Now, I'm not a hard core carnivore, but I do like the flavors that chicken, steak and the like bring to the table. I have always taken an interest in Asian cuisine that typically follows the 'meat as an ingredient' in the meal, and not the star. So this week, I am using meat as a flavor, an accessory, supporting role, whatever you want to call it, and reducing the portion, while treating the veggies as the main focus with a 'little dash' of meat protein to go with it. My Mom mentioned to me a 'Next Food Star' contestant had this same angle. I've googled away and found her site and information here for another great resource!
The girls' school Veggiecation snack club is going on this week, with Chick Peas as the star vegetable. We're going to sample some sweet maple syrup roasted chickpeas, shell and eat a raw chickpea, and make some hummus - YUM! After that throwing together a honeyed fruit salad!
This week's meals include a Chickpea meal in honor of our veggie of the week at school, we're having a cabbage and somewhat of a mexican food fest this week with a couple latin love meals. Of course no week would be complete if we didn't throw a little Asian eats in there too. Finally, I'll be attempting some tofu action this week. One of the few things in food-land that intimidates me is cooking with tofu, so wish me luck!
Xoxo,
Meg
WEEK OF MEALS:
(If you see a link, click for the recipe... if not, scroll down for mine):
- Sunday Soup Night - Mexican Fiesta Chicken Soup with corn & black beans -- Side of polenta
- Monday - Butternut Squash Pasta & Chickpeas with broccoli & bacon
- Tackle the Tuesday - Cashew Chicken Salad, over greens with multi-grain crackers
- Make it over the Hump Wednesday - Simple Sesame Noodles (adding Tofu!), Coleslaw cups
- Thursday - Ancho Chicken Tacos with Avocado cream
- Friday in the Crock - Crockpot Potato Soup with some salad on the side!
- Jar Salad - Nada this week.
- FAVORITE - 15 year old - Jake Andraka literally used Google and Wikipedia to create a 3 cent early cancer detection test - What a rock star... I also love his message at the end. Here's his Video
RECIPES/NOTES:
Polenta - Slicing into rounds, sauteing in olive oil, and may adding some mozzarella on top for the fam.
Ancho Chicken tacos - Using Tofutti substitute sour cream :)... using regular chili powder. Also - I love baking my corn tortillas... coat lightly with olive oil, salt a bit and throw in 400 degree oven, 5 minute per side - watch them!
Cabbage Cups - Using a little mayo instead of cream to make it dairy free.
Butternut Squash Pasta - Cutting amount of parmesan in 1/2
Cashew Chicken Salad - Again using tofutti sour cream instaed of yogurt in this.
Sesame Noodles - Found an already marinated/cooked teriyaki tofu - This is living risky right here... going to add to noodles and warm.
Potato Soup - I think I'm going to throw a little of our breakfast sausage in this soup as an accessory ;)
Polenta - Slicing into rounds, sauteing in olive oil, and may adding some mozzarella on top for the fam.
Ancho Chicken tacos - Using Tofutti substitute sour cream :)... using regular chili powder. Also - I love baking my corn tortillas... coat lightly with olive oil, salt a bit and throw in 400 degree oven, 5 minute per side - watch them!
Cabbage Cups - Using a little mayo instead of cream to make it dairy free.
Butternut Squash Pasta - Cutting amount of parmesan in 1/2
Cashew Chicken Salad - Again using tofutti sour cream instaed of yogurt in this.
Sesame Noodles - Found an already marinated/cooked teriyaki tofu - This is living risky right here... going to add to noodles and warm.
Potato Soup - I think I'm going to throw a little of our breakfast sausage in this soup as an accessory ;)
- Clean & Chop weekly veggie picks - Carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, Mushrooms - Chop for snacks and the no-whining before dinner bowl, as well as any other veggies needed for the week. (Except onions... only chop your onions before making a meal)
- Grill Chicken (Olive Oil, sea salt, bbq until lovely) - Chop after cooled - Using for dinners during the week. *Seasoning some of the chicken for the Ancho chicken tacos
- Quinoa - Cook 2 cups of quinoa (bulk @ Winco) in chicken or veggie broth. - Use it in jar salads, heat up for breakfast.. .eat with salsa & fried or hardboiled egg / or chop up an avocado with fried egg & quinoa...
- Jar Salad- Nada - Short prep day, and I think I'll have a ton of leftovers this week to live on at lunch-time.
- Other - Making coleslaw and chopping up cabbage for other recipe. Making Cashew Chicken salad minus the cashews so they don't get soggy! Peeling and chopping butternut squash
GROCERY LIST (Including most everything needed for recipes, just cross out the staples you already have... I won't always include some things - like spices etc.. that are always on hand. To be on the safe side, check the recipe over to be sure you have everything!)
Produce -
- Bag of avocados (4 or 5)
- Bag of carrots - 2lb bag
- Bag of onions
- Bag of Potatoes (Recently fallen in love with golds... so tasty)
- Broccoli Rabe (I never see this at regular stores)/Broccoli
- Celery
- Grape Tomatoes
- Green cabbage (5 cups total chopped for both recipes)
- Mixed Greens
- Spinach/Kale
- Mango (my kids are mango crazy right now)
- Apples
- Red grapes
- 2 limes
- 2 lemons
- Cilantro
- 4 bunches Scallions - That's fancy for green onions
- 8oz of mushrooms
- Bell peppers
- Garlic
- Fresh Chickpeas (Winco!)
- Butternut Squash - 2 should be sufficient
- Walnuts
- Almonds
- Small amount of cashews
- Oats
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Oregano
- 2 loaves Dave's
- SinDawg
- Corn Tortillas
- Flour Tortillas
Protein -
- Chicken Tenders & breasts (Loving Freddy's organic poultry - sometimes find it on sale!)
- Bacon - Found no-preservative bacon(!) Applewood @ Fred's
- Turkey Lunchmeat
- Breakfast Sausage (nitrate free @ winco)
- Cubed Ham (nitrate free @ winco)
- Salami - Applewood @ Fred's
- Tofuuuu (already teriyaki'd - I have no idea what I'm doing disclaimer on tofu)
Freezer -
- Corn
- Peas
Dried Goods -
- Almond Milk - Sweet & UnSweet
- Corn and Flour Tortillas
- Crackers - Triscuits
- Rice (dn)
- Cereal.. Winco has Organic/GMO free Panda Puffs etc.. 10g of sugar or less -works for me & the kids think they're getting a treat
- Snacks from natural food section (Crackers/Veggie Chips), tortilla chips
- 1 28 ounce can tomatoes (not drained)
- 2 15 ounce can black beans
- 2 cans chick peas
- 4 32oz containers Chicken broth
- Polenta
- Shell pasta
- Rice Noodles
- Rice vinegar (dn)
- Soy sauce (dn)
Dairy -
- Parmesan
- Small carton milk
- Mozzarella
(dn - don't need, but want to store on list for using this menu later!)
