Welcome back to Midweek Meal Planning for the week of 1/7/16! It’s more traditional to meal plan on the weekend, but since our Chicago grocery deals mostly flip on Wednesdays and since midweek is when many of us start running out of steam, we buck the trend here. In Midweek Meal Planning, we plan dinners for the rest of the week while also looking back to see how we’ve done so far.
This slow cooker Chicken Marsala turned out very pretty and smelled great, but I don’t think I’d make it again. It was all right, but nowhere near as good as stove top — I guess just because you can make something in the Crock Pot, it doesn’t always mean you should, lol. I also threw in some cauliflower with these potato wedges for low carb MashupDad and it turned out really well, so might tweak that further into a cauliflower-only recipe for future. (He also got a piece of chicken Marsala pre-corn-starch-thickened-sauce, so his wasn’t as pretty…)
Midweek meal planning
- Sunday: Pizza.
- Monday: Spinach salad with leftover steak strips from New Year’s & homemade dressing.
- Tuesday: Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala with Baked Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges (and cauliflower!), plus more salad from the $.50 deal at Fresh Thyme.
- Wednesday: Salsa chicken with a pack of those $1.29/lb boneless thighs from Caputo’s this week.
- Thursday: Something with shrimp and broccoli. I picked up a pound of the $3.99 shrimp at Fresh Thyme yesterday, and there’s also the buy one get two free sale at Jewel this week. (Am pondering a recipe idea and will let you know how it turns out!)
- Friday: We’ll see how the leftovers situation is after tonight’s dinner.
- Saturday: Grilled sockeye salmon — I have some in the freezer still — with potato packets and sauteed spinach.
Your turn
How’s your week of meal planning going? Are you cooking mostly out of your pantry, or are you taking advantage of this week’s grocery sales? Let’s inspire each other! And if you’re looking for additional inspiration, read all the Midweek Meal Planning posts (and others’ comments) here.
jane
Thursday 7th of January 2016
I made roasted cauliflower this week (recipe from "The Longevity Kitchen"). Toss florets with olive oil, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and salt and pepper. Place on parchment paper on baking sheet. Roast on middle rack in 425 degree oven for 25 - 35 minutes. Let cool a little and then squeeze fresh lemon juice on cauliflower (in a bowl) and toss with fresh parsley. So good! We served ours with baked chicken drumsticks and steamed green beans with lemon butter.
Cari
Thursday 7th of January 2016
I tried those garlic Parm wedges and they didn't turn out for me. I am gonna try again. How did you like yours?
rachel
Thursday 7th of January 2016
They didn't look like the picture, lol -- the Parm didn't stick well, and I had to cook longer than it said. They were OK -- but honestly the same seasonings were much better on the cauliflower!
Meg
Thursday 7th of January 2016
Monday I cooked up my $1.77/pound chicken breasts from Jewel in my Instant Pot (love that thing; only took 12 minutes) and made some of it into stir fry with veggies, spicy Thai peanut sauce, and rice.
Tuesday I made more of the chicken into quesadillas with sauteed veggies.
Wednesday tortelini and garlic bread.
Thursday we will make the last of the chicken into nuggets and serve with some kind of veggie.
Friday home made pizza.
Saturday we'll probably eat out.
Jaci
Thursday 7th of January 2016
You could do a simple shrimp scampi. Do you have your ham recipe anywhere the one you did in the crock pot? This week starting Sun I used leftover steak for faijitas Mon brisket Tues ground beef stroganoff Weds no hubby avocado chicken salad Thurs crock pot creamy Italian chicken Friday???
rachel
Thursday 7th of January 2016
Ham in the Crock Pot is super easy -- throw some brown sugar on the bottom of the crockpot, add the ham cut side down, and add a little on the top and cook on low for about 5 hours. Some people also add some canned pineapple, if you like. :) If the ham is too big for the crock pot, tent with foil and make sure it's tight around the edges so the steam doesn't escape.
christine
Thursday 7th of January 2016
Sun: We ate with friends and brought home leftover ham for the kids. Monday: Lentil, sausage and kale soup. One of my favorite quick meals! Tues: Pork roast in the crock pot. Meh, I would try another recipe. Going to use the leftovers for Cuban sandwiches for lunch. Wed: Tacos, nachos or taco salad. Found some lettuce bags at Aldi on clearance and avocados. Thurs: Pasta with sausage/sauce from the freezer. Salad with more clearance lettuce, dinner rolls .25 from Aldi Fri: Calzones and leftovers from this week. Sat: Pulled pork or Rachel's Italian pork. Not sure yet because I love the pulled pork, but the other is calling me. I am considering my hand at homemade vanilla and buying the vodka deal at Jewel. But I need some bottles for the vanilla- anyone have suggestions? I am guessing Good Will or the vodka bottle!