If you are still planning your game-day menu, take a look at last week’s dinner planner for Super Bowl recipe ideas. I am making plenty of vegan queso, nachos, and carrot pigs in a blanket for the first half of the game. For halftime, I am switching things up with an Italian-inspired spread. This week’s newsletter will also include my new favorite soup, which I made last week on Instagram Live. It is an anti-inflammatory chicken and vegetable soup that can be adapted to be vegan or paleo, depending on what you need. I will also share all the details from a very last-minute Galentine’s lunch I hosted, and yes, it involved takeout. I know, very rebellious. You can subscribe to my free newsletter here.
Here is your weekly dinner planner with simple, flavorful meal ideas to help you get organized for the week ahead.
Meatless Monday: Use up any Super Bowl leftovers and keep dinner easy. My usual go-to is this comforting Chicken and Lime Soup with Avocado, but you can also make Taquitos with homemade guacamole and Mexican sautéed greens. This is a great way to turn snack-style leftovers into a fresh, satisfying dinner without doing much extra cooking.
Tuesday (Valentine’s Day): For Valentine’s Day dinner, I have always loved making my Chicken Pot Pie with a simple fresh side salad. If you want a vegetarian version, you can omit the chicken and add extra vegetables instead. For dessert, I am deciding between vegan brookies and molten chocolate cakes. This olive oil cake with citrus glaze is also spectacular and makes a beautiful finish to a special meal.
Other Valentine’s Day dinner ideas I love include Salmon with Beets and Spinach, Hearty Vegetable Vegan Lasagna, or Lasagne Cupcakes served with a lightly dressed green salad. For a fun seasonal touch, I like to use a mini heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut radishes and avocado into little hearts. If you want another chocolate dessert option, try these Mini Flourless Chocolate Cakes with Raspberry Sauce or this Chocolate Bundt Cake with Chocolate Ganache. If you are making a Valentine’s Day breakfast instead of dinner, these pretty pink Pitaya Pancakes are a favorite. This Valentine’s Day Snack Board is also perfect for a festive snack or casual celebration.
Wednesday: Make chicken pot pie soup, or a simple leftovers soup. Take any remaining chicken pot pie or other leftovers and cut them into bite-size pieces if needed. Add them to a pot with enough chicken or vegetable stock to create a soup-like consistency. Warm everything through and serve. It is cozy, practical, and a smart way to avoid food waste in the middle of the week.
Thursday: Serve this kale salad with creamy lemon dressing alongside grilled or roasted fish. The bright lemon dressing works beautifully with the greens and keeps the meal fresh, balanced, and simple.
Friday: Make Chicken Shawarma Burgers from Quicker than Quick. Serve them with an arugula salad made with pine nuts, radishes, cucumber, and everyday salad dressing #1. This is an easy Friday dinner that still feels flavorful and special.
Saturday brunch: Make Greek pasta salad. It is a great option for brunch, lunch, or a make-ahead meal because it holds well and has plenty of bright, satisfying flavor.
Sunday: Make Hearty Vegetable Soup with Kale Pesto from page 96 of Kitchen Matters. Serve it with pizza muffins, also from Kitchen Matters. That pizza muffins recipe is also available here. This is a comforting Sunday dinner and a nice way to end the week with something nourishing.
Here is what you can do in advance if you want to make the weekly meal plan easier:
Sunday: Make stock if you are preparing it from scratch. You can also make the pastry for the chicken pot pie so Tuesday’s dinner comes together more quickly.
Monday: Wash your salad greens, make salad dressings, and prepare the brookies or olive oil cake if you are serving dessert for Valentine’s Day.
Thursday: Assemble the Chicken Shawarma Burgers so they are ready to cook on Friday.
Friday: Cook the pasta for Saturday’s Greek pasta salad and make the kale pesto for Sunday’s vegetable soup.
I have loved seeing your versions of my recipes on Instagram. If you make anything from this weekly dinner planner, please tag me @pamelasalzman and use #pamelasalzman so I can see what you are cooking. I also have a free Monday newsletter where I share thoughts, new recipes, meal planning ideas, and things I am loving lately. Subscribe here!
Order my cookbook, Quicker Than Quick. If you have one minute, I would be so grateful if you left a review on Amazon. You can also take a look at my first cookbook, Kitchen Matters.