Menu plan and grocery list for week of 7/11

Here is the menu plan for the week:

Sunday

Fiery skirt steak and grilled squash

Monday

Citrus pork and baked sweet potato

Tuesday

Grilled steak and grilled corn with sliced tomatoes

Wednesday

Chicken chipotle tacos

Thursday

Everything bagel salmon and sautéed shiitake mushrooms

Grocery list

Produce:

• garlic
• avocados
• red onion
• limes
• zucchini
• orange
• ginger
• shiitake mushrooms
• corn (I buy corn the day that I’m going to use it)

Meat and seafood

• skirt steak
• pork tenderloin
• steak
• boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• salmon (I’ll buy that on Thursday)

Miscellaneous

• chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
• orange juice
• orange marmalade
• 14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes
• chicken stock
• 6 ” corn tortillas

Check your pantry and buy if you don’t have:

• red wine vinegar
• honey
• canola oil
• oregano
• brown sugar
• soy sauce
• Chinese 5 spice powder
• hoisin sauce
• sriracha
• fish sauce
• cumin
• Everything bagel seasoning

4 in one

Hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th holiday. I’m going to provide a 4 in one update – a new side dish recipe for summer cookouts, the menu plan for the short week, the grocery list for the short week and a new chicken recipe that we had tonight.

First one

We had a traditional cookout for the 4th with burgers and deviled eggs. Samantha wanted potato salad and found a new recipe that we tweaked a bit. She loved it and was glad that we had doubled it for leftovers. Two good notes about this potato salad – it has no mayonnaise so is okay to sit out for a buffet and it’s vegan so everyone can eat it.

Lemon mustard potato salad

• 2 TB Dijon mustard
• 1 TB chopped fresh thyme leavees
• zest of 1 lemon
• juice from 1 lemon
• 3 TB olive oil
• salt
• fresh ground pepper
• 1 1/2 lbs red-skinned potatoes, halved

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 375. In a large bowl, whisk together mustard, thyme, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Reserve 3 TB of dressing. Toss potatoes in dressing in bowl and put on sheet pan. Roast for 40 minutes. Remove and toss with reserved dressing. Serve. (Leftovers reheated really well.

Second one Menu plan for week of 7/5

Here is the menu plan for the week:

Monday

Grilled za-atar chicken and cous cous – because I saw a recipe in the paper that looked yummy

Tuesday

Pasta with pesto – because Keith won’t be home for dinner and he isn’t wild about pasta but Samantha and I love it

Wednesday

Pizza with hot Italian sausage and red peppers – because everyone loves it

Thursday

Blackened Cajun chicken pasta salad – because I’ve been craving it

Third one – Grocery list for week of 7/5

Produce

• garlic
• lemons
• 4 red peppers
• 2 sweet onions
• red onion
• tomatoes

Dairy

• plain ygourt
• Moazzarella
• Parmesan

Meat and seafood

• boneless, skinless chicken breasts (times 2 – 1 per person for Monday and 2 whole for Thursday)
• 1 lb hot Italian sausage

Miscellaneous

• za’atar
• cous cous
• pasta of your choice
• pesto (I still have some in the freezer from last summer and my basil is doing well)
• pizza crust
• tomato sauce
• orechiette pasta
• Cajun seasoning

Fourth one Grilled za’atar chicken and cous cous

• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lemon zested
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 3 TB olive oil
• 1 1/2 TB za’atar
• salt
• pepper
• boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Combine 1/3 cub yogurt with 5 of the garlic cloves, half the lemon zest , olive oil and za’atar. Season with salt and pepper and add chicken, stirring well to coat. Refrigerate until ready to grill (at least 2 hours and up to overnight.) IN a small bowl, combine remaining yogurt with remaining garlic and lemon zest. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill over medium heat for 5 – 8 minutes per side. Squeeze lemon juice over chicken breasts and serve with cous cous and yogurt sauce.

Very moist and very good.

Menu plan and grocery list for week of 6/20

I did not provide an update last week because we were in New Jersey for a family trip to golf school. Super fun, we learned a lot and enjoyed being away for the first time since COVID. Eating out always an adventure. We had dinner at a restaurant next to a creek – it was very chaotic but the seafood was excellent. Keith had seared tuna that was absolutely perfect and I had broiled barramundi that was excellent. The next night we ate at a restaurant that was prettier and calmer but the food wasn’t as good. I had tuna but it wasn’t as good as the tuna that Keith had the night before. He had a shrimp carbinara that was just too heavy. Goes to show that appearances can be deceiving.

