I’ve had every kind of feeling about Valentine’s Day. As a young adult I mostly feigned indifference—I had plenty of raging crushes, but no secret admirers of my own. Nobody wanted to date me, and I struggled to contain my fury. When I met my husband we agreed that the competitive aspects of the day had become untenable. We celebrate February 12, the anniversary of our first date, instead. And once our son came along, the 14th became a day for making things: The kid made cards, and I made treats. Sometimes, ridiculously time-consuming treats. But now that he’s reached the age (13) where it’s not cool to be into Valentine’s Day, I seem to be off the hook again. Which is a roundabout way of saying that on Friday I may not bother with heart-shaped cookie cutters for the pancakes. But it’s nice to have an easy way to celebrate if the urge strikes.
Here’s the menu:
SUNDAY: You’re cooking two things today, both of which figure in twice this week. First: Make-Ahead Sheet Pan Meatballs from Epicurious gives you a freezer full of pre-made meatballs. Vegetarians, you’ll be whipping up a double-batch of Chef John’s Meatless Meatballs from AllRecipes, which use chopped mushrooms and quick-cooking oats to create a very meaty texture.
Second: Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce with Onion & Butter. This recipe is internet-famous because it’s just so darn easy. Seriously, all three ingredients are in the name.
MONDAY: Spaghetti & Meatballs, of course. You’ve already got the meatballs and sauce, so tonight’s a breeze. Serve it with a green salad.
TUESDAY: 30-Minute Smoky Black Bean Soup and Everyday Cornbread from Budget Bytes. The combination of pureed and whole black beans gives you a lusciously thick soup, and a double-batch of the cornbread makes an irresistible side for tonight as well as the base for Thursday’s salad.
WEDNESDAY: Spinach and Meatball Calzones from Martha Stewart use the rest of Sunday’s meatballs and sauce. Between the tomatoes and the spinach, this is a complete meal you can eat with one hand.
THURSDAY: Tex-Mex Cornbread Salad from Tasting Table is a recipe from Ilene Rosen, who was the salad bar mastermind at the recently-closed City Bakery, one of my favorite NYC joints. If your family tends to need more food, add a can of pinto beans.
VALENTINE’S DAY: Heart-Shaped Whole-Wheat Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce from Ellie Krieger and Food Network. The heart-shaped part is totally optional. Serve it with bacon for a complete breakfast-for-dinner.
Here’s the shopping list:
Remember, an asterisk* indicates an ingredient for vegetarians only. If I don’t specify an amount for an ingredient, assume it’s not substantial. And note that I’m no longer adding salt and pepper to the shopping list unless a recipe calls for a particularly large quantity.
Produce
2 lb. white button mushrooms* (M, W)
2 medium + 1 large* onion (M, T, W)
1 head garlic* (M, T, W)
1 bunch flat-leaf Italian parsley* (M, W)
5 oz. pre-washed salad greens (M)
1 small cucumber (M)
2 pints cherry tomatoes (M, Th)
1 jalapeno, optional (T)
1 bunch green onions (T, Th)
1 avocado, optional (T)
15 oz. baby spinach (W, Th)
1 lb. strawberries, fresh or frozen (F)
1 lemon (F)
Prepared pico de gallo, optional (T)
Pantry
Olive oil (M, T, W)
Vegetable oil (Tu, Th)
Red wine vinegar (M)
Quick-cooking oats* (M, W)
Breadcrumbs* (M, W)
Cayenne pepper* (M, W)
Dried Mexican oregano (M*, T, W*, Th)
1 lb. spaghetti (M)
Ground cumin (T)
Smoked paprika or chipotle powder (T)
Red pepper flakes, optional (W)
1 (28-oz.) can imported Italian tomatoes (M, W)
3 (15-oz.) cans black beans (T)
1 (15-oz.) can pinto beans, optional (Th)
1 (15-oz.) can fire roasted diced tomatoes (T)
Yellow cornmeal (T)
All-purpose flour (T, W, F)
Whole-wheat flour (F)
Sugar (T)
Confectioners’ sugar, optional (F)
Baking powder (T, F)
Baking soda (F)
Vanilla extract (F)
Dijon mustard (Th)
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (Th)
Honey (F)
Real maple syrup (F)
Meat Counter
3 lb. ground beef (M, W)
1 lb. sweet Italian sausage (M, W)
Bacon (F)
Dairy
1 quart milk (M, T, W, F)
1 cup low-fat buttermilk (F)
1 dozen eggs (M, T, W, F)
6 oz. Parmesan cheese (M, W)
Butter (M, W)
Cheddar cheese, optional (T)
Sour cream, optional (T)
1 lb. prepared pizza dough (W)
8 oz. fresh mozzarella (W)
8 oz. pepper jack cheese
Bakery
1 small loaf white sandwich bread (M, W)
Watch for details on Saturday, friends.
Debbie
PS You can always find previous meal plans at The Family Plan.