Shopping List: Comfort Food for a Stressful Week

The Family Plan #50

YOU GUYS. By the time I send you another shopping list, we’ll know who our next president is. Assuming it doesn’t get dragged into the court system…

Vote vote vote vote vote, as if your life depends on it! Because it does.

I’m going to assume you’re as stressed as I am, so I planned a week of relatively easy, definitely comforting dinners. Chili, mac and cheese, soup, yeah. And we’re using the Instant Pot twice! Nobody needs fussy this week.

Have you voted already? Share in the comments! No need to say for whom, just that you did your civic duty.

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Here’s the menu for next week:

MONDAY: Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili from Well Plated. Instant Pot chili is the best chili, because it takes so little effort and it’s done so quickly. Make a double batch—you’ll have enough for a lunch or two as well as Wednesday’s dinner.

ELECTION DAY:

photo courtesy Food 52

Baking Sheet Macaroni & Cheese from Food 52 with steamed broccoli, green beans, or some other vegetable. I definitely need mac & cheese on Election Day. And ice cream, lots of ice cream.

WEDNESDAY: Leftover Chili Baked Eggs from The Dinner Shift with bread. This is kinda like shakshuka, except you skip all the prep work by using Monday’s chili.

THURSDAY:

photo courtesy Taste of Home

Veggie-Tortellini Soup from Taste of Home with bread. I can’t tell you how much I love this easy soup. It takes almost no effort and it’s full of flavor.

FRIDAY: Instant Pot Butternut Squash Risotto from Eating Well with salad. If you haven’t yet tried making risotto in the IP, grab a seat. This is going to knock you right out.

Here’s the shopping list:

Produce

• 2 medium onions + 1 large onion (M, W, Th)

• 14 cloves garlic (M, W, Th, F)

• 1-2 shallots (F)

• 4 medium sweet potatoes (M, W)

• 4 medium red bell peppers (M, W)

• 2 avocados (M, W)

• 1 bunch cilantro (M, W)

• 1 bunch rosemary OR dried (Th)

• 1 bunch sage (F)

• Broccoli, green beans, or some other vegetable (T)

• 4 medium carrots (Th, F)

• 2 medium zucchini (Th)

• 4 plum tomatoes (Th)

• 1 (5-oz.) package baby spinach (Th, F)

• 1 small cucumber (F)

• 2 cups diced butternut squash (F)

• 1 package refrigerated tortellini, preferably cheese (Th)

Pantry

• Olive oil (M, W, Th, F)

• Red wine vinegar (Th, F)

• 2 tablespoons chili powder (M, W)

• 2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder (M, W)

• 2 teaspoons ground cumin (M, W)

• Cayenne (T)

• Dried rosemary OR fresh (Th)

• 10-12 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth (M, W, Th, F)

• 2 (8-oz.) cans low-sodium or no-salt-added tomato sauce (M, W)

• 1 cup quinoa (M, W)

• 2 (15-oz.) cans black beans (M, W)

• 2 (15-oz.) cans dark or light red kidney beans (M, W)

• Granulated sugar (M, W)

• 1 bag tortilla chips (M)

• 1 lb. cavatappi, elbows, or other small pasta (T)

• 1 cup arborio rice (F)

Dairy

• 1 lb. sharp cheddar (M, T, W)

• 12 oz. extra-sharp cheddar (T)

• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan (F)

• Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream (M)

• Butter (T)

• 2/3 cup milk (T)

• 4-6 eggs (W)

Bakery

• Crusty bread (W, Th)

Liquor Store

• White wine OR dry vermouth (F)

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On Saturday, paying subscribers will get the details on how it all comes together.

Stay safe, be kind, wash your hands, and wear a mask.

Debbie