Weeknight Rescue//Week 22//May

I spent the better part of last week laid up with back pain, so I barely entered the kitchen. After plenty of rest, ice, heat, and Netflix, I’m back on my feet again and excited to get cooking. Apparently I was in need of comfort as I put this menu together, so you have a stack of pancakes coming your way, a creamy “healthyish” chocolate pudding, and my Tofu Parm, about which one reader recently commented, “I am Italian and love Chicken Parm, but this tops the cake of a taste alike. Will make this time and time again.”

Enjoy!

Saucy Instant Pot Chicken with Olives

This is the newest addition to my Instant Pot recipe collection. Chicken, olives, kale (or other leafy greens) cook into a tender, comforting meal that is delicious over polenta, noodles, or another favorite grain. It’s also great as a leftover the next day.

Baked Tofu Parmesan

Here’s a good one for meatless Monday. The tofu is breaded and baked until crispy and then layered with sauce and cheese. Add steamed or roasted broccoli and dinner is done. Leftovers are tasty a day or two later.

Collard Green Tacos with Tomatillo Salsa and Crème Fraîche

I think corn tortillas are tailor made for delicious, veggie-centric tacos. These are done with a super simple salsa, but feel free to use a store-bought tomatillo salsa if you prefer. If you want to make this entirely plant-based, use a dairy-free plain yogurt in place of crème fraîche. On the side, I’d do up warm beans, either from a can or these slow cooker pintos. 

Tuna Pasta Nicoise

This feels like a good recipe to bridge from spring to summer. I find cherry tomatoes to be the first of the tomato family to start getting good. They pair up in this pasta with many of the classic Nicoise Salad ingredients. It’s good the next day, too.

Vietnamese-Style Pork Lettuce Wraps with Ginger Lime Dressing

These lettuce cups are like Vietnamese-style tacos with a killer ginger lime dressing to finish. Since they’re pretty light on the appetite, you might want to add steamed brown rice or a favorite Asian noodle tossed with fish sauce, sesame oil, and sliced scallion.

Whole-Grain Blender Kefir Pancakes

Do these up for weekend brunch or treat everyone to breakfast-for-dinner one night. These are super nutritious, all done and then poured from a blender, and excellent embellished with maple syrup and anything you have in your fruit bowl.

Dark Chocolate Creamy Cashew Pudding

A chocolate treat that’s on the healthier end of the spectrum. The creaminess comes from cashews that soak overnight and get blended into the rest of the ingredients. It makes a tasty dessert or after school snack, or can be packed into little containers for school lunches. My kids are fans.