If you are “wintered out” of your grill and don’t own a grill pan, the fish in the fish tacos can be broiled, to fine effect; I add a bit of honey or agave to my marinade so that the sugars caramelize and you get a bit of browning (butter works, too). Arepas are a wonderful alternative to bread or a bun, especially if you have trouble with gluten. Get the technique right, and there’s no end to the list of things you could serve in them: barbequed brisket, fish filets or fried shrimp with tartar and arugula, herbed egg salad with cornichons, etc.
I did promise at least one meatless day back when I was an idealistic, new, meal-plan creator—so feel free to substitute some sautéed mushrooms for the ham and feel virtuous. Two other tips: roasting the (seasoned) broccoli with extra virgin olive till it gets a bit brown punches up the flavor, especially if you also use an aged cheddar. If warm salad is too out there for your bunch of picky eaters, a salad of greens, sliced green apple and raw fennel, with a bit of parmesan would go wonderfully with the quiche. For more flavor and loads of nutrients you can sub out half or all of the russet for sweet potato.
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Shopping list:
- 1 whole butternut squash
- 2 Florida avocado (or 4 Haas avocados)
- 1 russet potato
- 2 parsnip or carrots
- 5 roma tomatoes
- 2 mangoes
- 1 crisp apple (such as Fuji or Granny Smith)
- 1 English cucumber
- 1 head of romaine lettuce, or bag of chopped romaine
- 1 head of broccoli (1 ½ cups of florets)
- 2 yellow or white onions
- 1 bunch kale, lacinato or any variety
- 1 bunch of scallions
- 1 bunch of sage
- 1 bunch of rosemary
- 1 bunch of cilantro
- 1 head of garlic
- 1 lemon
- 2 limes
- 2 cups of cornmeal flour (preferably Venezuelan Harina PAN, or Goya’s Masarepa)
- 1 cup Arborio rice
- 6 cups chicken stock
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 8 ounces cooked or canned, mixed beans (black, red and white beans)
- Pie dough for single-crust pie, store-bought or homemade
- 1 sourdough baguette
- 6 whole wheat tortillas
- 1 stick of butter
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ cups half and half
- 1 dozen eggs (minimum 3)
- 2 large, on-the-bone, chicken breasts, with ribs and skin
- 1 pound ground pork sausage
- 1 ½ cups chopped ham
- ½ pound peeled and cleaned shrimp
- 4 skin-on red snapper fillets, about 6 ounces each (can sub mahi mahi or tilapia)
Pantry ingredients:
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Vegetable oil or grapeseed oil
- Mayonnaise
- Milk (1 cup)
- Orange juice (1/4 cup)
- Ground nutmeg
- ½ cup of your favorite vinaigrette