Main Course Menu Plan: Week 6  Winter II

Day 1: Pan-Seared Tuna with Capers

Total time: 15 minutes
     This is best with good sushi-grade 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 - well. Ask your fish monger (I love that word)... or the guy behind the counter.

Pan-Seared Tuna with Capers Ingredients:

 Instructions

Day 2: Braised Lamb with Potatoes and Onions

Total time: 75 minutes
     Casseroles and slow-cooked dishes are very popular in Spain.  Usually made using pork or lamb, with potatoes and onions slowly simmered with the meat, they are served from the cazuela or baking dish.

Braised Lamb with Potatoes and Onions Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 3: Beef Barley Soup

Total time: 60 minutes
    This was one of my favorite soups as a child, though I ate the condensed, canned version, not home made.  This is ever so much better. The recipe calls for canned beef stock, but if you would like to make your own, (I did) that recipe is below.  There will be enough soup for 2 meals - cook once, eat twice.

Beef Barley Soup Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Beef Stock

  Time: at least 2 hours, 4 - 6 is better, plus chilling time
     It's best to make this the day before using, to allow ample time for chilling so you can remove the fat. You can leave this simmering on the stove top for hours.  Make more, divide into 1 cup portions and freeze it.  Or reduce it, to concentrate the flavors, and freeze in ice cube trays, then put into freezer bags.

 Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 4: Pasta with Turkey, Peas and Leeks

Total time: 30 minutes
   Frozen peas are another under-used vegetable.  They are hard to find fresh and, for peas, frozen is better, anyway.  The leeks add a mild onion flavor to the pasta and a sprinkle of shredded cheese finishes it.

Pasta with Turkey, Peas and Leeks Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 5:  Pork Chops, German Style

Total time: 35 minutes
     Braised pork chops, flavored with beer (or wine) and paprika, make a warming dish for cold weather.

Pork Chops, German Style Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 6: Chicken Creole  

Total time: 35 minutes
      Boneless chicken breasts, cooked with onions, peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes make a quick, healthy, dinner, perfect for midweek. Add Tabasco if you like more heat.

Chicken Creole Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Shopping List

Get 7 Dinner Menus, Recipes, Shopping List each Thursday by e-mail: