As I start to ponder the fact that shorts weather is imminent, I'm trying to eat healthier with summer in mind - and so this week will see a veggie-rich rice bowl, lean and spicy-sweet beef lettuce wraps and grilled cheese with braised kale.
This gingery curried carrot soup with cauliflower is one of my favourites - perfect for sipping out of an oversized mug or eating from a deep bowl while curled up on the couch. (The curry flavour is mild - add more or omit it for more sensitive palates.)
It's all about comfort this week, as so many family members and friends are getting over colds and the flu. Soup, stew, and cheesy baked things are what the doctor ordered - and all of these recipes are easily doubled, if there's someone sick you'd like to comfort with a warm pot of something homemade.
The Big Thaw has started, and the time change has brought longer days and sunnier dinnertimes. It seems somehow less rushed to get dinner on the table these days, as the sun isn't going down at the same time the 5 o'clock news comes on. I feel like cooking brighter dishes, like a sweet and spicy stir-fry and roasted tomato soup with the last of last summer's roasted tomatoes from the freezer.
Baby it's cold outside - in Alberta, anyway - and so this week I have some hearty, warm-you-up meals on the menu. A rustic bread lasagna that's far easier to assemble (but every bit as versatile) than regular lasagna, chicken chili tacos made in the CrockPot, a simple meat-free pasta dish with chickpeas, squash soup with bacon and a spice crusted ham that's perfect for serving a crowd.
A smooth, sippable soup is simple to make in large batches and serve from an insulated to-go cup if need be; this carrot-orange version appeals to kids and delivers a healthy dose of beta-carotene. It makes a perfect pre-party filler, providing veggies and keeping your appetite at bay so you don't arrive at the buffet ravenous. You can even sip it out of a cup on the bathroom sink as you get ready to go out.
The crunch is on. Families are traveling, making last minute preparations for the big day. Weeknight dinners tend to be more an afterthought than at any time of year. Takeout is a popular option as so many of us spend after-work hours in malls and shopping centres. This week calls for recipes that are simple to make and/or can be taken to go on evenings occupied by Christmas concerts, parties and other festive events. Keep calm, carry on!
It's getting busier, and time-crunchier, but dinner is still doable. This week features easy one-dish meals and comfort food-what everyone wants when it's cold outside and Christmas is right around the corner. You can do it!!
This week will be all about multitasking as we come flying into the holiday season. With an increased party schedule, extra curricular activities and parent teacher interviews, the recipes this week will do double duty - all are easy to double and freeze, providing dinner on another night when there's little time to cook.
It's here - November has gone and slid straight into December, and now the crunch is on. This is no excuse to not cook. This is no excuse to not cook. This is no excuse to not cook. (Repeat after me - this is no excuse to not cook.) In fact, the cold weather and shorter days beg for home cooked meals to warm the house. I find it getting dark by 4, and I'm drawn to the stove earlier than usual. I don't tend to get too creative at this time of year - saving my kitchen experimentation for holiday baking, party food and the big feast. For this week's meal plan, comfort meets kid-friendly, with no sign of frozen fish sticks or takeout.
