Shopping List: No-Bake Lasagna, Quick Fish (or Tempeh) Tacos, and a Big Spoonful of Hope
The Family Plan #40
So. If you’ve been reading The Family Plan since coronavirus shut down my city, you know that sometimes I add a little political spice to my meal plans. If you’re new here, surprise! And if you’re not interested, skip ahead to the menu…
I’m writing this on Wednesday, the day after Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate, and I can’t not talk about how hopeful I feel. When I heard the news, I had the same combination of joy and tearful excitement I felt when Hillary clinched the nomination. Our country is so close to the end of this awful, shameful chapter. And I’ve been a Kamala stan from way back, a quiet but no less avid member of the KHive. Joe could’ve selected a cardboard box as his running mate and I’d crawl over broken glass to vote for him, but having Kamala on the ticket inspires me, it gives me hope. Joe knows how to set things right again, and Kamala knows how to make sure every American gets to come along as we climb back up.
I just asked my dad, who voted for 45 and now regrets it, how he’s feeling about the ticket. He’s 100% committed to not voting again for 45, but he’s not a fan of either Joe or Kamala (yet). So for the next 80something days, I’ll be making the case that sitting this out is the same as casting his vote for 45—the only way that petulant bully will acknowledge defeat is if the win is staggeringly lopsided. If you’ve got family members on the fence, I urge you to start having these conversations, too. No American can afford to remain on the sidelines in this election.
Anyway. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
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Here’s the menu for next week:
MONDAY:
Photo courtesy Martha Stewart
No-Bake Summer Lasagna from Martha Stewart, with a salad. Look at that beauty! It’s a pasta napoleon, layering lasagna noodles with seasoned ricotta, sautéed cherry or grape tomatoes, and sautéed zucchini. I love this idea so much—not only does it keep you from heating up the kitchen, it lets you customize each portion. Kid doesn’t like zucchini? No problem! Double the sautéed tomatoes to use the extra on Wednesday. Serve it with a salad.
TUESDAY: Quick Fish Tacos from AllRecipes or Tempeh Tacos from The Spruce Eats. Easy and kid-friendly, the fish taco recipe includes a quick slaw—use it on the tempeh version, too. You’re doubling both the fish/tempeh and the slaw to use on Thursday.
WEDNESDAY: Roasted Cherry Tomato Tart with Herbed Ricotta from From a Chef’s Kitchen, with salad. Monday’s tomatoes save you the step of roasting them tonight. All you need to do is bake a puff pastry sheet for the crust, mix up the herbed cheese spread, and warm those tomatoes to spoon on top. Serve this with a salad, too.
THURSDAY: 6-Ingredient Fish (or Tempeh) Cakes from Simply Whisked, served as sliders with slaw and corn on the cob. Tuesday’s protein becomes something completely different tonight, crispy little fritters on kid-friendly slider buns. Top them with the slaw, or serve on the side along with buttered corn on the cob.
FRIDAY:
Photo courtesy Eating Well
Rainbow Veggie Spring Roll Bowl from Eating Well. Let’s close out the week with a super-flexible build-your-own bowl. Instead of wrapping up all those vegetables in rice papers to make spring rolls, everyone gets to create their own perfect combo with noodles and a simple peanut sauce. This can adapt to whichever vegetables you have on-hand. I’m not gonna lie, all that chopping takes some time—but you can do that prep work ahead and stow everything in the fridge until you need it. Add some edamame if you’d like a little more protein.
Here’s the shopping list:
Produce
4-6* cloves garlic (M, T, W, Th, F)
1 large onion* (T, Th)
3-4 pints grape or cherry tomatoes (M, W)
2 zucchini (about 1 lb.) (M)
1 bunch basil (M, W, F)
1 bunch cilantro (T, Th)
1 bunch parsley or mint (W, F)
Salad fixings (M, W)
1 jalapeno (T)
10-12 scallions (T, W, Th)
1 medium-large red or savoy cabbage (T, Th, F)
1 avocado (T)
4 ears corn (Th)
Vegetables for noodle bowls, like asparagus, carrot, bell pepper (F)
2 limes (T, Th)
1 large lemon (W, Th)
2 packages tempeh* (T)
Pantry
Extra-virgin olive oil (M, T, W)
Vegetable oil (Th)
Red wine vinegar (M, W)
Balsamic vinegar, optional (W)
8 lasagna noodles (M)
Chili powder* (T, Th)
Ground cumin* (T, Th)
Old Bay seasoning (Th)
Crushed red pepper flakes, optional (F)
Soy sauce (T*, Th*, F)
Toasted sesame oil (F)
Rice vinegar (F)
3/4 cup panko (Th)
4 oz. bean thread noodles or rice noodles (F)
1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter (F)
Maple syrup (F)
Fishmonger
2 lb. tilapia or other mild white fish (T, Th)
Dairy
18 oz. ricotta (M, W)
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan (M)
1 cup sour cream OR plain Greek yogurt (T, Th)
1 cup shredded cheddar, optional* (T)
3 large eggs (W, Th)
Butter (Th)
Bakery
8 small flour or corn tortillas (T)
12 slider buns, dinner rolls, or Hawaiian sweet rolls (Th)
Freezer Case
1 sheet puff pastry (W)
Edamame, optional (F)
On Saturday, paying subscribers will get the plan.
Stay safe, be kind, wash your hands, and wear a mask.
Debbie