Sunday

Grilled steaks with grilled zucchini and grilled Mexican corn

Monday

Shrimp and sausage pizzasGroc

Tuesday

Pink peppercorn pasta

Wednesday

Avocado soup and pepper salad

Thursday

Fried chicken

Grocery List

Produce

• Zucchini
• corn
• lime
• jalapeno pepper
• onion
• 6 avocados
• bell peppers
• garlic

Dairy

• Queso fresco
• sour cream
• Parmesan
• half and half

Meat and Seafood

• Filet mignons
• shrimp
• Sweet Italian sausage

Miscellaneous

• salsa
• corn tortillas
• chopped green chilis
• penne pasta
• chicken stock

Check our pantry and buy if you don’t have:

• olive oil
• garlic powder
• red pepper flakes
• mayonnaise
• pink peppercorns

Menu plan and grocery list week of 5/30

Sunday

Shish kabobs, rice and salad – because we had a few friends over and everyone loves that shish kabob

Monday

Hoisin pork and baked sweet potatoes – because the sun finally came out and I want to play golf so picked something easy

Tuesday

Assorted flatbreads – because I haven’t made them in a long time

Wednesday

Spinach salad with steak and strawberries – because it was so delicious that we have to enjoy it again while strawberries are still in season

Thursday

Asparagus soup and sandwiches – because Keith has a meeting that will get him home late so everyone can eat when they want

Grocery list

Produce

• cherry tomatoes
• mushrooms
• red onions
• red bell pepper
• shallots
• sweet potatoes
• spinach
• strawberries
• orange
• asparagus

Dairy

• goat cheese
• creme fraiche

Meat and seafood

• sirloin steak
• pork tenderloin

Miscellaneous

• hoisin sauce
• flatbreads
• chicken stock

Check your pantry and buy if you don’t have

• olive oil
• low sodium soy sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• red wine vinegar
• lemon juice
• dry mustard
• garlic
• salt
• pepper
• rice
• sesame oil
• honey
• sherry
• white wine vinegar
• panko

Menu plan and grocery list for week of 5/16

Here is the menu plan for the week:

Sunday

Steak and strawberry spinach salad (because the strawberries are so good right now!!)

Monday

Blackened chicken with chopped salad (because it sounded like something we would all like)

Tuesday

Marinated blood orange pork chops with cous cous (because Samantha loves pork)

Wednesday

White pizza with Fontina, chicken and arugula (because I always love a new pizza)

Thursday

Seafood to be determined (because Samantha is not a big seafood fan and she is invited out to dinner with her cousin)

Grocery List

Produce

• Orange
• shallots
• garlic
• baby spinach
• strawberries
• butter lettuce
• cherry Tomatoes
• avocado
• blood oranges (4 – 5)
• rosemary
• red onion
• arugula

Dairy

• Goat cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Fontina cheese

Meat and seafood

• Boneless strip steak
• boneless chicken breasts
• center-cut, bone-in pork chops
• bone-in chicken breasts

Miscellaneous

• Pizza crust

Check your pantry and buy if you don’t have:

• Olive oil
• white wine vinegar
• honey
• bread
• paprika
• garlic powder
• pepper
• thyme
• cayenne
• lemon juice
• mayo
• balsamic vinegar
• cous cous

Menu plan and grocery list for week of 5/2

Hard to believe that May is already here! We’re continuing our goal of eating healthier and starting to transition to foods that suit warmer weather. Here is the menu plan for the week:

Sunday

Spicy pork tenderloin with grilled peppers and cumin black beans

Monday

Pomegranate glazed chicken and cous cous

Tuesday

Barbecue sirloin and blue cheese salad

Wednesday

Spicy sausage and white bean pizza

Thursday

Gnocchi and Caesar salad

Grocery list

Produce

• scallions
• 2 jalapenos
• ginger
• limes
• garlic
• bell peppers
• rosemary
• Bibb
• cucumber
• plum tomatoes
• romaine lettuce
• lemon

Dairy

• crumbled blue cheese
• grated Mozzarella
• Parmesan cheese

Meat and Seafood

• pork tenderloin
• boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• lean sirloin steak
• hot Italian sausage

Miscellaneous

• black beans
• cous cous
• pomegranate juice
• pizza crust
• cannellini beans
• gnocchi (I have homemade in the freezer}
• tomato sauce

Check your pantry and buy if you don’t have:

• canola oil
• low sodium soy sauce
• sesame oil
• cumin
• olive oil
• honey
• chili powder
• ground cumin
• garlic powder
• white wine vinegar
• Dijon mustard
• egg

Menu plan and grocery list week of 4/11

Things got away from me yesterday and I didn’t get a chance to post. Sorry to be a day late but here is the menu plan for the week and the grocery list.

Sunday

Grilled honey-chipotle flank steak and cumin-roasted baby potatoes (selected and prepared by Samantha)

Monday

Southwestern Cobb salad

Tuesday

Orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe

Wednesday

Salmon with basil tzatziki and stir-fried zucchini

Thursday

Spanakopizza

Grocery List

Produce

• plum tomatoes
• white onion
• jalapenos
• cilantro
• garlic
• baby potatoes
• romaine lettuce
• avocado
• limes or lime juice
• broccoli rabe
• grape tomatoes
• basil
• cucumber
• onion
• scallions
• zucchini

Dairy

• Queso fresco
• Parmesan cheese
• plain lowfat yogurt
• ricotta
• feta

Meat and Seafood

• flank steak
• bacon
• bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts
• 3/4 lb sweet Italian turkey sausage
• 1 salmon fillet per person

Miscellaneous

• 1 can black beans
• orecchiette
• 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach
• pizza crust

Check your pantry and buy if you don’t have:

• chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
• honey
• chili powder
• coriander
• cumin
• cumin seeds
• olive oil
• paprika
• garlic powder
• crushed red pepper
• white wine vinegar
• dill

Menu plan and grocery list for week of 3/28

Yesterday was beautiful and we enjoyed an afternoon on the golf course. Today is rainy, a good day to cook and watch golf! Here is the menu plan and grocery list.

