Week 13 Summary |
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Notes for this week |
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Day 1 |
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| Barbecue Meatball Sliders | Pickle Spears | Potato Chips |
Day 2 |
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| Cheesy Baked Ziti | Sautéed Greens | |
Day 3 |
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| Crockpot Albondigas Soup | Green Salad | |
Day 4 |
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| Easy Slow Cooker Thai Chicken with Peanut Sauce | Cucumber Salad | |
Day 5 |
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| Spiced Fish Bake | Couscous | Steamed Broccoli |
🗓️ Day 1
- Barbecue Meatball Sliders
- Pickle Spears
- Potato Chips
Barbecue Meatball Sliders
Hawaiian sweet rolls, meatballs, cheese, and sautéed onions along with chopped crispy turkey bacon combine to make these tasty sliders that can be prepared as a main dish or an appetizer.
Ingredients
- 1 lb cooked meatballs
- ⅓ lb turkey bacon, chopped
- ½ cup onion, sliced
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- 3 slices sharp cheddar cheese, divided into quarters
- 12 Hawaiian sweet rolls
Instructions
- Heat meatballs in pan by frying until browned and heated through.
- Fry bacon until crispy over medium-high heat (add a little oil if needed). Remove bacon from skillet, leaving the grease in the skillet. Add onions to the skillet, reduce heat to medium, and sauté until tender.
- Cut rolls in half and add meatballs to the bottom portion of each roll. Brush tops of each roll with BBQ sauce. Add piece of cheese, bacon bits, and sautéed onions to each meatball.
- Place under broiler next to the roll tops for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted. Place tops of rolls on each meatball and serve.
Notes
Our vegetarian meatballs are a great option for this recipe. Just substitute the plant-based meatballs and omit the bacon for a delicious vegetarian slider.
Nutrition per serving
Calories: 555 calCarbohydrates: 36 gProtein: 29 gFat: 31 gSodium: 996 mgSugar: 12 g
Barbecue Meatball Sliders Permalink
Bulk Meatballs
Ingredients
- 5 lbs. ground beef
- 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- ¼ cup steak sauce or Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp. basil
- 2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. garlic salt
- 1 tsp. onion powder
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in large bowl by using your hands. (Yes, it's easiest to just get messy and mix away!) If your mixture is a little too dry add a little more steak sauce or Worcestershire sauce. If your mixture is a little too moist, add a little more bread crumbs.
- Shape into 1 inch balls. Place on foil lined baking sheets with a shallow rim to prevent drips and bake at 350°F for about 20-30 minutes, turning occasionally with tongs.
- Allow to cool. Divide into 5 portions in labeled, freezer safe containers.
Notes
You can also make vegetarian meatballs with this recipe—check out the vegetarian meatball recipe, which I use in any recipe calling for meatballs.
You can grill instead of baking if you use a grate that prevents meatballs from falling through.
Nutrition per serving
Calories: 183 calCarbohydrates: 5 gProtein: 25 gFat: 6 gSodium: 476 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 1 g
Bulk Meatballs Permalink
🗓️ Day 2
- Cheesy Baked Ziti
- Sautéed Greens of Your Choice (Kale, Spinach, Collards, etc.)
Cheesy Baked Ziti
Cheesy Baked Ziti is perfect for those nights when you might be tempted to order pizza or hit the drive thru. Preparation is minimal and in the 30 minutes while it is baking you can prepare a salad.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces box ziti or penne
- 50 ounces pasta sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- 1 egg
- 16 ounces container ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Spray a 3-quart baking dish. Cook pasta according to package directions but slightly undercooking; drain. In a medium bowl combine pasta sauce and Italian seasoning. Remove 2 cups and set aside. Stir remaining sauce into cooked pasta.
- Place half of the pasta mixture in baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese on top.
- In a medium bowl, beat egg and stir in ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, and salt until blended.
- Place over the mozzarella cheese by dolloping with a spoon and gently spread. Top with remaining pasta, then sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Spread remaining pasta sauce evenly to edges of dish, coating all pasta.
- Bake, uncovered, in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 minutes or until very hot in center and edges are bubbly.
- Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until cheese melts.
Notes
Cheesy Baked Ziti freezes well, so if you'd like you can double the recipe and put one in the freezer. Don't put the shredded cheese topping on before freezing—put it in a separate bag or container and place it under the wrapping so that it is handy when you are ready to bake the dish. Label with:
Cheesy Baked Ziti: Thaw. Bake uncovered in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until cheese melts.
Nutrition per serving
Calories: 446 calCarbohydrates: 44 gProtein: 25 gFat: 19 gSodium: 1446 mgFiber: 4 gSugar: 9 g
Cheesy Baked Ziti Permalink
Sautéed Spinach and Garlic
Ingredients
- 1-½ Tbsp. butter
- 16 oz. fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter in a skillet and sauté minced garlic for a couple of minutes.
- Add spinach and stir it into the garlic just until it starts to wilt. Add salt and serve.
Nutrition per serving
Calories: 42 calCarbohydrates: 5 gProtein: 3 gFat: 2 gSodium: 394 mgFiber: 2 gSugar: 1 g
🗓️ Day 3
- Crockpot Albondigas Soup
- Green Salad
Crockpot Albondigas Soup (Mexican Meatball Soup)
Hearty meatballs and pasta in a savory beef and tomato broth make Albondigas soup a delicious comfort food. Using sautéed onions and peppers from the freezer makes this soup virtually prep-free.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb. frozen cooked meatballs
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 30 oz beef broth
- 16 oz. salsa
- 1 Tbsp. chili powder
- ¼ tsp. ground cumin
- 1 cup pasta shells
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 3 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Sauté onions and bell peppers in olive oil until tender.
- Combine meatballs, onion, green pepper, garlic, beef broth, salsa, chili powder, and cumin in a crockpot.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours.
- Add pasta and stir well, cover, and cook on low an additional hour or until pasta is tender.
- Serve with garnishes of cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.
Notes
- Using sautéed onions and peppers from the freezer makes this soup virtually prep-free.
- When you are pressed for time, you can make the soup on the stovetop and cut down the cooking time to less than an hour. Add the pasta in the last 15-20 minutes of cooking.
- If you have a 6 quart crockpot, you should be able to double the recipe in one batch.
Nutrition per serving
Calories: 472 calCarbohydrates: 23 gProtein: 24 gFat: 32 gSodium: 1282 mgFiber: 4 gSugar: 6 g
Crockpot Albondigas Soup (Mexican Meatball Soup) Permalink
🗓️ Day 4
- Easy Slow Cooker Thai Chicken over Rice
- Cucumber Salad
Easy Slow Cooker Thai Chicken
Prep for flavorful Slow Cooker Thai Chicken in Peanut Sauce is quick—just mix five ingredients, pour over chicken, and cook in the slow cooker. Garnishing with peanuts and cilantro adds the perfect flavor and texture.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup salsa
- ⅓ cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1-2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger root
- ¼ cup chopped peanuts, for garnish
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
- 3 cups prepared white rice
Instructions
- Place chicken in slow cooker. Mix together all other ingredients except peanuts and cilantro and pour over chicken.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours depending on your slow cooker, stirring occasionally. Serve over white rice and garnish with peanuts and cilantro.
Notes
- Preparation option: Peanut sauce is delicious on vegetables, so you could add slices of colorful bell peppers and onions to the slow cooker at the beginning of cooking. Throw in 2-3 cups of spinach in the last half hour or so and this is a complete meal with no sides needed.
- To freeze: Prepare the sauce in whatever quantity needed for the number of dishes you want to freeze. Freeze the sauce in a separate container and put it together with the chicken in the freezer, then place the instructions and ¼ cup chopped peanuts with them. Label with:
Easy Slow Cooker Thai Chicken in Peanut Sauce: Thaw. Place chicken in slow cooker. Cover with sauce and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 3-4 hours depending on your slow cooker. Stir occasionally. Serve over white rice and garnish with 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro and ¼ cup chopped peanuts.
Nutrition per serving
Calories: 447 calCarbohydrates: 28 gProtein: 48 gFat: 16 gSodium: 763 mgFiber: 3 gSugar: 3 g
Easy Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Permalink
Marinated Cucumber Salad
Marinated cucumber salad is a refreshingly light side dish that's easy to prepare.
Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber, washed and thinly sliced
- ½ small onion, thinly sliced
- 1-½ Tbsp. sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine the sugar, vinegar, and salt and mix well.
- Pour vinegar mixture over sliced cucumber and onion. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Notes
- If the cucumber is large in diameter, slice it in half lengthwise before slicing crosswise.
- If you prefer, you can chop/dice the cucumber and onion rather than slice it for a different presentation.
- White vinegar can be substituted for apple cider vinegar.
- Keeps well in the refrigerator for several days.
Nutrition per serving
Calories: 26 calCarbohydrates: 6 gProtein: 1 gFat: 1 gSodium: 196 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 5 g
Marinated Cucumber Salad Permalink
🗓️ Day 5
- Spiced Fish Bake
- Couscous
- Steamed Broccoli
Spiced Fish Bake
No marinating is required for this flaky, seasoned baked fish. Just sprinkle the seasonings over the fish, drizzle with melted butter, and in under 30 minutes it’s ready to eat.
Ingredients
- 6 tilapia fillets
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon lemon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dry mustard
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- dash cayenne pepper
- 3 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Place fish in a lightly greased baking dish. Combine the spices and sprinkle evenly over fish.
- Drizzle with the melted butter and bake at 350ºF for about 20-25 minutes or until fish flakes easily.
Nutrition per serving
Calories: 162 calCarbohydrates: 1 gProtein: 23 gFat: 8 gSodium: 304 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 1 g
Spiced Fish Bake Permalink
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