Main Course Menu Plan: Week 9  Winter I

Day 1: Stir-Fried Scallops and Ham

Total time: 10 minutes
     The sweetness of shellfish pairs very well with the salty ham.  Small bits of ham are often used as flavorings in Chinese foods.  I buy frozen scallops, which are less expensive than fresh.  You could also use small, bay scallops, which will cook very fast or shrimp.

Stir-Fried Scallops and Ham Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 2: Braised Beef Provençal

Total time: 5 hours 45 minutes   broken into 3 stages:
 
   Night before: 10 minutes;  Afternoon of: 25 minutes; Baking time: 5 hours plus 10 minutes to finish
    This is one of those long-cooking dishes that I love doing during the winter. It has a bit of bacon and sautéed carrots added, to give it it's own unique flavors.  The leftovers will be tossed with pasta for another dinner.

Braised Beef Provençal Ingredients:

provencal beef pot  Instructions:

Note:  If your baking dish is not appropriate for the cook top put the red wine sauce into a small saucepan before thickening.

Day 3: Chicken Pot Pie

Total time: 40 minutes
    This is modified, slightly, using only a top crust, and made simple, using purchased puff pastry,  Make it in 2 single serving dishes or 1 larger. You can stretch or roll puff pastry a bit to fit, if needed.

Chicken Pot Pie Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 4: Stir-Fried Turkey with Cabbage and Cashews

Total time: 30 minutes
     You can use turkey cutlets for this, sliced into strips, or part of a larger turkey tenderloin, freezing the rest for another time, or even ground turkey... or chicken breasts....

Stir-Fried Turkey with Cabbage and Cashews Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 5:  Sweet and Sour Chicken

Total time: 30 minutes
     This is based on the Chinese Sweet and Pungent sauces, but with red wine and without the soy sauce.  A simple, skillet chicken.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 6: Yorkshire Pudding Pie

Total time: 45 minutes  
    Filled with peppers, onions and spinach, this is a savory pie for a one-dish dinner.  I use a bit of sausage in this but you could easily use cooked chicken, beef or ham; just not too much or it won't 'puff' properly.  Any leftovers are great for breakfast!

Yorkshire PuddingPie Ingredients:

 Instructions:

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