A Week Full of Fall Flavor

Welcome to the Weekly Meal Planner! Whether you work all day and are out of steam when the dinner hour hits, or are fresh out of ideas and in a cooking rut, we are here to make your life easier.

Happy October! We are keeping it simple this week with easy weeknight meals like a make-ahead meatloaf (with a surprise inside!), Tuesday night tacos and a sandwich night to keep everyone in the house happy. Entertain friends Saturday night with an easy and impressive pasta dish and a fabulous squash crostini.

Fall puts us in the mood for the flavors of seasonal favorites like squash, kale, hazelnuts and sweet potatoes – so keep an eye out for tons of recipes with these ingredients. We also couldn’t resist some sweet treats this week – pumpkin squares and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are sure to make you very popular!

Don’t know what to cook? Need help with a recipe? Feel free to ask us in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

Meatless Monday

Lunch: Health on a plate! Pearled Farro with Hazelnuts and Greens is a satisfying and chock full of nutrients.

Dinner: Tuscan-Pesto Dressed Penne with Crispy Kale and Garlic is packed with flavor. Pro tip: The crispy kale is a great stand-alone snack, too. 

Snack: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are classics for a reason. Pro tip: Feel free to add some raisins, dried cranberries or chopped nuts to this flexible recipe. 

Tuesday

Lunch: Take advantage of fall favorites and enjoy Curried Squash Soup with Apple Cheddar Melts. Pro tip: The soup and sandwich are each delicious on their own for a snack or lunch as well. 

Dinner: It’s Taco Tuesday! Fajita-style Mexican-Style Cumin-Pepper Steak Tacos are healthy and full of flavor. Cook’s note: If you can’t find flat iron steak at your market, rib eye is a good substitute. 

Dessert: Moist and not-too-sweet, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares work well as an after-school snack or dessert.

Wednesday

Lunch: Two lunch favorites – pizza and panini – come together in one heavenly sandwich in Pizza-nini.

Dinner: There’s a surprise inside Cobb-Style Meatloaf, Spinach Salad with Dijon Dressing! This is also a great make-ahead meal that you can prepare up to two days in advance. Simply bake and serve for an easy weeknight dinner.

Snack: Munch on addictive Loaded Potato Popcorn during TV time tonight.

Thursday

Lunch: Add some chopped chicken or deli turkey to Honey-Mustard Dressed Greens with Apple and Pear for a satisfying midday meal.

Dinner: Take it easy and have Sandwich Night tonight. With just a few ingredients, Saltimbocca Panini with Fresh Baby Arugula Salad is a crowd-pleasing, upscale sammie.

Snack: Sweet Potato Muffins are a great way to add some extra veggies into your kids’ snacking.

Fun Friday

Lunch: Use your favorite roasted veggies in Roasted Root Vegetable Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons. Pro tip: Make the soup over a weekend and freeze in individual portions for a simple lunch.

Dinner: Make a go-to kid delight to kick off the weekend: Reuben Dogs are fast and fun. You can prepare the dogs on a grill pan or outdoor grill – whatever your preference.

Snack: New York Deli Nachos is all of your favorite snacks on one tasty plate!

Entertaining Saturday

 

Brunch: A mustard and maple sauce is the perfect dipper for Brunch Pinwheels - a tasty no-utensils-needed brunch.

Dinner: Serve a luxurious pasta dinner for friends tonight. Creamy Prosciutto and Porcini Penne is restaurant-worthy yet comes together in a flash.

Appetizer: Savor the season and serve Butternut Squash and Sage Crostini during cocktails tonight.

Family Sunday

Brunch: New Orleans-inspired Sausage-and-Shrimp Hash with “Grits” and Eggs is an ideal BLD (breakfast, lunch or dinner!) meal.

Dinner: Put a comforting homestyle meal on the table for the family tonight. The secret is in the phenomenal rhubarb blueberry sauce in TV Dinner: Chicken or Chops with “Blubarb” Sauce, Rice with Peans and Wilted Spinach.

Dessert: You won’t believe how easy it is to turn a boxed gingerbread mix into spectacular Gingerbread Cupcakes.