Seven Days of Dinner- Adaptable, Family-Friendly Menu

So apparently I'm the only one of my gal-pals who likes to cook. Part of the problem for them (and sometimes it is for me, too) is not knowing what to make. They suggested I come up with a meal plan, and I thought I'd give it a whirl. The menu and plan are below, and I'll post the recipes in another blog entry.

I've chosen dishes that are simple, straight-forward family-pleasers. I've also chosen dishes that can easily be modified in terms of calorie/fat content, cost, and sophistication. For example, choose skinless chicken breasts and ground sirloin instead of dark meat and regular ground beef for the chicken and beef recipes if you're trying to watch your calories. If it's your budget you're watching, use the cheaper cuts of chicken and ground beef. If you want to dial up the sophistication, then add a tapenade to your spaghetti sauce, artichoke and gorgonzola to your pizza, and fresh asparagus to your cut veggie tray.

Day 1: Sticky chicky, mashed potatoes, salad/cut veggies

Day 2: Chicken with orzo, salad/cut veggies

Day 3: Skillet shepherd's pie, salad/cut veggies

Day 4: Spaghetti with meat sauce or meatballs; salad/cut veggies

Day 5: Homemade pizza with leftover spaghetti sauce

Day 6: Speedy Jambalaya

Day 7: Tortilla soup, fruit salad

The Plan:

Day 1: Buy groceries. Use the large package of chicken pieces for the sticky chicky. Open the smaller package of chicken, sprinkle with salt or seasoned salt and pepper, drizzle with a little olive oil, and bake alongside sticky chicky. Cool the "plain" chicken and refrigerate to use on Day 2. Make a BIG salad and/or prep a bunch of cut fresh veggies and stow in the fridge. You can then add your pre-made salad or cut veggies to meals all week. Next, make a BIG batch of mashed potatoes. Whatever doesn't get eaten today will be refrigerated and used later.

Day 2: Bone the "plain" chicken that you baked yesterday and make the chicken with orzo dish. Serve with the salad/cut veggies you prepped on Day 1. Thaw your 5-lb loaf of ground beef.

Day 3: Make skillet shepherd's pie using some of your thawed ground beef and your leftover mashed potatoes from Day 1. Serve with your salad/cut veggies.

Day 4: Using the rest of your thawed ground beef, make meatballs, OR just brown the beef with dried basil and oregano (start with a teaspoon of each and add more if necessary). Add to homemade or store bought spaghetti sauce. Just make sure you're making a BIG batch of sauce. Cook spaghetti or your favorite dried pasta. Serve with the last of the now-tired salad/veggies. Or, if your family is threatening mutiny, serve a brand-new side dish like sauteed mushrooms or zucchini, or make some candied carrots.

Day 5: For the pizza, use a store bought precooked or ready-to-cook pizza crust, or make your own. Top with leftover spaghetti sauce from Day 4. Add whatever additional toppings your family approves of: sliced green or red peppers, olives, anchovies, pineapple, etc. Finish with shredded mozzarella. Bake according to package or pizza crust recipe directions. Thaw the sausage for tomorrow's meal. Also thaw the chicken for Day 7 if you'll need to bake it tomorrow.

Day 6: Make the speedy jambalaya. Microcook or bake the chicken for tomorrow's tortilla soup. Cool, then refrigerate.

Day 7: Use a store bought rotisserie chicken or the chicken you cooked yesterday to make tortilla soup.