Weekly Meal Plan – Week 1
Posted by Amy | Filed under Food
I’ve added a new feature to my site!
It all started with this post on how I couldn’t find my type of meal plans for busy moms…. so I just came up with my own.
First, I wanted yummy, easy meals for each day of the week all in one post. Second, I wanted a grocery list with the week’s ingredients. I have included my first week’s meals here along with a printable grocery list categorized by meal. That way if you don’t like a particular meal, you can scratch it off the list.
I will do my best to post my meal plans each week. I know I will slack off from time to time, but I hope to keep this up as much as possible:-) Print the following and download the grocery list and you should be all set!
Download the Printable Grocery List:
**Week 1 Grocery List**
Monday
Chicken with Olives, Raisins, and Spinach Rice
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- Coarse salt and ground pepper
- 1 bunch flat-leaf spinach (1 pound), thick stems removed, leaves washed well and coarsely chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 chicken culets (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
- 1/3 cup dry white wine
- 1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, slivered
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
In a medium saucepan, bring 1 3/4 cups water to a boil. Add rice, season with salt, and return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook just until tender, 16 to 18 minutes. Remove pan from heat; add spinach, cover, and let stand, without stirring, for 5 minutes. Using a fork, fluff rice and mix in spinach.
While rice is cooking, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook in two batches, until browned outside and opaque throughout, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate (reserve skillet); cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
Add wine, olives, and raisins to skillet. Cook over medium-high until wine is almost evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add cup 1/2 water; cook until sauce is reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve chicken over spinach rice, and top with sauce.
Modified for my picky kids:
Make a side of rice, with chicken and raisins
Recipe & Photos By: Martha Stewart
Tuesday
(American Idol Family Night)
Margherita Pizza
Toppings for Margherita: Olive oil, salt and pepper, fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, fresh chopped basil. Add some parmesan cheese around the edge of the crust.
Sides: Salad
Modified for my picky kids:
They will have their own pizza with store bought sauce and mozzerella.
Recipe & Photos By: This Week For Dinner
Wednesday
Slow Cooker: Beef Stroganoff
- 2 pounds beef chuck, trimmed of excess fat and cut into thin slices (about 1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long)
- 1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
- 1 pound white mushrooms, trimmed and chopped
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- Cooked thin egg noodles, for serving
- Chopped fresh dill, for garnish (optional)
In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, toss beef, onion, and mushrooms with 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt and teaspoon pepper. Cover, and cook on low until meat is tender, about 8 hours (or on high for 6 hours).
In a 2-cup glass measuring cup, whisk cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water. Ladle 1 cup cooking liquid into measuring cup; whisk to combine. Pour into a small saucepan, and bring to a boil; cook until thickened, about 1 minute. With slow cooker turned off, stir in cornstarch mixture, then sour cream and mustard. Serve beef over noodles; sprinkle with dill, if desired.
Modified for my picky kids:
Noodles with a small amount of butter and a vegetable such as peas, corn or carrots. (or whatever they won’t toss on the floor!)
Recipe & Photos By: Martha Stewart
Thursday
Grilled Ham and Cheese with Pears
- slices of sandwich bread
- 8 ounces Gruyere cheese (I’m using White American & Cheddar Cheese)
- 1 pear, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces deli ham, thinly sliced
- Butter
Layer slices of sandwich bread with melting cheese, 1 thinly sliced pear, and thinly sliced deli ham; top each with bread.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Spread outside of both bread slices with butter. Cook sandwiches in batches, if necessary, until golden and cheese is melted, flipping once, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Cut sandwiches in half and serve hot.
Sides: Carrots, pickles and Baked Lays
Recipe By: Martha Stewart
Friday
I would normally have left overs, but will be making dinner for a friend who just had a baby. I think I’ll try this. (I’ll make a double batch)
Real Simple Lasagna
- 1 26-ounce jar pasta sauce
- 1 18-ounce bag frozen large cheese ravioli, unthawed
- 1 10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1 8-ounce bag shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup (about 2 ounces) grated Parmesan
Modification: I will add part-skim ricotta with the spinach & ground beef
Heat oven to 350° F. Spoon 1/3 of the sauce into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Place 12 ravioli on top. Cover with the spinach and half the mozzarella. Add another layer of ravioli and the remaining sauce, mozzarella, and the Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake until bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes more.
Sides: Salad and garlic bread
Recipe & Photos By: Real Simple
**You can also find more meal ideas at Orgjunkie.com’s Menu Plan Monday, Homemaker Monday and Blissfully Domestic.
Tags: dinner tonight, grocery list, martha stewart, Meal Plans, printable, real simple, recipes, this week for dinner, weekly
February 16th, 2009 at 6:54 am
Amy, what a great idea! I hope you continue this, and thanks so much for sharing!
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February 16th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Your menu sounds (and looks) absolutely divine! Bookmarking this…
Christi’s last blog post..it’s that time again – Menu Plan Monday
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February 16th, 2009 at 9:27 am
ok – this is FAB. thank you so much -
question on the lasagna recipe
You say that the ravioli should be ‘unthawed’
Does that mean NOT thawed? so, frozen?
