Let's Meal Plan Together for 10/19/09

I haven't been meal planning much this month since my mom is visiting.  When she's here I get a break from cooking as we go out to dinner or over to her house (she lives here and in Hawaii).  It's great because we get to try new places but it also means I don't grocery shop so the cupboards are bare and I am scraping together school snacks and lunches.

Also adding to the mix this week is that two of my mom's best girlfriends and visiting, it's my 40th birthday week, and we have a funeral to attend.  There's too much going on this week for meal planning, but I'd love to know what you are cooking so I can resume my planning in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, I have some fall recipes posted at my Cooking Mama column on Delish.com that I'd love for you to check out.  If you don't see recipes here, you can always check over there for good stuff to cook.  This week I'm sharing recipes for beef with red wine, steamed fish, and ravioli with butternut squash.  A little something for everyone.

Lastly, as we approach the holidays, I am thinking of doing a month's-worth of vegan (or as close to vegan as possible) eating and dining. I received a copy of Tal Ronnen's new cookbook in the mail and I'm beyond inspired by the recipes and photos included in it.  I accepted it out of curiosity, and frankly wasn't expecting to like it because you hear the words "Oprah cook" and think "gimmicky," but boy was I wrong.  It's called The Conscious Cook and what I love about it (vegans close your eyes) is that many of the recipes seem really earthy and "meaty." He uses bold flavors and treats veggies as if they were heartier proteins (like meat), but still maintains their integrity. It's not gimmicky or preachy, and he even notes recipes that are good for people transitioning to veganism.  It's just a good, solid cookbook that you should add to your library especially if you are an adventurous cook who loves veggies.  I highly recommend it.*

Anyway, if you've been thinking of eating cleaner for the holidays let me know.  I'd love to do the vegan challenge with friends.

I look forward to seeing your meal plans, especially now that it seems like fall is here for good.

*Note, I did receive the cookbook for free, but was not compensated in any way for this brief mention.

Comments

[Jenny]

I don't think I could ever give up meat...honestly. I have been doing veggie enchiladas and they always make my tummy sick. I would like to eat more veggies, so I could try to incorporate veggies at every meal for decemeber.

Anyway, this weeks menu stinks cause well, Husband is away part of it and I am away the weekend.

Sun: Spaghetti and Meatballs, garlic green beans and garlic bread
Mon: Mcdonalds or other crap fast food(yes it is "that" kinda day/night, we rarely eat it so yeah its a "treat")
Tues: Chicken paprikash with squash and rice
Wed: Leftovers or if there is no chicken I will make extra paprikash sauce and have with rice and squash and naan
Thurs: Butter Spaghetti with more squash (it was on sale)
Fri: Leftovers for fam, me on a plane
Sat: Some take out husband wants to get the kids, while I enjoy London for the weekend.

[erin]

Tonight is my mother's last night here and we are making chicken cutlets and pasta. We haven't given any thought to the rest of the week yet...thanks for the reminder. :)

Happy Birthday week - hope it is a good one.

[Amelia Sprout]

Pot roast tomorrow, it needs to get cooked to clean out room in the fridge. That should be good for a night of bbq pork sandwiches too. Tonight either brats on the grill or pork chops on the grill, depending on when I get home, along with rice and veggies.

I love that it is crock pot season, but I need more things to make other than beef stew and pork roast for tacos.

[kayris]

Both my kids are in preschool this year, plus I'm the treasurer for the school, taking a yoga class, and work part time. So unless I menu plan, we eat oatmeal for dinner. This week:

**Winter Veggie Soup and Creamy Artichoke Bread
**Chicken Cheese Steaks and Homemade Baked Onions Rings
**Salisbury Steak and Sweet Potato Fries (Salisbury steak always makes me think of cafeteria food, but I got this recipe from Healthy Cooking Mag and it's good!!)
**Beef and Wild Rice Medley
**Tomato Basil Soup and Grown Up Grilled Cheese (made with feta, fresh mozz and goat cheese)

[Mara]

I got a big barrel full of bad news last week and am still kind of reeling. Tonight I made a big batch of Ribollita soup from the Barefoot Contessa at Home cookbook - total comfort food. How could soup with bread and bacon in it be anything but?

Haven't gotten much beyond that point although my in-laws are due to arrive on Wednesday, so I should probably get with the program. Maybe some black bean burritos? And a night of where we have the rest of the beef stew I made last week?

I hope you have a wonderful birthday Stefania - you've got about eight months on me, so you can show me how it's done!

[kat]

hmmm - our monday night meal tonight is linguine carbonara - not so much healthy.

tuesday - tandoori chicken over rice with steamed veggies

wednesday - shepard's pie

thursday - dinner at google - so whatever is on their menu!

[Nicole]

I would love to see some of your recipes. I've been trying to up our vegetarian dishes, but don't think we could go cold turkey (ha!) for one month. I love hearty vegies like winter squashes and giant artichokes and eggplant, my family, not so much.

On the menu this week...
Fried rice and asian roast chicken legs
Soba with veggies
Pork and pepper burittos
Birthday dinner for dad - probably mexican food

[Asianmommy]

Happy Bday to you!!

[Leticia- Tech Savvy Mama]

I hope you have a very happy birthday and am so sorry about the funeral on your birthday week!

[Sun]

Happy b-day!

I have a great vegetarian Mushroom 'Risotto' recipe that can be made vegan...although, I don't know if soy cheese would be an adequate substitute for the Parmesan. Better still, it can be made in a crockpot! Let me know if you want the recipe for.

[Karen]

Happy Birthday!

I would love to see your vegan challenge recipes. By cutting out gluten, sugar & dairy, I have occasionally stumbled into vegan-land. We also try to eat a vegetarian dinner once or twice a week but I'd like to be more concious about our diet as a whole. Bring on the challenge!

[Laura Yoo]

i'm excited to see your vegan recipes. we do vegan for our middle son for his allergies, though we also have to cut out all nuts and tree seeds as well, which throws a wrench in most vegan meals (korean cooking without sesame oil and sesame seeds is a bit of a challenge). we do make meat/fish/poultry so he doesn't rely solely on soy products for protein. that makes us meat eating vegans? anyhoo, my interest is peaked!