Weekly Menu Plan Week 16 is all about One Pot Wonders–delicious dinners made with fresh ingredients and few dishes to wash. Bring on the comfort and convenience!
Dinner this week is all about getting a balanced meal on the table in a hurry, without creating a tornado of dishes to wash in the process. You know what I mean, right? You make a fabulous dinner. Eat and bask in the glory that is your culinary prowess, and then turn around and wonder how in the heck a tornado went through the kitchen and seemingly threw all of the pots and pans around without you noticing it?
Just me?
I mean, when you can easily create a restaurant quality dinner like Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo at home for pennies on the dollar, the dishes are totally worth it. But on your average weeknight? Blergh. Ain’t nobody got time for that business. (Poor grammar for affect excluded, of course.)
So this week is focused on quick comfort foods that don’t require enlisting an army to help with the clean up.
Start the week off right with my Skillet Lasagna. All of the flavors of our traditional Christmas Eve Lasagna, but with half the effort. Rich tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, salty parmesan, and Italian turkey sausage tossed with tender bow tie pasta make this one flavorful bowl of “lasagna” without all of the calories. (Nor all of the work!)
Susan/Girl in the Little Red Kitchen slides us into Tuesday with her Chicken and Mushroom Rice Skillet. This savory chicken and rice dish can be made even when you’re feeling “sloth like” lazy–which is usually me Monday-Friday nights. 
Being a lifelong Yankee, I wasn’t exposed to the southern delicacy that is pimento cheese until very recently. Then I wondered how I ever lived without the creamy, briny cheese. Jenni/Pastry Chef Online shows the versatility of the southern comfort in her One Pot Pimento Cheese Pasta. Pimentos totally count as a veggie, right? If not, the jalapenos will surely count as a salad. Besides, er’body can always use a few good macaroni and cheese recipes!
Thankfully Sarah/The Chef Next Door infuses a few vegetables into her One Pot Roasted Pepper Spinach Alfredo. I may have to run a few extra miles this week with all of the creamy pastas on the menu, but it’ll be SO worth it! Especially when it comes to tomorrow night!
Friday ends the work week on a decadent note with Cheryl/Pook’s Pantry’s Langostino Mac & Cheese with crispy bacon and chives. Langostino translates to “squat lobster” or tiny lobster, although it’s not a true lobster or prawn. I may live in a house full of men where fart humor is considered polite dinner conversation, but I refuse to serve anything with “squat” in the name. A girl has got to draw the line somewhere. Langostino sounds much nicer. In my head langostino translates into economical lobster, so let’s call it lobster macaroni and cheese! 
I pop a ton of popcorn every week because it’s such a tasty, affordable snack. Cheryl elevates the usual popcorn flavor profile to new heights with her Island Spice Popcorn with Coconut Oil and Tumeric. The unexpected zip of lemon zest make this tasty snack something to look forward to.
And because even the easiest of preparation weeks deserve a sweet reward at the end of them, I suggest serving my Vanilla Custard Tart for the weekend. Use a store bought pie crust if you must, although I can show you how to make flawless pie crust at home in less than 5 minutes, if you are so inclined. The creamy vanilla custard comes together in less than 10 minutes before hitting the fridge to chill out. Vanilla Custard Tart is deliciously simple, and the perfect canvas for adding fresh summer berries and a dash of whipped cream for presentation. Just do it. You know that you want to!
What’s your favorite menu item on the Weekly Menu Plan Week 16?
Inquiring minds, and all that…
How can we better serve your dinner needs with future menu plans? Drop a comment with suggestions, or feel free to send me an email. We aim to please!
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