We’re rolling into a three-day-weekend with a menu to match. I’ve got several vegetarian dishes this week, along with a sheet pan chicken, and one of my favorite sweet snacks on the blog. Enjoy!
Delicata Squash Tacos with Quick Pickled Onions
These vegetarian tacos make excellent use of tender delicata squash. Just slice into half moons, roast, and pile onto blistered tortillas with quick pickled onions and crumbled cheese. Add sliced avocado and extra salsa if you have it on hand.
Creamy Carrot Mac and Cheese
This lighter version of mac and cheese is built on a base of cooked carrots that you whirl with low-fat milk into a creamy puree. All you have to do is add pasta, sharp Cheddar and chopped chives and bake until bubbly. Throw a sheet pan of broccoli in the oven to roast alongside the pasta.
Wild Blueberry Balsamic Sheet Pan Chicken
This is always a crowd pleaser in my house. The combination of wild blueberries and balsamic vinegar here pairs perfectly with the chicken and sweet potatoes. It’s one-dish dinner with very little clean up.
Lemon Tahini Dressing with Vegetables
Make the most of virtually any type of root vegetable by roasting them slow and finishing with lemon tahini dressing. Add chickpeas to the mix to make it a main dish. Or serve with spoonfuls of protein-rich Greek yogurt mixed with a splash of olive oil and big pinch of salt and pepper.
Sausage, Cabbage, and Apple Skillet
This Sausage, Cabbage, and Apple skillet is simple, cozy one-dish meal that comes together in a snap. Serve with your favorite mustard and warm crusty bread if you like.
A Kale Salad Kids Love
Kale is a nutrient powerhouse and this salad is a tasty way to enjoy it (my kids have been longtime fans). Serve it as is for lunch or as a side for the Mac Cheese or Sheet Pan Chicken on this week’s menu.
Chocolate Hemp Amaze Bars
I made these bars last week and I love having them tucked in the fridge for a pre-workout boost or when I want something sweet in the afternoon. They are nourishing — filled with a variety of nuts, oats, hemp seeds, dates, and nut or seed butter — but also feel decadent thanks to the chocolate drizzle. Follow me on Instagram to tune into my demo of Amaze Bars this coming Wednesday.
SHOPPING LIST // WEEK 3
Delicata Squash Tacos with Quick Pickled Onions
2 delicata squash
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Chili powder
1/3 cup white, apple cider, or white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 small red onion
8 corn tortillas
1/2 cup crumbled cotija or feta cheese
1/3 cup fresh cilantro
1/4 cup sour cream
Salsa and lime wedges for garnish
Creamy Carrot Mac and Cheese
1 pound carrots, peeled
2/3 cup water
12 ounces penne pasta
1 1/4 cup low-fat milk
5 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons fresh chives
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Wild Blueberry Balsamic Sheet Pan Chicken
1 pound sweet potatoes
1 medium red onion
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 heaping cup frozen wild blueberries
3 tablespoons whole-grain Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
One 3 1/2 to 4 pound chicken
Lemon Tahini Dressing with Vegetables
2 large carrots
1 pound small waxy potatoes, such as red, yukon gold, or yellow finn
1 large sweet potato
1 large bulb fennel
1 large red or yellow onion
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup cooked chickpeas (optional)
1 large clove garlic
2 teaspoons honey
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup tahini
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
Sausage, Cabbage, and Apple Skillet
4 pre-cooked chicken apple sausages
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium red or yellow onion
1 small head red or green cabbage
2 medium tart apples
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Salt and fresh black pepper
A Kale Salad Kids Love
6 cups roughly chopped kale
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Bragg Liquid Aminos
2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil or extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch salt
1/2 large red onion
2 coarsely grated carrots
1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds (salted or unsalted)
1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds (salted or unsalted)
Chocolate Hemp Amaze Bars
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup chopped raw hazelnuts or almonds
½ cup raw hemp hearts
⅓ cup raw pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
6 medjool dates
⅓ cup cashew butter, peanut butter, or almond butter
¼ cup honey
¼ cup water
¼ cup cacao nibs
¼ cup cocoa powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 heaping tablespoon hemp seeds
¼ cup dark chocolate chips