MMC 30-Minute Menus for January 31, 2010

Since winter is going strong here in Atlanta, I have selected hearty menus with warm bread. I just love warm bread with lots of butter to accompany the soups and stews of this season. This week's menus will help the budget, too!

I am hosting a 'Jack Frost' party on Saturday and will serve the quick (and easy) Shrimp Tempura to chase away Jack Frost. This recipe is the best I have ever tasted and it is right out of the 'Gourmet' Cookbook; your guests will love it too. For the appetizer course, I will serve my MMC 'Wine Tasting Party-in-a-Bag': Brie Round and Mild Cheddar Wedge with Simple Water Crackers; Pate with Whole Wheat Mini Toasts; Endive, Asparagus Spears, Bell Peppers and Melon Tray; plus Artichoke Pesto, Pomegranate Cranberry Chutney and Kalamata Gourmet Olives for zing.

Do you have a party in your plans? If so, check out the latest feature on my website - 'Party in a Bag'! The Bags are designed to help you pull your party together in 30 minutes - flat! I love to entertain but don't often have the time required to pull off a big, fancy 'do', so, over the years, I have learned a few short-cuts; I will share them with you.

If you are planning a dinner party or family gathering, take a look at the Holiday and Special '30-Minute Complete Menu Plans' on my website. You will find menu ideas to help with your celebration or 'do'.

The Family Meals '30-Minute Complete Menu Plans' are developed to help with both weeknight and special dinner prep. I create Complete Menu Plans using the 30-minute menus from this blog:

• The Complete Menu Plans give you recipes and step-by-step instructions for preparing the complete meal (not just the entree as most meal plans do) in 30 minutes - flat! I even include a grocery list to save unnecessary trips to the grocery store.
• These are eComplete Menu Plans so you can purchase the menu plan now and use it for dinner tonight!
• You won't have to spend your precious time thinking of menu ideas and then looking up the recipes - I will send it all directly to you!
• You can purchase a Complete Menu Plan for the introductory price of .25 each.
• You can purchase a Complete Menu Plan for the introductory price of .25 each. If you have found my 30-minute menus helpful, then you must check out the 30-Minute Complete Menu Plans!

You will find that I use several cooking methods, mix and match, to get dinner on the table quickly! (The ingredients in parenthesis show some of my quick-prep steps.) You can always substitute your favorite made-from-scratch recipes when you have more time.

I hope you have a great week!

Sunday:
Baked Fish Italianio (bottled sun-dried tomato salad dressing, bagged baby spinach)
Parmesan Topped Fettuccine (boxed pasta)
Fresh Fruit
Baguette (purchased bread)
Sugar Cookie Kisses (refrigerated cookie dough, purchased chocolate candy kisses)

Monday:
Sauteed Chicken and Mushrooms (boneless, skinless chicken breasts or cutlets, sliced mushrooms; buy extra mushrooms for Tuesday)
Roasted Red Potatoes with Green Beans (frozen veggie mix)
Baked Granola Apples (purchased cereal; buy extra apples for Wednesday)

Tuesday:
Beef Burgundy (sliced mushrooms; any leftovers make a fine soup base)
Wide Egg Noodles
Marinated Broccoli and Red Pepper Salad (jarred herb vinaigrette)
Warm French Rolls (purchased bread)
Peach Sundaes (purchased ice cream and jarred peach preserves)

Wednesday:
Quick Minestrone Soup (vegetarian; dried tortellini, canned tomatoes, mixed veggies, and white beans; buy extra white beans for Friday)
Waldorf Salad (prepared mayo)
Crusty Bread (purchased bread)
Cherry Cobbler (puff pastry, canned cherry pie filling)

Thursday:
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches (pre-cooked or canned chicken, bottled BBQ sauce)
Buns and Condiments (purchased buns, jarred condiments)
Potato Wedges
Cole Slaw (bagged slaw mix, jarred slaw dressing)
Fruit Pizza Cookies (purchased sugar cookie dough)

Friday:
French Style Sausage & White Bean Cassoulet (canned beans)
Greek Salad (jarred salad dressing)
Baguette (purchased bread)
Chocolate Pudding (instant pudding mix)

Saturday:
Tempura Shrimp (cleaned and deveined shrimp)
Udon Noodles with Soy Dressing (purchased noodles)
Steamed Julienne Vegetables (bagged julienned vegetables)
Fresh Fruit Baskets (puff pastry, canned whipped cream)

Get inspired for your weekly menus at OrgJunkie!

I sincerely hope you have fun with your meal planning and preparation,
Elizabeth Randall and Family