11/ 12
Family Sunday
Gather the family for Broiled Beef Kebabs. In a large bowl, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried), 2 cloves minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cut 1 pound boneless top sirloin, 1 medium bell pepper (any color) and 1 medium red onion into 1-inch pieces and add to bowl. Add 8 ounces whole crimini mushrooms; toss to coat with oil mixture. Thread beef and vegetables alternately on 8- to 12-inch metal skewers; do not crowd. Place on rack in broiler pan, 3 to 4 inches from heat. Broil 9 to 12 minutes for medium-rare to medium. Turn once. Remove beef and vegetables from skewers.
Serve over brown rice. Add fresh green beans garnished with toasted pistachios along with dinner rolls. Buy a carrot cake for dessert.
Plan ahead: Save enough beef for Monday and enough cake for Tuesday.
11/ 13
Use the beef leftovers for hefty Italian Beef Sandwiches. Place 4 split hoagie buns on a cookie sheet and brush lightly with Italian salad dressing. Broil 1 to 2 minutes. Coat 8 ounces thinly sliced leftover beef with 3 tablespoons of the dressing; heat 2 minutes. Divide meat mixture among bottoms of buns. Add roasted red pepper strips, sliced artichoke hearts and sliced low-fat mozzarella cheese. Broil 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted; add tops and cut sandwiches in half. Serve with mixed greens. Pears are dessert.
11/ 14
Meatless Tuesday
For a meatless meal, try flavor- and fiber-packed Moroccan Vegetable Stew With Couscous (see recipe). Serve with sliced cucumbers in plain yogurt. Add flatbread. Leftover carrot cake is waiting for dessert.
11/ 15
Express Wednesday
Make it quick tonight with Chili-Cheese Pierogies. In a 9-by-9-inch baking dish, combine any flavor (16.9-ounce) package frozen pierogies and 1/2 cup water. Cover and microwave on high (100 percent power) 5 minutes; mix well and drain. Spoon 1 (15-ounce) can turkey chili over pierogies; cover and microwave on high 5 minutes or until hot; sprinkle with reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese and let stand, covered, 3 minutes. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and serve. Add a packaged green salad and crusty bread. You'll want crunchy apple slices for dessert.
Plan ahead: To save time, assemble Thursday's Baked Spaghetti tonight.
11/ 16
Kids Thursday
Baked Spaghetti's (see recipe) mild flavor is totally kid-friendly. Serve with a chopped lettuce salad and add crusty bread. Orange sections are dessert.
Tip: Adults might want to sprinkle crushed red pepper over their spaghetti.
11/ 17
Budget Friday
Chicken and Vegetable Udon Soup (see recipe) is easy on the budget. Serve with sesame bread sticks. Add Asian pears for dessert.
11/ 18
Easy Entertaining Saturday
Everyone enjoyed this easy Flounder With Pesto entree. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place 4 flounder fillets (4 to 6 ounces each) skin side down on wax paper. Divide 4 teaspoons basil pesto and spread on each fillet; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt. Starting at narrow end, roll fillets jelly-roll style. Place rollups seam side down in an 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish. Pour 1/4 cup dry white wine (or unsalted chicken broth) over fillets and top with 4 chopped, seeded plum tomatoes. Cover and bake 18 to 20 minutes or until fish is opaque throughout. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve with orzo tossed with additional pesto.
Add steamed carrots, a Boston lettuce salad and sourdough bread. Dessert is easy when you serve sorbet and butter cookies.
** ** **
THE RECIPES
Moroccan Vegetable Stew With Couscous (Tuesday)
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 medium zucchini, coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 cup unsalted vegetable broth
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 (15-ounce) cans reduced-sodium chickpeas, rinsed
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can stewed tomatoes with juice
1 1/2 cups water or unsalted vegetable broth
1 cup couscous
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add zucchini, onion, carrot and garlic; cook 5 minutes. Stir in broth, ginger, cumin, coriander, salt, cinnamon, pepper, chickpeas and tomatoes with juice; bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 8 minutes or until vegetables are softened; stir occasionally.
Meanwhile, bring water or additional broth to boil in medium pot; remove from heat. Add couscous; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Serve stew over couscous. Serves 6.
Per serving: 293 calories (percent calories from fat, 14), 12 grams protein, 51 grams carbohydrate, 9 grams fiber, 5 grams fat (0.3 gram saturated fat), no cholesterol, 707 milligrams sodium.
** ** **
Baked Spaghetti (Thursday)
8 ounces spaghetti
1 tablespoon butter
1 (24-ounce) carton reduced-fat cottage cheese
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
3 cups red pasta sauce with meat
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook spaghetti according to directions; drain and mix with butter to coat. Meanwhile, coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange cooked spaghetti in an even layer in dish. Spread cottage cheese over spaghetti. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Heat pasta sauce until bubbly. Spoon sauce over cheeses. Top with mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese. Cover with nonstick foil. Bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15 more minutes or until cheese is lightly browned. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serves 8.
Per serving: 312 calories (percent calories from fat, 31), 22 grams protein, 32 grams carbohydrate, 2 grams fiber, 11 grams fat (4.9 grams saturated fat), 28 milligrams cholesterol, 850 milligrams sodium.
** ** **
Chicken and Vegetable Udon Soup (Friday)
7 ounces (1/2 package) Japanese-style udon noodles (such as Simply Asia)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon fresh ginger
8 ounces chicken strips, cut into bite-size pieces
4 cups unsalted chicken stock or broth
1 cup diced carrots
2 tablespoons less-sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 1/2 cups julienned fresh snow peas
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
Cook udon noodles as directed. Drain well. Meanwhile, heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high. Add garlic and ginger; cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add chicken and cook 3 to 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Add stock, carrots, soy sauce and salt. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until carrots are tender-crisp. Stir in snow peas and mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes or until snow peas are tender-crisp. Divide noodles into 6 soup bowls. Ladle soup into each bowl and garnish with green onions. Serves 6.
Per serving: 225 calories (percent calories from fat, 18), 14 grams protein, 29 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams fiber, 4 grams fat, 0.4 gram saturated fat, 24 milligrams cholesterol, 400 milligrams sodium.
About the Author