Or, does it mean what many mean here in Wisconsin when they say to unthaw, they actually mean to thaw?
wow. that word loses all meaning with just a couple of repeats.
But if something is Thawed Out, it’s melted. So Unthawed would mean not melted… right?
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February 16th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Hey there, I was just looking for that on your website last night. I remembered discussing it with you and wanted to check it out. So thanks for posting!
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February 16th, 2009 at 9:56 am
I need all the cooking help I can find when it comes to planning meals these days- Thanks for the Help!
and great idea-
I love looking at the faces entries- I need to get on the ball and take some pictures so I can play along- I’ve missed the last couple of weeks. But have enjoyed going to the site and seeing what others are doing.
Thanks
Have a wonderful day
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February 16th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Steph,
I haven’t made the lasagna yet, but I’m guessing unthawed means NOT to thaw it. So in other words frozen. Just my guess:-) I bet it would cook too fast if it was thawed. I’ll let you know what happens when I make it.
Anyone else have ideas on that one?
-Amy
Amy Locurto’s last blog post..Weekly Meal Plan – Week 1
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February 16th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Hey, look at you, you figured out how to split the posts up!
These meals all look delish, and I could always use some fresh dinner inspiration. Thanks, Amy!
Julia @ Hooked on Houses’s last blog post..Thornfield Hall in Masterpiece Theatre’s “Jane Eyre”
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February 16th, 2009 at 10:42 am
P.S. Love that you even typed up the grocery list for us!
Julia @ Hooked on Houses’s last blog post..“The American President:” The West Wing on the Big Screen
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February 16th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I love looking at people’s menus to get more ideas. I am planning on adding this as well once I redesign my site. Now, I just have to follow a plan.
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February 16th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Wow! You have one of the most organized and visually pleasing menu posts I have ever seen.
Kristen’s last blog post..Food We’ll Eat + Baked French Toast
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February 16th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Yummy looking stuff! We’re still finishing off leftovers from the weekend. I made way too much food!
-Kim
Kim @ Forever Wherever’s last blog post..Bringing Outside In!
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February 16th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Thanks everyone! I’m glad to hear others are doing this too. It will be fun to swap menus. I just got back from the grocery store and spent more money than I expected. I’ll have to add several inexpensive meals to each week.
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February 16th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Great idea…thanx 4 sharing!!!
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February 16th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Wow, this is fab! I love the modifications, since I have picky kids too! Thanks for sharing, these are recipes that I’ll try.
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February 16th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
phwew, thanks for clearing that up. So, NOT dethawed.
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February 17th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Wow…this looks wonderful! A lot of work went into this..THANK YOU..now will you come and cook it too???
-sandy toe
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February 17th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Amy, this is such a cool feature of yours! I am always at a loss when it comes to mealtime and I feel like I’m making the exact same things every week for my gang. I will definitely try this – and the grocery list to boot! You are an angel from above.
Thanks again.
Dottie
Dot O’s last blog post..Good Weekend, College Touring
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February 17th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Great looking menu!
Jerri’s last blog post..Recipe of the Week: Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
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February 17th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
The picky eater mod is a really great idea! It’s going to be a delicious week at your house!
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February 18th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
the beef stroganoff is almost done. It cooked a lot quicker than i expected, and the meat is INCREDIBLY tender. I canNOT wait to finish this and eat it! Thank you, Amy!!!
steph seefeldt’s last blog post..Lenten Hymns – A Journey of Devotion
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February 19th, 2009 at 12:11 am
the stroganoff is a hit!!!!
hooray.
next time I’ll double it – just enough for the 5 of us – i like leftovers.
thanks for this great resource, amy!
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February 19th, 2009 at 9:52 am
If I actually follow this, Sweatiepy is going to love you forever! What a cool add-on to your site.
theArthurClan’s last blog post..Sweatiepy’s Gettin’ His Groove On.
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February 19th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Amy, how have I missed this? If there’s one thing for sure I am terrible at it’s meal planning. This is the most genius thing ever. I am going to be relying on you from now on, my family will thank you.
What a great friend you are.
Cathe Holden’s last blog post..Today’s Creative Blog Feature!
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May 9th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Unthawed means that the ravioli comes in the freezer section of the grocery! When making the recipe, don’t defost the ravioli.
When you make your Margharita (?) Pizza what are you using for the crust? I didn’t see it in the grocery list or the recipe.
Have to admit, I’ve been a homemaker for –more years than I ‘d like to count, and haven’t ever had a weekly menu! kinda a luxury. Or, maybe i just have way too much stuff!
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June 23rd, 2009 at 8:56 am
Just tried the grilled cheese with ham and pear.. What a neat pairing that I wouldn’t have thought of. . An old favorite with a nice twist.
Chicken is tonight!
Beef stroganoff tomorrow and then the ravioli lasagna.
This site is a Godsend.. Budget friendly, easy meals!
Thanks.
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