Sunday, March 29, 2009

Weekly Menu Plan


As I am evolving into a menu planner (ha, ha), I have found that planning meals is easiest for me on Saturday or Sunday since I normally make my grocery lists for the week and am able to see what I have on hand. Here's what's on the plan this week....

Sunday: Moroccan Chicken Stew w/ Sweet Potatoes over Couscous, salad, bread
(Pictured above, see recipe below)

Monday: Chicken Fried Rice, Marinated Yellow Squash salad

Tuesday: Taco Salad, Brown Sugared Glazed Carrots

Wednesday: Mediterranean Chicken-Noodle Casserole, salad, bread

Thursday: Dinner at mom's

Friday: Dinner out

Saturday: Baked Potato Bar??


Moroccan Chicken Stew with Sweet Potatoes

Cinnamon and ginger complement the sweet potatoes in this easy but exotic-tasting chicken stew. Fluffy couscous absorbs the aromatic sauce.

1/4 c. flour
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (ab. 1 1/2 lbs.) - I'll be using chicken breasts
coarse salt and ground pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 piece (2 in. long) fresh ginger, peeled
1 cinnamon stick
1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
pinch saffron (optional)
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 c. couscous
cilantor sprigs for garnish

1. Place flour in a wide, shallow bowl. Season chicken with salt and pepper; dredge in flour, shaking off excess. In a 5-quart dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add chicken, and cook until browned, 4-6 minutes per side; transfer to a plate.

2. Add onion, ginger and cinnamon to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion starts to soften, 2-3 minutes. Return chicken to pot. Add broth, sweet potatoes, and if using, saffron. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer until chicken is cooked through and sweet potatoes are tender, 10-15 minutes. Discard ginger and cinnamon. Stir in lemon juice, and season stew with salt and pepper.

3. While stew is simmering, prepare couscous according to package instrucutions. Serve chicken stew with couscous, garished with cilantro.
Edited: This was my first time making the stew and it was awesome! Even my son loved it and that almost never happens - as in maybe once or twice a year!

Erika

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