Menu Plan Monday ~ Week of February 8

The Super Bowl does more than bring fun with friends; it brings really fantastic sales on all sorts of freezable goodies. This week almost every category of meat has at least one sale item, from whole chickens to lamb chops to sauce and t-bone steaks. I’ll be doing a little extra shopping this week and stocking my freezer. In fact, this week’s great sales are what inspired my recent Freezer Power post for Frugal Friday.

On the heels of the school vacation and the Super Bowl, we’re looking forward to returning to a regular routine. Of course, Valentine’s Day is on Sunday, so we will have one night out this week, but the savings we’ve had since I’ve been using the online menu planning tool and taking advantage of my store sales is more than paying for our splurge night.

Between now and then, our menu plan is shaping up like this:

• Monday: Foil-Barbecued Trout with Wine with roasted asparagus and red potatoes
  I’m continuing to work on incorporating more seafood into our diet, and cooking in foil is one of my favorite easy techniques.
• Tuesday: Lemon Chicken with steamed broccoli and long grain and wild rice
  There’s something very satisfying about roast chicken and once it’s in the oven I’m free to help with homework and finish getting the rest of dinner on the table. I’ll use the leftovers for sandwiches in lunches as well as for a quick pasta dish on Friday night.
• Wednesday: Mustard Pomegranate Pork Tenderloin with sautéed spinach and potatoes a gratin
  Pork tenderloin cooks quickly and takes on so many different flavors. The mustard pomegranate combination here is a little sophisticated which makes it fun, but not so over the top that it’s not kid-friendly. I’ll make extra and use the rest for sandwiches this weekend.
• Thursday: Sausage Stuffed Lamb Chops with roasted root vegetables and polenta
  My family enjoys lamb chops and when they are on sale they make our menu. This recipe takes advantage of the Italian sausage that’s also on sale.
• Friday: Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli
  Friday night pasta is a great break after a long work week because it comes together so easily. I’ll combine cooked pasta with the leftover chicken and steamed broccoli from Tuesday night’s dinner. Some red chile flakes, lemon zest, fresh parmesan, and a little pasta water make a nice sauce. I’ll serve it up with some garlic bread for a finishing touch.
• Saturday: Pork Paninis with chips and crudités
  The pork tenderloin from Wednesday night is great on sourdough bread with some mozzarella cheese and arugula. A quick run through the panini maker makes the sandwiches a little more fun. Chips, pickles, and some crunchy veggies will round out sandwich night.
• Sunday: Valentine’s Day Date Night
  We have reservations at our favorite local bistro. Needless to say I’ll be doing my menu planning for the next week on Saturday.