It’s Saturday, December 14!
THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS APPROACHING!
Menus and shopping lists for Dec. 15 – 20 and 22 – 27
Another great week of dining awaits. It’s time to look ahead and plan your trips to the grocery store.
Many of us have turned to online shopping apps and grocery delivery services over the past two years. For those who continue to utilize these services, we will continue providing two weeks of shopping lists so you can order ahead when you prefer.
This Week’s Recipes
December 15 – 20
Create a Master Grocery List
Start by downloading the grocery list of the first recipe you plan to cook. Save it as “Master List”. Then add other items from remaining recipes you plan to cook.
Sunday: Vegetarian Chili with Old-fashioned Corn Bread
We’re full-speed-ahead into the Holiday Season, and if you don’t already have guests, you may be getting some. This is a good recipe to have in your pocket, whether you’re a host or a helpful guest.
The preparation time accounts for the assembly and basic cooking. You should make the chili mid -afternoon so that you can let it rest for a few hours before dining. Chili just gets better as it sits.
Grocery List: Vegetarian Chili with Old-fashioned Cornbread
Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread
Produce
garlic (if needed)
1 yellow onion (if needed)
celery (if needed)
1 Jalapeno pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
Canned/Dried Foods
2 C. old- fashioned, pure cornmeal flour
olive oil (if needed)
one 24 oz. box low-sodium vegetable broth
one 29 oz. can no salt chopped tomatoes
one 15 oz. can tomato sauce
two 15 oz. cans black beans
one 15 oz. can pinto beans
baking soda (if needed)
canola oil (if needed)
Frozen Foods
Frozen corn (if needed)
Meat/Fish/Poultry
Chilled Foods/Dairy
Extra-sharp cheddar cheese (if needed)
low-fat buttermilk (if needed)
eggs (if needed)
Monday: Lacinato Kale with Egg and Roasted Potato Rounds
Lacinato kale plays the leading role in tonight’s production, but it’s the supporting cast that makes this ensemble sing. Smoky tempeh delivers a powerful performance (filling the role of bacon) and poached eggs anchor this tasty production with savory richness. This memorable ensemble is completed with caramelized potato slices. Bravo to the comfort food experience!
Grocery List: Lacinato Kale with Egg and Roasted Potato
Lacinato Kale with Egg and Roasted Potato Rounds
Produce
garlic (if needed)
onion (if needed)
one bunch Lacinato kale
2-3 medium red potatoes
2 kiwis
Canned/Dried Foods
low-sodium vegetable broth (if needed)
low-sodium soy sauce (if needed)
balsamic vinegar (if needed)
olive oil (if needed)
Frozen Foods
None today
Meat/Fish/Poultry
None today
Chilled Foods/Dairy
smoky tempeh (if needed)
eggs (if needed)
Tuesday: Chard with Poached Pear, Dried Tart Cherries and Roasted Pecans
Tonight you’ll serve a chard dish that has a holiday look. Toasted pecans and dried tart cherries dot this greens dish which is served over warm, nutritious quinoa. It looks good and will set well after the heavy holiday meals and snacks that seem unavoidable during this season.
Grocery List Chard, Pecans and Dried Sour Cherries
Chard with Winter Pear, dried cherries, and toasted Pecans
Produce
garlic (if needed)
yellow onion (if needed)
1 bunch Swiss chard
1 ripe winter pear
3 oz. dried, tart cherries
10 pecan halves
Canned/Dried Foods
tricolor quinoa (if needed)
low-sodium vegetable broth (if needed)
low-sodium soy sauce (if needed)
balsamic vinegar (if needed)
white wine to cook with (if needed)
Frozen Foods
Chickenless tenders (if going meatless)
Meat/Fish/Poultry
1 boneless skinless chicken breast (if eating meat)
Chilled Foods/Dairy
crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
Wednesday: Caesar Salad with Sliced Chicken
It’s a holiday salad! Legend has it that chef Caesar Cardini created this classic American salad back in 1924 when his restaurant was running out of food. It is said that over a long July 4th weekend, with supplies running low, he started grabbing what he had left in the kitchen; lettuce stalks, garlic, eggs, Parmesan cheese and croutons. Voila! The Classic Caesar Salad was created out of necessity.
Tonight we’ll make the salad with Romaine lettuce, red bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and sweet onion. It’s topped with sliced Chick’n Strips and a delicious eggless Caesar Dressing. I also skip the croutons and serve it with fresh bread or toast. Buon Appetito!
