Sunday, February 2, 2014

Meal Plan: February 3 - 9

So, we are in the fourth week out of five weeks that I will be on the road, at least a few days each week.  It is more than a little grueling on all of us, but we are able to protect a sizable amount of time together.  The overcooking in weeks before is paying off as there are plenty of leftovers to carry forward into dinners and lunches.

Monday:
Leftover Thai Seafood Soup with Rice

Tuesday:
Butternut Squash and shells with Kale Chips

Wednesday:
Leftover Pasta with meatballs

Thursday:
Hummus, Pitas and Corn Chowder

Friday:
Homemade Pizza and Kale Salad

Saturday:
Fish and Chips, Avocado Fries, Fish-fried tofu, Coleslaw

Sunday:
Black Bean Ragu (Smitten Kitchen Cookbook)
Corn Tortillas
Pico de Gallo
Guacamole
Cashew Cream

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Meal Plan; January 27 - February 2

This week I celebrate my birthday with a remake of one of my favorite childhood meals.

Monday:
Smoky Butternut Squash over pasta with roasted broccoli Rabe 

Tuesday:
Thai- inspired dish by Scott

Wednesday:
Broccoli Enchiladas and birthday cake :)
This is my own recipe!

Thursday:
Leftover Pasta and "neatballs."  See last Sunday's meal.

Friday:
Pizza night:  the return

Saturday:
Leftover buffet

Sunday:
Thai-inspired dish by Scott

Broccoli Enchiladas with Mushroom Sauce and Crispy Shallots

Ingredients:

6 shallots
1/4 C Canola Oil for frying
2 T Flour of choice
2 crowns broccoli, chopped into small bite-sized florets
1/2 C almonds, soaked overnight
1 C vegan cheddar cheese, shredded
4 T Vegan Butter or oil of choice
1/2 C mushrooms, chopped
4 C non dairy milk of choice
2 T Nutritional Yeast
8 small taco size tortillas
2 Tomatoes, seeded and diced

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

For Topping:
Slice shallots thinly and toss with 1T of the flour.  Heat oil in skillet.  When sizzling, add half of the shallots.  Cook until golden brown.  Transfer to paper-towel-lined plate to drain.  Repeat with remainind shallots.  Set aside.

For Filling:
Drain almonds and pulse in food processor until small uniform crumbs form.  Be careful not to cream into almond butter.  Toss almond crumbs, vegan cheese, 1/3 of the shallots and brocoli florets in a bowl.  Set aside while you make sauce.

For Mushroom Sauce:
Heat Vegan butter in skillet until completely melted.  Add mushrooms and cook until completely softened.  Add remaining flour and stir until a roux forms.  Add non dairy milk and whisk to blend in roux.  Add nutritional yeast and continue cooking until mixture thickens.  Salt and Pepper to Taste.

To assemble:
Add 1/2 C of mushroom mixture to the broccoli/almond mixture and stir to combine.  In the bottom of 9/13 casserole pan, add 1/4 C mixture and spread around the bottom.  Fill each tortilla with 1/8 of the broccoli mixture and place in the casserole pan, seam side down.  Pour remaining sauce over all 8 filled tortillas, reserving 1/2 C for leftovers.  Sprinkle with remaining shallots.  Bake for 18-20 minutes.  Top with diced tomatoes before serving.


Monday, January 20, 2014

Meal Plan: January 20 - 26

Monday:
Martha Stewart One Pan Pasta and leftover kale salad

Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Leftovers (tabouli, hummus, kale salad, pita chips, soups)

Thursday: 
Rice Noodles and Bok Choy


Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Omitted celery
Added 4 cloves chopped garlic
Added 1/4 nutritional yeast
Added 1/2 tsp dried parsley

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Meal Plan: January 13 - 19

Monday:

Tuesday:
Thai Sweet Potato Burgers with Kale salad and carrot sticks

Wednesday:
Pasta with roasted brocolli, tofu and olive oil

Thursday:
Leftovers

Friday:
Tacos

Saturday:
Surprise!

Sunday:
Leftovers or take out

Monday, January 6, 2014

Meal Plan: January 5 - 11

It's the first Monday of the New Year and for us, the first Monday of our full-blown weekend ski routine.  It is my favorite season of the year because we devote hours on each weekend to having fun all together, but it does mean we have to manage around that time we would have had for household chores.  That said, I am going to go back to creating and posting our meal plans on a Monday through Sunday rotation, as that is how our weeks seem to flow.

Sunday:

Monday:
Coconut noodle soup - recipe to be created on the fly!

Tuesday:

Wednesday:
Scott's Pad Thai

Thursday:
Reprise of Quinoa Red Lentil Cutlets with Mushroom Gravy with carrots and kale salad

Friday:
Martha Steward Pasta for kids
Treat Dinner for us
Guacamole and Tortilla Chips

Saturday:

Sunday:
Dreena's No-Fu Loaf, Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts

Lunch ideas:


Friday, December 20, 2013

Meal Plan: December 29 - January 4

It feels really good to be back! The last three weeks of the year are really crunches for me.  I am trying to finish strong at work while executing a whole month of Christmas activities (not including shopping) for our family.  I also, inevitably, get sick and this year I got REALLY sick.  I won't go into it.  You've probably heard the story anyway.  Oh, whatever, send me a personal message and I'll tell you if you really want to know.  The point is that ironically, when I would most benefit from creating a meal plan, I abandon the process.  Luckily, Scott stepped in some really amazing Thai-inspired recipes that were just want this patient needed and it took dinner off my plate.. har har.

Along with setting the stage for a much healthier 2014 I am toying with the idea of resolving to post all 52 meal plans this year.  Here's to giving it the old college try!

Sunday:
One last dinner at Grimmy and Grumpy's

Monday:
Quinoa Burgers and an Amazing Kale Salad
Burgers:  http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/11/10/quinoa-burgers
Kale Salad:  http://ohsheglows.com/recipage/?recipe_id=6036598

Tuesday:  New Year's Eve
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings and Blue Cheeze Dip that we brought to a party
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/02/crispy-buffalo-fried-cauliflower-recipe.html

Wednesday:  New Year's Day
Hoppin' John with Rice with Corn Breadand Rice Pudding for Dessert.  
(I always bake muffins or a quick bread with a dried bean inside the corn bread.  Whoever finds it gets..... to say they found the bean.)

Hoppin' John:  http://www.veganchef.com/hoppin.htm

Corn Bread:  http://h-morningstar.com/the-easiest-cornbread-recipe-and-its-vegan/

Rice Pudding:  http://food52.com/recipes/21130-coconut-milk-rice-pudding-with-citrus-and-ginger

Thursday:  
Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Lasagna (a version of my butternut squash and red pepper stuffed shells.)
Recipe to follow

Friday:  Taco Night
http://ohsheglows.com/2012/06/12/layered-raw-taco-salad-for-two/
Cilantro Lime Chicpea Salad
http://ohsheglows.com/recipage/?recipe_id=6002022

Saturday:
Leftovers