WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS DINNERS
Sure, your “to do” list may be getting shorter (or maybe it’s not). Either way, this is a week full of activity. Kids are home from school, gifts need to be wrapped, stocking stuffers squared away. I’m linking a few of my favorite “brainless” weeknight dinners without much chopping or prep. Wednesday I’m posting my favorite Christmas morning breakfast recipe, and Thursday you’ll have a meal plan for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It’s a Christmas miracle.
MONDAY: Lentil soup with Swiss chard. Buy pre-chopped onions to make this even faster. Trader Joe’s pre-chopped onion comes with celery and carrots, which isn’t in the recipe but would be delicious. If you want to use spinach instead of chard, great. Forego the dried herbs and add some chopped fresh parsley to the top of your bowl.
TUESDAY: Slow cooker salsa chicken with black beans and corn. You can either serve the chicken breasts over cauliflower rice or brown rice, or shred and serve in tortillas or taco shells.
WEDNESDAY: Pork ribs in the slow cooker. Serve with a side salad and oven roasted green beans. We’ve been loving sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot, I don’t make the cinnamon butter in this recipe, although it sounds delicious.
THURSDAY: Trader Joe’s frozen turkey bolognese with penne or rigatoni. I cook two containers for our family of five, and add two cups chopped fresh spinach and a cup of frozen riced cauliflower to the pot when the bolognese is warming. If you don’t have Trader Joe’s near you, sauté one pound mild Italian sausage and add three cups Rao’s marinara, chopped spinach and cauliflower. With the addition of the vegetables, this becomes a one-pot meal.
FRIDAY: Something simple and healthy before we roll into the weekend. Sheetpan roasted salmon is about as simple as it gets. Or if you make slow cooker whole chicken the leftover meat can be thrown into quesadillas or sandwiches over the weekend.
SATURDAY: I’d suggest takeout or a date night before the next two night’s festivities. But if you’re home and need to feed your family (I know, why are they always hungry?), try these easy chicken and green chile quesadillas.
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