Grocery List: Caesar Salad with Sliced Chicken
Grocery List: Caesar Salad with Sliced Chicken
Produce
garlic (if needed)
Sweet or red onion (if needed)
Romaine lettuce
1 cucumber
red bell pepper (if needed)
6 medium cremini mushrooms
2 Roma tomatoes or 6 cherry tomatoes
1 lemon
one orange
Canned/Dried Foods
Low-sodium vegetable broth (if needed)
good extra-virgin olive oil (if needed)
Dijon mustard (if needed)
Worcestershire Sauce (if needed)
Frozen Foods
Plant-based Chicken Strips of choice(if eating plant-based)
Meat/Fish/Poultry
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast (if eating meat)
Chilled Foods/Dairy
shredded Parmesan cheese (if needed)
Vegannaise (if needed)
Additional Items
A loaf of your favorite artisan bread
Thursday: Quinoa Cakes with Red Lentil Dahl
For dinnier tonight, you’ll make quinoa cakes surrounded by a brightly flavored dal (soft-cooked lentils). A green salad with Satsuma orange sections accompanies. This is a comfort-food meal inspired by a number of cultures.
Red lentils featured in this recipe are split and will cook a little faster than green or brown lentils.
Grocery List: Quinoa Cakes with Red Lentil Dal
Quinoa Cakes with Red Lentil Dal
Produce
garlic (if needed)
1 red onion
one bunch green onions
1 head red or green leaf lettuce
1 bunch fresh cilantro (if needed)
fresh basil (if needed)
1 medium russet potato
1 cucumber
celery (if needed)
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 lemon
2 mandarin oranges
Canned/Dried Foods
quinoa (if needed)
12 oz. red lentils
3 oz. sun dried tomatoes
bay leaf (if needed)
white wine to cook with (if needed)
Frozen Foods
Meat/Fish/Poultry
Chilled Foods/Dairy
shredded Parmesan cheese (if needed)
crumbled feta cheese (if needed)
Friday: Leftover Night!
Whatever’s easy and good to eat that is still in your fridge is fair game. Make a creative fresh salad to highlight your smorgasbord. Do you have leftover meatballs? Maybe something to make a creative fresh salad.
Grocery List: Leftover Night. No groceries required
Next week’s recipes if you’re ordering
1 week ahead.
December 22 – 27
Create a Master Grocery List
Start by downloading the grocery list of the first recipe you plan to cook. Save it as “Master List”. Then add other items from remaining recipes you plan to cook.
Sunday: Middle Eastern Kabobs with Saffron Rice
This is a pretty basic Middle Eastern dinner. These Kabobs really work with plant-based Chick’n pieces. The Saffron Rice is an ancient Middle-Eastern standby and I enjoy the coolness of the cucumber/tomato salad to top it off. Add a piece of warm pita bread to the mix and you’ve got a lovely meal.
If you’re having trouble finding saffron, or if it’s not a spice you like, substitute a combination of 1/2 tsp. turmeric, 1/4 tsp. ground coriander, 1/4 tsp. ground cumin, 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon and 1 tsp. honey in place of the saffron.
Grocery List: Middle Eastern Chick'n Kabobs with Saffron Rice
Middle Eastern Kabobs and Saffron Rice
Produce
garlic (if needed)
yellow onion (if needed)
red onion (if needed)
1 bunch green onions (if needed)
one bunch fresh parsley
1 red bell pepper
1 cucumber
one medium slicing tomato
1 lemon
8 oz. fresh pineapple cubes
Canned/Dried Foods
Brown basmati rice (if needed)
Not-Chick’n bouillon cubes(if needed)
good olive oil (if needed)
rice wine vinegar (if needed)
cornstarch (if needed)
ground cumin (if needed)
ground cinnamon (if needed)
paprika (if needed)
½ oz. saffron threads (if needed)
pepper flakes (if needed)
ground cumin (if needed)
powdered turmeric (if needed)
Frozen Foods
Plant-based Chick’n Strips of choice (if eating plant-based)
Meat Fish/Poultry
One large boneless skinless chicken breast (if eating meat)
Chilled Foods/Dairy
plain, nonfat yogurt (if needed)
Additional Items:
whole-wheat pita bread
bamboo kabob skewers (if needed)
Monday: Mexican Greens with Pineapple Salsa
Hearty and robust greens that warm you from the inside out are the fare tonight. Fresh sautéed greens with Latin spices and black beans served over roasted red potato slices are presented for your enjoyment. You’ll top the greens with homemade pineapple salsa, a garnish of extra-sharp cheddar cheese adding just the right finish to this flavor fest.