Sunday

Roast chicken, salad and baked sweet potatoes (because it is good day to roast a chicken and we are low on chicken stock in the freezer)

Monday

Pasta fagioli soup (because everyone liked it so much)

Tuesday

New Orleans sausage pizza (because I had that scheduled for last Thursday, forgetting that we were taking a virtual cooking class on Thursday)

Wednesday

Grilled pork and pepper tacos (because it’s good to try new things and I think we will all like this)

Thursday

Everything Bagel crusted salmon with roasted butternut squash and sautéed spinach

Grocery list

Produce

• Sweet potatoes (we split 2 between the 3 of us)
• salad (we cheated and bought one from the store)
• onion
• celery
• garlic
• red pepper
• 2 yellow peppers
• jalapeno pepper
• 3 limes
• butternut squash (I buy the container of precut squash)
• spinach
• shiitake mushrooms

Dairy

• Parmesan cheese
• Queso fresco

Meat and seafood

• 1 whole chicken
• 4 oz pancetta
• 1/2 lb sweet Italian sausage
• 1 pork tenderloin
• 1 small salmon filet per person (I’ll buy these on Thursday)

Miscellaneous

• Anchovy fillets
• 28 oz can diced tomatoes
• 2 15 oz cans cannelloni beans
• 1 qt chicken stock
• pizza crust
• 6 inch corn tortillas

Check your pantry and buy if you don’t have:

• Olive oil
• oregano
• red pepper flakes
• orzo
• canola oil

Menu plan and grocery list for week of 3/21

Spring is here! Time to switch from cold weather comfort food to lighter meals. Here is what we’ll be eating this week:

Sunday

Barbecue ribs with baked sweet potato fries and Asian coleslaw (Samantha loves sweet potato fries)

Monday

Thai chicken salad with peanut dressing (we made a trip to the Asian market)

Tuesday

Fiery beef with scallions and cashews over rice (I have a flank steak in the freezer that I wanted to use)

Wednesday

Cumin roasted pork chops and Brussels sprouts (this is a sheet pan dinner that I think will go over very well)

Thursday

I’m taking a Zoom cooking class – making gnocchi for the first time ever. Samantha is having the New Orleans sausage pizza that she loves

Grocery List

Produce

• Sweet potatoes
• coleslaw mix
• ginger
• scallions
• romaine lettuce
• bean sprouts
• carrots
• celery
• limes
• onions
• lemongrass (I grow it every year and then freeze some at the end of the summer)
• garlic
• jalapeno
• brussels sprouts
• sage leaves
• red pepper

Dairy

• Grated Mozzarella cheese

Meat and seafood

• Baby back ribs
• boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• flank steak
• bone-in pork chops
• sweet Italian sausage

Miscellaneous

• Barbecue sauce (I’ve made barbecue sauce before but this is just for the three of us and it is just as easy to use store bought)
• peanuts
• coconut milk
• smooth peanut butter
• cashews
• tomato sauce
• pizza crust

Check your pantry and buy if you don’t have:

• White vinegar
• sesame oil
• mayonnaise
• sugar
• wasabi paste
• paprika
• olive oil
• garlic powder
• chipotle pepper
• brown sugar
• low sodium soy sauce
• honey
• fish sauce
• cumin seeds
• ground cumin
• cajun seasoning

Menu and grocery list week of 3/14

Here is the menu plan fowEr the week and grocery list (absent the ingredients for Thursday’s Thai dinner which require a trip to HMart.

Sunday

Seared scallops with artichoke risotto (because Samantha went to the movies and she would not have liked this dinner)

Monday

Quiche (as an observation of Pi day – a day late because Samantha does like quiche)

Tuesday

Chicken Carbonara Lasagna (because I got everything to make it last weekend and never got around to it)

Wednesday

Chili from the freezer (because I’m putting chicken carbonara lasagna in the freezer so I need to take something out)

Thursday

Tom Yum Soup and Papaya salad (because Keith and Samantha requested a Thai dinner)

Grocery list (does not include Thursday’s ingredients)

Produce

• shallots
• lemon
• salad
• red onion

Dairy

• Parmesan cheese
• Mascarpone cheese (or cream cheese)
• Jarlsberg (I use a mix of light and regular)
• half and half
• milk
• eggs
• ricotta cheese
• Fontina cheese
• sour cream
• cheddar cheese

Meat and seafood

• scallops (I got 4 for each of us)
• 1 package boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 3/4 lb Pancetta, sliced

Miscellaneous

• 1 can artichoke hearts
• arborio rice
• frozen pie crust
• cornbread
• lasagna noodles

Check your pantry and buy if you don’t have:

• butter
• white wine
• basil
• marjoram