Oh yeah, this ongoing Best Meal of the Week post is starting to rock. You posted some great recipe ideas on the last post and my meal planning has gotten a lot easier since we started this…thanks! (I assume that many of you are finding it helpful too!) Remember, "best" is highly subjective: healthy, super quick, inexpensive, fabulously delicious - or a combination of all that and more. Here are a few featured Best Meal ideas. Post yours in the comments below.
From Kate, a team member:
Sunday was the most gorgeous day imaginable here in Austin. I spent all day gardening and before I knew it, 7 p.m. had arrived and I didn't have much of a dinner plan. Fortunately, I had two great staples in my pantry: canned garbanzo beans and tuna. With these ingredients, I knew I could figure out something tasty and quick when paired with a few other ingredients from the fridge. First I whisked up a quick vinaigrette of mustard, sherry vinegar and olive oil. Then I rinsed the beans and tossed them with halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, parsley leaves from my garden and a drizzle of vinaigrette. I let that marinate while I washed and chopped romaine, tossed the leaves with more vinaigrette and piled them on plates. Next I arranged the beans and tomatoes all around the lettuce. I flaked the tuna over the salad and topped with a few leftover cooked asparagus spears. As soon as dinner was finished, I added canned beans and tuna to my shopping list-I wouldn't want to be caught without these in my pantry!
From Meg, a reader:
My best meal this week was the linguine with white clam sauce I made in literally 15 minutes one night after work. It uses two cans of clams with juice, a little white wine, butter, parsley, garlic, and spicy Italian sausage. I posted the recipe opens in a new tab on my blog. Enjoy! I know I can't wait to make it again. (And here are a couple of recipes from the Whole Foods Market recipe pages if you want to avoid the sausage: Linguine with White Clam Sauce opens in a new tab (with fresh clams) and Linguine with Red Clam Sauce opens in a new tab.)
From Jaye, a team member:
I really like to cook once and eat about four times. It saves money and calories! My best meal this week was a combination of a go-to staple for me (roast chicken) and a green bean concoction I made up. To make the roast chicken, I buy a smallish chicken (2-3 pounds), rinse and pat dry completely and then coat with kosher salt (inside and out) and roast in a 450º oven for about 45 minutes or until a meat thermometer reaches 165º when inserted in the thigh. Remove it from the oven, tent with foil for about 10 minutes, then carve. Later, I can make quesadillas, tacos or salad with the leftovers. Meanwhile, I filled a three quart sauce pan with low-sodium chicken broth and water and cooked some 365 Organic Haricots Verts until just al dente. Then I cooked a piece of bacon in a smallish skillet and minced a shallot and two cloves of garlic. Took the bacon out, cooked the garlic and shallot for about two minutes, added the green beans and tossed around until all were a little crispy/blistered. Then I crumbled the bacon in it and served with the chicken. It sounds a lot worse for you than it is, I promise! I had some leftover baby creamer potatoes that I threw in the skillet with this. The leftovers could be used as part of a Salad Nicoise the next day too! So, what are you eating this week that is the "best?"
