Weekly Meal Plan - December Week 1

Here's a vegetarian meal plan for the upcoming week. This week, the menu includes a couple of soups and salads for summer, mujadara, risotto made in the Instant Pot, and a weekend cocktail and dessert. Additionally, a side dish suggestion is offered for each main dish.

M O N D A Y

Easy Cornbread Cowboy Casserole

30 minutes prep time | 35 minutes bake time

A traditional cornbread cowboy casserole is made with a thick meat and pinto beans filling layered with shredded cheese and topped with cornbread. This recipe uses a plant-based meat substitute and I've mixed creamed corn and sour cream into the cornbread batter for more flavor.

T U E S D A Y            

Sweet Potato Latkes

20 minutes prep time | 6 minutes cook time

These sweet potato latkes are made of sweet potatoes, jalapeño peppers, scallions, and Ancho chile powder. Topped with sour cream and a dusting of chives, they're the perfect appetizer, side, or main dish.

W E D N E S D A Y

Potato Leek Soup

20 minute prep time | 30 minute cook time

This potato leek soup is a classic recipes with the additional of roasted hatch chiles. If they're not available in your market, substitute a 4-ounce can of green chiles. These are found with Mexican foods in my store.

T H U R S D A Y 

Portabella Mushrooms Stuffed with Cabernet Onions and Gorgonzola

15 minutes prep time | 45 minutes bake time

Roasted portabella mushrooms are stuffed with spinach, golden raisins, and onions and topped with gorgonzola cheese and pomegranate arils. This is a perfect dish for a special dinner.

F R I D A Y

Lentil Shepherd's Pie

25 minutes prep time | 50 minutes cook time

This vegetarian lentil shepherd's pie replaces the traditional meat with legumes and keeps all the umami flavor of a meaty dish with caramelized onions and mushrooms. The topping is a combination of cauliflower and potatoes mashed with butter, sour cream, and heavy cream.

W E E K E N D B R U N C H

Quiche Florentine

15 minutes prep time | 1 hour bake time

This easy Quiche Florentine is a classic brunch dish that requires very little effort unless you make a homemade crust. You only need eggs, spinach, shallots, Gruyere cheese, and half-and-half to make the filling.

It's all baked in a buttery flakey pie crust which you can either make from scratch or purchase one at your market.

W E E K E N D    D E S S E R T

Yogurt Cake with Pears, Cranberries, and Chocolate Chips

This yogurt cake with pears and cranberries is a tender, moist yogurt cake dotted with pears, cranberries and chocolate chips. It's perfect for dessert, brunch, or as an afternoon snacking cake with a cup of tea.