Thyme for Cooking
Seasonal Weekly Menus & Shopping Lists
Healthy Food Fresh Ingredients Simple Recipes
Main Course Menu Plan: Week 2 Fall I
Day 1: Sautéed Sole with Butter and Lemon
Total time: 10 minutes
Served whole, the delicate fish flakes easily off the skeleton, which, normally, remains intact for easy removal once you've eaten one side of the fish. Finished with a bit of butter and lemon for accent, it will simply melt in your mouth.
Ingredients:
- 2 whole sole, cleaned, about 12oz (360gr) total weight, or filets
- 1/3 cup flour
- salt & pepper
- 1 lemon, quartered
- 3 tbs butter
Instructions:
- Put the flour on a plate large enough for the fish to fit. Add salt & pepper to the flour and mix it together.
- Over medium-high heat melt half of the butter in a nonstick skillet large enough to hold both fish.
- Rinse fish and pat dry.
- When butter is sizzling dip both sides of fish (hold it by the tail) in flour and add to pan.
- Sauté 1 - 2 minutes on each side depending on size of fish. They cook very fast and if you are not careful when you take them by the tail to turn them over the skeleton will come away in your hand!
- When nicely browned and done remove to plates.
- Melt remaining butter in skillet and pour over each fish.
- Serve with 2 lemon quarters each, to squeeze over top.
- Note: If you get sole filets, they will cook even faster. Use a long spatula to turn them carefully.
Day 2: Lamb Chops with Rosemary Butter
Total time: 20 minutes
Lamb chops with Rosemary.... Is there a more perfect combination? Use the light marinade before grilling, then finish with a dollop of rosemary mustard butter to melt onto the hot chops. You can substitute Pork Chops if you prefer.
Ingredients:
- 4 - 6 center-cut lamb chops, depending on size
- 1 tbs oil
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- Rosemary Mustard Butter:
- 1 tbs chopped fresh rosemary substitute 2 tsp dried
- 1 tsp Dijon-style mustard
- 4 tsp soft butter
Instructions:
- Mix oil, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and 1 tsp rosemary.
- Brush on chops and and allow to marinate until ready to cook chops.
- Cook chops on barbecue grill for 2 - 5 minutes a side depending on thickness and desired degree of doneness (I don't know if that is a word - but you get the idea). We do ours on a hot grill 2 minutes per side for medium rare. When you think they might be close take one off, cut into center and peak. You can always put them back on to cook more - you cannot undo...
- You could also sauté in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for about the same amount of time.
- When done to your liking remove from heat, put 1 tsp rosemary butter on each chop and serve.
- To make Butter: Mix all ingredients, and allow to rest at room temperature to blend flavors.
Day 3: Mini Meat Loaves
Total time: 45 minutes
Great meat loaf taste in a small package. You can cut this recipe in half (except for the egg) or make it in one large loaf (bake for 60 minutes). You can also make them ahead and freeze. To bake from freezer, unwrap and bake for 45 - 55 minutes. You could use ground turkey or any combination of beef, pork, turkey or chicken.
Ingredients:
- 16oz (480gr) ground beef (mince)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbs Dijon-style mustard
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbs dried onion flakes
- 8oz (250ml) tomato sauce
Instructions:
- In large bowl lightly beat egg.
- Add all of the rest of the ingredients except beef and tomato sauce and mix well.
- Add beef and mix well - best to use your hand, kneading it like bread dough.
- Shape into 4 loaves and put into a large 9 X 13 baking pan, spacing evenly.
- Bake at 400F (200C) for 20 minutes.
- Remove and pour tomato sauce evenly over all 4 loaves.
- Bake 15 minutes longer or until done.
- Remove. Slice and serve 2; save 2.
Day 4: Chicken Breasts with Sage, Rosemary and Lemon
Total time: 30 minutes
Sage and rosemary work well together and, along with the lemon, make these simple chicken breasts a tender, succulent, flavorful dinner.
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
- 3 tbs lemon juice
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 1 tbs ketchup
- 1 tbs fresh sage, chopped substitute 1 tsp dried
- 1 tbs fresh rosemary, chopped substitute 1 tsp dried
Instructions:
- In a small bowl mix lemon juice, oil, ketchup and herbs.
- Place chicken breasts in a dish with sides and pour marinade over. Let marinate 10 - 20 minutes or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
- Remove from marinade and cook on barbecue grill for 7 - 10 minutes per side, or until done, basting with marinade.
- Could also be sautéed in a nonstick skillet for same amount of time. Serve.
Day 5: Grilled Turkey Aioli
Total time: 30 minutes
The mayonnaise makes a very thick marinade for the turkey cutlets, coating them and browning nicely. If you can't get turkey cutlets, buy a turkey tenderloin and either slice it into thin cutlets yourself or ask your butcher. You could also use boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
Ingredients:
- 2 - 4 turkey cutlets - depending on size, 12oz total (360gr)
- Marinade:
- 3 tbs soy sauce
- 3 tbs mayonnaise
- 3 tbs olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder - or 2 cloves minced
- 2 tsp dried basil
Instructions:
- In small bowl whisk together the ingredients for the marinade - whisk well: it should emulsify (come together thickly).
- Spoon over turkey and let marinate for 15 minutes - or longer if you are doing other stuff, up to 45 minutes.
- Remove turkey marinade and cook on barbecue 4 - 8 minutes turning once or under broiler for 12 - 15 minutes turning once - or sauté in large skillet 10 - 15 minutes (you get the picture).
- Baste with any remaining sauce. In all cases it depends on thickness. Test for doneness by slicing and peaking. Serve.
Day 6: Zucchini (Courgette) Stuffed with Orzo and Feta
Total time: 40 minutes
I used 2 medium zucchini for this, 7" each (17cm), both green. You could use one larger one, 9" (22cm). Not all of the 'stuffing' will fit, just keep it warm and serve it on the side. You could use other small pasta in place of the orzo.
Ingredients:
- 2 zucchini or summer squash (courgette), 7" each (17cm)
- 6oz (180gr) ground beef, turkey, sausage
- 15oz (450gr) chopped tomatoes
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/3 cup (3oz, 90gr) orzo
- 1/4 cup (2oz, 60ml) beef stock
- 1/4 cup (2oz, 60ml) red wine
- 3oz (90gr) feta
- 1.5oz (45gr) Greek or other olives
Instructions:
- Zucchini:
- Cut the stem and root end off of the zucchini, then slice in half the long way.
- With a small spoon scrape out the seeds and flesh from the center forming long boat-like shells. Leave 1/4" (.6cm) at either end to hold in the filling.
- Put them in a baking dish, single layer, cut side down, cover with foil and bake, 400F (200C), for 15 minutes.
- Remove and keep covered until ready to fill.
- Stuffing:
- Chop onion.
- Mince garlic.
- Heat olive oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chili powder and sauté briefly.
- Add onion and garlic, sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add meat to skillet and cook, breaking it up as it browns.
- Add tomatoes, herbs, stock, wine and pasta, stir well, reduce heat to medium and simmer 10 - 15 minutes, until pasta is done. Stir often or pasta will stick. You may need to add more liquid if sauce starts getting too thick before pasta is done. Add water, 1 tbs at a time.
- Cut feta into small cubes or crumble.
- Slice olives in half.
- When the pasta is done and sauce is thick stir in the feta and olives.
- Spoon filling into the zucchini. Any filling that doesn't fit, just keep warm and serve on the side.
- Cover zucchini with foil and bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake 5 minutes longer. Serve, leftover filling on the side.
Get 7 Dinner Menus, Recipes, Shopping List each Thursday by e-mail: Subscribe
