Weeknight Italian Menu
You can assemble the pasta dish ahead and bake it when you're ready for dinner. Let the pasta stand while you turn up the heat and bake the croutons. Menu serves 8.
Baked Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes, and Cheese
Quick Caesar salad
Cut 2 ounces French bread into 1/2-inch cubes; toss with 1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bake at 400° for 12 minutes or until golden. Place 1 cup torn romaine lettuce on each of 8 salad plates. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese; drizzle each serving with 1 tablespoon bottled light Caesar salad dressing. Divide croutons evenly among salads.
Vanilla ice cream
Sunday Supper for Eight Menu
Serve this easy menu for a casual get-together. While the chicken bakes, you're free to prepare the salad and cook the rice. Menu serves 8.
Baked Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Bell Peppers
Artichoke and asparagus salad
Cut 2 pounds trimmed asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Cook in boiling water 2 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Combine asparagus, 3 cups drained canned quartered artichoke hearts, 3 cups halved cherry tomatoes, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
Hot cooked long-grain rice
Brown-Bag Lunch Menu
The pasta salad provides a great way to use leftover chicken. Prepare and refrigerate the night before in a portable container. Menu serves 1.
Pasta Salad With Chicken
Combine 1 cup cooked small seashell pasta, 1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken, 1/2 cup chopped plum tomato, 3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; toss to combine. Cover and chill.
Carrot and Cucumber Sticks
Pecan Bar Cookies
Try Something New Menu
Fish grilled on a wooden plank takes on a subtle smoky flavor. You can also use skinless, boneless chicken breast for the tacos; the cook time might be longer, so keep checking for doneness. Menu serves 6.
Cedar-Planked Halibut Tacos with Citrus Slaw
Mango and avocado salad
Combine 3 cups chopped peeled mango, 1/2 cup chopped avocado, 1/4 cup chopped green onions, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, 1 tablespoon chopped seeded jalapeņo, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, tossing gently.
Limeade
Meat and Potatoes Menu
This simple meal is a snap to pull together. Place the potatoes in the oven after the pork has cooked for 10 minutes so that everything is done at the same time. Menu serves 4.
Simple Roasted Fingerlings
Mustard-rubbed pork tenderloin
Rub 1 tablespoon coarse-ground mustard evenly over 1 (1-pound) trimmed pork tenderloin. Sprinkle evenly with 1/2 teaspoon dried crushed rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Place pork on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 30 minutes or until thermometer registers 160° (slightly pink). Let stand 5 minutes before slicing.
Frozen creamed spinach
Strawberries drizzled with balsamic vinegar
Quick Tex-Mex Dinner Menu
Instead of chopping cilantro and squeezing fresh lime juice, open a can of tangy tomatillo-based salsa verde to flavor the guacamole. Menu serves 6.
Taco Rice Salad
Easy guacamole with chips
Place 2 peeled ripe avocados, 1/4 cup canned salsa verde, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 pressed garlic clove in a medium bowl; mash with a fork until desired consistency. Stir in 1/4 cup finely chopped tomato. Serve with baked tortilla chips.
Lemonade
Angel food cake with fat-free caramel sauce
Lazy-Day Breakfast Menu
To make this menu even easier, pick up precut mixed fruit in the produce section of the supermarket. You'll have extra rolls to freeze. Menu serves 6.
Fig-Pecan Rolls with Maple Butter
Ham and egg scramble
Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 cups frozen hash brown potatoes; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add 3/4 cup chopped green onions, 1/2 cup chopped ham, and 1 teaspoon minced garlic; cook potato mixture 8 minutes or until golden, stirring frequently. Combine 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 5 eggs, and 3 egg whites in a bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add eggs to pan; cook 3 minutes or until set, stirring occasionally.
Fruit salad