Grocery List: Mexican Greens with Pineapple Salsa
Mexican Greens with Pineapple Salsa
Produce
garlic (if needed)
1 sweet onion
1 bunch chard
1 bunch cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper
1 Anaheim pepper
4 small red potatoes
2 limes
8 oz. fresh pineapple spears (buy canned if none available)
Canned/Dried Foods
low-sodium vegetable broth (if needed)
one 15 oz. can black beans
good extra-virgin olive oil (if needed)
low-sodium soy sauce (if needed)
balsamic vinegar (if needed)
brown sugar (if needed)
chili powder (if needed)
dry oregano leaves (if needed)
Frozen Foods
Meat/Fish/Poultry
Chilled Foods/Dairy
3 oz. extra-sharp cheddar cheese
Tuesday: Swedish Meatballs with Lemon Broccoli and Cranberry Sauce
I grew up with Norwegian holiday traditions. Our Christmas Eve meal was always lutefisk and boiled potatoes with lefse. Mom would add Swedish meatballs to the meal to make the kids happy. The meatballs (and not the lutefisk) have stuck around as a reminder of my Scandinavian heritage.
This meatball recipe works well with either ground plant-based “meat” or optional ground meat of choice.
Grocery List Swedish Meatballs
Swedish Meat Balls
Produce
garlic (if needed)
2 yellow onions
1 red bell pepper
9 oz. sliced white or cremini mushrooms
1 lb. broccoli
3 lbs. russet potatoes
1 lemon
Canned/Dried Foods
two 32 oz. boxes low-sodium vegetable broth
two 15 oz. cans whole cranberries
unseasoned breadcrumbs(if needed)
thyme leaves(if needed)
dried oregano leaves (if needed)
dried basil leaves (if needed)
ground nutmeg (if needed)
ground nutmeg (if needed)
bay leaf(if needed)
Frozen Foods
16 oz. plant-based ground of choice (if eating plant-based)
Meat/Fish/Poultry
one half lb. ground turkey breast (if eating meat)
and
one-half pound lean ground beef(if eating meat)
Chilled Foods/Dairy
plain, nonfat yogurt
milk(if needed)
butter(if needed)
eggs (if needed)
Wednesday: Baked Salmon with Roasted Potatoes and Bok Choy
I really like a baked salmon dinner for Christmas Day. You may have another favorite holiday meal tradition that makes you happy. If you need inspiration here’s a dinner that’s sure to please.
Grocery List: Baked Salmon with Roasted Potatoes
Baked Salmon Dinner
Produce
clove garlic (if needed)
1 medium-sized sweet onion
1 bunch fresh parsley
1 bunch fresh cilantro
2 bunches baby bok choy or 1 bunch adult bok choy
3 medium red potatoes
1 thumb-sized piece fresh ginger
1 lemon
Canned/Dried Foods
sesame oil (if needed)
low-sodium soy sauce (if needed)
rice wine vinegar (if needed)
Meat/Fish/Poultry
10 oz. fresh salmon fillets
Frozen Foods
Chilled Foods/Dairy
Thursday: Chop Salad
We’ll keep dinner relatively light tonight. The combination of the sharp citrus of grapefruit, the buttery richness of avocado and the savory flavor of hard-boiled egg make up the essence of the chop salad.
Add some jicama if you can find it. If no jicama is available use chopped Savoy cabbage. Dress this special salad with cilantro/lime dressing.
You can add all kinds of chopped stuff to a salad like this, but I think you’ll find this particular combination very satisfying.
Pick up a nice Artisan roll to go along with the meal.
Grocery List: Chop Salad with Grapefruit and Avocado
Chop Salad with Grapefruit and Avocado
Produce
1 head Romaine lettuce
1 bunch green onions
fresh cilantro (if needed)
1 red, yellow or orange bell pepper
1 cucumber
1 jicama
1 ripe avocado
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 lime
1 grapefruit
– or –
blood orange
Canned/Dried Foods
Frozen Foods
Meat/Fish/Poultry
Chilled Foods/Dairy
Additional Items
2 fresh artisan rolls (1 per diner)
eggs (if needed)
Friday: Pasta Marinara
Marinara refers to mariners or sailors. In the old days they suffered from scurvy after long voyages. Having lots of pasta with tomato sauce after they returned home seemed to make them feel better. This recipe is Italian cooking at its simplest. Just the thing to keep you and your family scurvy free and in top swash-buckling shape.
Grocery List Pasta Marinara
Basic Pasta Marinara
Produce:
1 head garlic
1 med. yellow onion
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 head red-leaf lettuce
1 cucumber
1 pint cherry tomatoes
Canned/Dried Food:
one 15 oz. can tomato sauce
one 15 oz. can no-salt tomato sauce
dry oregano leaves(if needed)
dry basil leaves(If needed)
Tabasco Sauce(if needed)
inexpensive red wine to cook with(if needed)
8 oz. spaghetti of choice
one 15 oz. can garbanzo beans
Frozen Foods:
none today
Meat Fish Poultry:
none today
Chilled Food/Dairy:
shredded Parmesan (if needed)