Meal Plan Monday - Week of March 28

Here goes...our first "Meal Plan Monday"!  To get started, I thought I'd share how our family's weekly meal plan is formulated.  Every Sunday afternoon, I solicit dinner ideas from everyone in the family.  I do not have lists of meals that I rotate because I like to experiment with new recipes.  I also try to do my grocery shopping for the week on this day.

I do my best to serve a variety of proteins, and, as of late, we have been eating leaner meats and fish.  Because I am not a short order cook, everyone in the family is expected to eat what is served, and I do not cook separate things to satisfy the palate of picky eaters.  In the long run, I believe that everyone will thank me -- at least I keep telling myself this -- as they will have a greater appreciation for a wide variety of flavors and foods!

One meal we have EVERY week is pizza -- usually on Wednesday night.  Most of the time we select some type of frozen or fresh ready-to-bake pizza; occasionally we will order from a local pizza joint.  I have recently discovered a pizza crust recipe that the family loves, and we will be making more homemade pizza.  I have found that homemade pizza or store-bought pizza is so much more budget friendly -- carry-out pizza is usually twice the cost!

All of our cooked vegetables are typically microwave steamed -- with no butter/oil or seasoning unless otherwise indicated.
 
Our meal plans cover dinner only, as this is the one meal that we are all together as a family, and it requires the most planning and time to prepare.  Leftovers and sandwiches are reserved for lunch.  Here is what we're eating this week -- with links to recipes, if available.

Monday - Spaghetti a la Carbonara*, Steamed English Peas
Tuesday - Swedish Chicken*, Green Salad, Steamed Baby Carrots with Brown Sugar, French Bread
Wednesday - Pioneer Woman's Pizza (this week:  Tomato Basil and Canadian Bacon)
Thursday - Baked Chicken with Zucchini, Squash and Onions and Stuffing (Stove Top for us!)
Friday - Tilapia with Herbs (note, the Tilapia is a Schwan's product that comes with an herb seasoning packet), Steamed Broccoli, Wheat Toast
Saturday - Weight Watchers Meatloaf*, Smashed Red Potatoes*, Steamed Green Beans

* From my personal recipe file; recipe follows.

Spaghetti a la Carbonara
A Detten family favorite!  Great comfort food after a busy day.

1 pkg., 14.5 oz., thin spaghetti (I use Barilla Plus since it is enriched and has extra protein)
4 whole cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound bacon, cut into bite size pieces (I use lean bacon -- center cut if available); you can also use pancetta, if available
2 T olive oil
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 c. parmesan cheese, shredded, plus more for garnish
Parsley, for garnish

In a large skillet, heat the oil at medium to medium high heat.  Add the bacon and crushed garlic cloves and cook just until bacon is done; in last few minutes of cooking add minced garlic and cook just until soft -- do not overcook minced garlic as it will be bitter.  Drain grease and set aside.  Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions.  Drain but do not rinse.  Immediately toss the spaghetti with the beaten eggs and parmesan cheese; the heat of the spaghetti will cook the egg and melt the cheese.  Toss this mixture with the bacon and garlic.  Garnish with parsley and additional parmesan cheese. 8-10 servings.


Swedish Chicken
(not sure why this is called Swedish Chicken; it is also a family favorite and great to put together ahead of time, refrigerate and bake in the late afternoon)

1  10 3/4 oz.can cream of mushroom soup
1 10 3/4 oz. can cream of chicken soup
8 oz sour cream
6 chicken breasts
6 slices dried beef, rinsed (available from the canned meat section of your grocery)
6 slices bacon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Spray a 9x13 baking pan with cooking spray.  Combine soups and sour cream; stir until blended; set aside.  Place a slice of dried beef on the bottom side of a chicken breast.  Wrap one slice of bacon around chicken breast, so as to secure dried beef.  Place bacon wrapped chicken breast in baking pan, dried beef side down.  Repeat with remaining chicken breasts.  Pour soup mixture over chicken breasts and spread to cover.  Cover pan with aluminum foil and back at 325 for 2 hours.  Remove foil and increase oven tempurature to 375.  Cook for 10 more minutes.  Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes before serving.


Weight Watchers Meatloaf
(I have tried MANY meatloaf recipes, and this is our favorite; on the old WW system, it was 3 points per serving)

3/4 c. ketchup
1/4 c. minced onion
2 T chopped parsley
1 T brown sugar
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground round
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c. quick oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix 1/2 c. ketchup and next five ingredients.  Incorporate meat, egg and oats; use your hands.  Do not overmix.  Form into an 8"x4" loaf and place on a broiler pan sprayed with cooking spray.  Top with remaining ketchup.  Bake for 1 hour.  6 servings.


Smashed Potatoes

6 medium red potatoes, cut into wedges
1/2 t. salt
2 T butter
1/4 c. sour cream
1/2 t. dried dill
Kosher salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Place potatoes in a heavy pot and cover with cold water.  Add salt.  Boil at medium high heat just until fork tender.  Drain.  Add butter, sour cream, dill, salt and pepper.  Stir gently until blended and slightly smashed.  Serve.  6 servings.

Have a great week!