in eating vegetables they just want fast food, now I decide to put something spicy at home. I follow your recipes.
09.22.2017 at3:01 AM #
katiemorford
Good for you. Honestly, if you consistently put out vegetables and let your kids see you eating them and don’t push, they will very likely learn to like and possibly even love vegetables. Thanks for the comment.