Meal Plan for November 13-19
Hi!
We had our first snow here, which always feels so magical. The morning it snowed, I think my daughter told us she loved the snow every thirty seconds. It was pretty sweet.
Here’s your meal plan!
Quick Links
risotto, brussels sprouts // migas // pizza, salad // chicken and dumplings // peanut butter cake
Weeknight meals
Mushroom risotto and balsamic Brussels sprouts
We love this risotto; it’s the most cozy and comforting food. When we discovered how easy it is to make instant pot risotto, even on a weeknight, it became a cold weather staple. Instant pot risotto tip: I like to turn mine on to saute after it’s finished and the lid is off and add 1/2 cup more broth and then stir really well until it’s the perfect risotto consistency.
We usually do half of these roasted Brussels sprouts. Two pounds is so much! I saw the Brussels sprouts on the stalk at Trader Joe’s this week and that seemed very fun (but impractical for our tiny kitchen).
I love the idea of breakfast for dinner but I never feel satisfied with something sweet for dinner like waffles or crepes, so these migas make a pretty frequent appearance in our home. Also: huevos rancheros and breakfast burritos!
There are so many different ways you can make these, even just using leftover chips for the tortillas. The sides are really what make this dinner satisfy. Beans are a must, as is salsa. Avocado is a great addition if you have it and salty cotija cheese.
Cast iron pizza and salad with tahini dressing
This pizza is like a Pizza hut personal pan pizza but 100 times better. It’s all about that crispy crust! Very different from thin crust Neapolitan style pizza but so good.
This dressing makes a ton and it will keep in the fridge, but definitely make a smaller batch if that’s way too much. It would be great on any salad, especially one with a hardy green like kale, or on roasted vegetables. On @alexandracooks instagram feed, she made a salad with delicata squash and cauliflower that looks amazing. To make a very satisfying salad make sure to include something salty, something crunchy, something sweet and something satisfying ( like a protein or cooked vegetable).
Project meal
This is a great Sunday meal for us. The chicken and veggies cook for a while and make a stock and then you use the stock for the final dish. We usually hang out at home on Sundays and watch a movie or play games together. This cooks with little supervision and then the actual hands on portion was relatively quick. So cozy and made great leftovers.
I think a good vegetarian substitute would be pot pies with white beans. This recipe has pancetta, but you can skip it and add more olive oil.
Treat of the Week
My husband made this for us last Sunday and it was the perfect treat. He reported that it was also very easy to make. It’s also not too sweet. We topped it with cream cheese frosting and then also put strawberry jam on the leftovers too which was DELICIOUS. A new family favorite!
Something to listen to
Two albums I enjoyed this week with extremely different vibes: Palomino by First Aid Kit and Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in New York.
Have a great week!
Emily
This is a definite favorite at our house. It takes some planning ahead but it so worth it! We have especially enjoyed a Margherita version with charred cherry tomatoes. I do everything just as this recipe indicates but rather than using a pizza sauce, try this variation:
12 oz cherry tomatoes--heat with 1 Tbs olive oil in large skillet, add tomatoes & sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saute until they are charred and starting to break down.
ADD: 1 clove crushed or minced garlic, 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, crushed, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Crush and mix, but leave some larger chunks intact.
There's your pizza "sauce" to go on top of the cheese. You can add fresh basil after baking for a more authentic margherita.