Weekly Menu 12-8-25
Christmas seems to come faster each year. And this year was no different, other than that time is flying by. I had no sooner decorated the house than the first week of December was over! And to think that I had our travel trees and upstairs Christmas tree already decorated before Thanksgiving.
As I plan my weekly menu, I almost wish time would stand still. I still have Christmas shopping and meal planning for our anniversary, Christmas, and New Year’s yet. That doesn’t count the Christmas gathering we’re planning for Saturday.
Elves are certainly in demand around my house. But alas, I can plan for meals that are fast, delicious, and in most cases, healthy.
Monday
This recipe had me at the word ‘enchilada’. I must have my Mexican fix at least once a month, and as of yet, we still haven’t found the best Mexican food where we live. Seriously, that should have been a consideration before moving to North Carolina.
The next best thing is simply making our own, and this recipe from Wishes and Dishes is a must. It checks the block in two ways: Mexican goodness and using leftover turkey. Though the recipe calls for chicken, it’s easy to sub turkey.
To round out this meal on a cold evening, warmed tortillas – with plenty of butter, please!
| 20 Minute Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup (Using Turkey) Warmed Tortillas |
Tuesday
We enjoy salmon, and it’s a must at least twice or three times a month. And with ingredients like maple and soy, it’s a recipe I’m sure will be on repeat. And what could be easier than baking the salmon – it’s an easy-peasy recipe with lots of bold flavors, with few ingredients, that’s making the cut on my menu this week from Skinny Taste.
To complement the fish, I’m roasting Brussels sprouts with EVOO and maple – and for an additional side, I’m finally getting around to trying this salad recipe, also from Skinny Taste. The combination of beets, citrus, and goat cheese has me in their crosshairs – in a good way! After a neighbor picked up some food from a local restaurant that included a roasted beet salad with all the goodies, I just had to try this recipe! I’m omitting the grapefruit since hubby’s on cholesterol meds (and me, too, now).
| Maple Soy Glazed Salmon Brussels Sprouts w/ Maple Roasted Beet and Citrus Salad |
Wednesday
Italian meals always seem to be the answer for any weekday meal, for having company over, or for date night! This chicken dish from How Sweet Eats is definitely perfect for date night. The chicken is dredged in seasoned flour and cooked in olive oil. The real magic comes from the sauce, we’re talking Marsala wine, chicken stock, and heavy cream. Add the chicken back to the skillet, and bake to develop those wonderful aromatic flavors!
To round out the dish, a side of green beans makes the perfect accompaniment. And for freshness and color, sliced tomatoes. Simple and easy.
| Chicken Marsala with Almond Green Beans Sliced Tomatoes |
Thursday
As the temperatures dip well below freezing, it’s time for a nice big bowl of steamy, creamy soup, and this recipe from Ambitious Kitchen hits the mark on all that. It’s delicious and creamy, with ingredients that blend well like cauliflower, cheddar cheese, roasted garlic, and lots of vegetable broth. Serve a big bowl with sourdough croutons for a bit of crunch and texture. Ah, soup’s on!
Sourdough Croutons
| Roasted Garlic Cheddar Cauliflower Soup Sourdough Croutons |
Friday
We have sausage in the freezer, leftover Brussels sprouts, red onion, and potatoes – it’s time for a sheet pan meal. While this recipe from Eatwell includes sweet potatoes, I’m subbing new potatoes. You can’t go wrong with onions, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, sausage, and garlic, especially when you season everything with a mix of maple syrup and Dijon mustard – yum!
Serving this meal with an apple, walnut salad that pairs well from the Busy Baker. I love that this salad is dressed with a maple vinaigrette that includes maple syrup and Dijon mustard. It’s a win-win!
Saturday
The party is on! We’re planning a Christmas gathering with neighbors, friends, and acquaintances. I hope it’s not too cold to get out and socialize, though it will be warm, cheery, and Christmassy inside.
I’m drawing from some of my favorite food blogs to help me plan a little bit of this and a little bit of that! From Inspired By Charm, it’s got to be the ranch and pretzel dips, the olive wreath appetizer, and cranberry meatballs (something I’ve long wanted to try). You can’t go wrong with any recipe from Carlsbad Cravings. The mini-quiches include a recipe to make them in four different ways – how cool is that? A little something for everyone. She also has the best ham-and-cheese sliders ever!
I’ll probably find other appetizers I want to serve along the way. I mean, it’s a few days away… and of course, we need sweets, so this week, I’ll be making some cookies for Christmas and placing them in the freezer. I only need to pull what I want from the freezer the day of the party.
And drinks, we can’t forget to have beverages on hand. From Averie Cooks, a sparkling Christmas punch that can be made with sparkling cider rather than prosecco.
| Ranch Dip Mix with Veggies Pretzel Dip with Pretzels Olive Wreath Appetizer Mini-Quiches Ham and Swiss Sliders Cranberry Meatballs Sparkling Christmas Punch |
