Main Course Menu Plan: Week 4  Spring I

Day 1: Pan-Seared Tuna Mustard Cream 

Total time: 15 minutes
     This is best with good sushi-grade (ahi) tuna that is quickly seared on both sides and cool or just barely warm in the center.  If you get regular tuna you will need to cook it until it is closer to medium. If you use hot mustard (like I do) this sauce will have a bit of a kick... You can, of course, use less...

Pan-Seared Tuna Mustard Cream Ingredients:

 Instructions

Day 2: Sweet and Sour Pork    

Total time: 25 minutes
    This is not the kind made with canned pineapple, which I think is horrid, but an actual real Chinese recipe.  In the interest of health and simplicity I did not batter and deep-fry the pork first.  I used to. This way is just as good and I don't have to haul 3 cups of hot, smoking oil out to the back garden to toss.

Sweet and Sour Pork Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Sesame Brown Rice

Total time: 20 minutes    or whatever your package says  
    I use 'Uncle Ben's' which is all I can get and it is quick cooking.  It looks like brown Basmati and cooks in 15 minutes.

Sesame Brown Rice Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Note: You can toast regular sesame seeds in a small, dry, skillet over medium heat for 5 - 7 minutes, until light brown.

Day 3: Pasta with Ham and Asparagus

Total time: 25 minutes 
     Ham and asparagus are surely one of the food world's more perfect pairings.

Pasta with Ham and Asparagus Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 4: Chicken Breasts Balsamic

Total time: 25 minutes
    The little bit of brown sugar tempers the vinegar nicely.  If you don't have Balsamic you can use sherry or red wine vinegar - but increase the sugar to 2 tsp.  I cut the chicken breasts in half for a nicer serving portion.

Balsamic Chicken Breasts Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 5:  Spaghetti with Ginger Meatballs

Total time: 35 minutes
    Fresh ginger and a bit of soy sauce add a subtle Asian flavor to these meatballs.

Ginger Meatballs on Spaghetti Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 6: Cheesy Beef and Potato Pie (Crustless)

Total time: 45 minutes
   Vegetables, meat and cheese, bound together with beaten eggs makes a simple but flavorful one-dish dinner.  It's like pie, but without the crust.  

Cheesy Beef and Potato Pie (Crustless) Ingredients:

 Instructions:

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