I like this latest scheme of Laura, the Organizing Junkie. Dedicating a Menu Plan Monday to sharing favorite family recipes is pretty brilliant. I look forward to reading everyone’s ideas, since I’m always on the prowl for new healthy recipes. Here are my contributions:
White Turkey Chili — One of my personal recipes, this is a favorite of my husband, my family (including my in-laws), and just about everyone else who tries it. It is a perfect meal to take to others because it’s easy, people-pleasing, hearty, and freezer-friendly. Did I mention that it’s healthy? And allergy-friendly? Seriously, what’s not to like?
Kale with Aduki Beans– Granted, this recipe won’t suit everyone’s tastes, but we surely like it! A macrobiotic dish, it makes a wonderful meal in itself or a hearty side. We just ate some last night, and I plan to prepare it again this week.
Grilled Lamb Patties, Lemon Lentil Soup with Collard Greens, Fattoush, and Hummus with raw veggies — This meal sends us into orbit. We love, love, love it! Our guests do too. I’m drooling just thinking about it…
Mulligatawny Soup — Heaven. Really. An Anglo-Indian curry creation, Mulligatawny Soup is easy, fragrant, and just plain delightful. I like to make it by pureeing the vegetables and the broth before adding brown rice and chicken (I use extra chicken). This allows me to leave out the flour with no loss in body and texture. Using cultured butter and raw cream from grass-fed cows keeps this recipe in the “healthy” category, at least according to alternative nutritional guidelines, a la Nourishing Traditions.
Cran-Turkey Enchiladas — Alright, so this one won’t win any health awards, but your taste buds will rejoice. I discovered this recipe in Better Homes and Gardens soon after Justice and I married, and we both really enjoy it. Now that I’ve been diagnosed with a gluten allergy, I’ll have to prepare it with corn tortillas, but I’m sure it will still be delicious.
Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette — Studded with dried cherries and gorgonzola, this salad is my recreation of our favorite meal from our honeymoon in Traverse City, Michigan. This Wednesday marks our second anniversary, so I’ll be preparing it then, at my husband’s request. Look for the recipe and photographs on Thursday, September 25th.
And, now, here is my menu plan for the week:
Monday
low-glycemic smoothie
leftover chicken and vegetable soup
Kale with Aduki Beans and green salad
Tuesday
low-glycemic smoothie
leftover chicken and vegetable soup
leftover Kale with Aduki Beans and green salad
Wednesday (our second anniversary)
low-glycemic smoothie
leftover chicken and vegetable soup
Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette, champagne, and Chocolate Orbit Cake with Creme Anglaise, an incredible-looking flourless chocolate cake suggested by Amy of Eggs on Sunday (fantastic food blog with great photos!)
Thursday
scrambled eggs and veggies
leftovers
White Turkey Chili and green salad
Friday
scrambled eggs and veggies
leftovers
Dinner at Masraff’s, the restaurant where we had our wedding and reception
Saturday
low-glycemic smoothie
leftovers
??? (depends on what I find at the farmers’ market)
Sunday
scrambled eggs and veggies
leftovers
beef and vegetable soup
First time to your site and love it!! My husband and I are trying to get back to living a healthier life, so finding people that have great recipes and knowledge on things is wonderful!! I’ve been trying to find more ideas/recipes for gluten free and dairy free meals. None of us have been diagnosed with an issue with those, but I just know that incorporating that more is healthy. White Chili is a favorite at our house as well. The other recipes sound good too, although, I might be the only one that would eat the Kale recipe. My husband is less picky than he used to be, but I have my limits with what he’ll eat.
I’m looking forward to reading more of your blog.
DeAnna,
Thank you so much! It’s always such an encouragement to get good feedback. I think you’re right that removing gluten and pasteurized dairy from the diet will benefit almost anyone. I have to say, though, that raw dairy seems like another food entirely. It works beautifully for me, even though pasteurized dairy wreaks havoc on my body (causes digestion problems and exacerbates allergies). Have you ever tried raw milk from grass-fed cows? It’s pretty amazing stuff. There are still some people for whom it doesn’t work, but most find it to be a very nourishing, wholesome food.
Ah yes, husbands! There are a few things mine won’t touch either, though he is generally *extremely* accepting of my healthy cooking. I am so thankful for my health conscious mother-in-law!
Thanks, I have recently read good information about raw cows milk, I’m trying to find a farm in town that carries it so I can try it. Have you found good gluten free “flour” to bake with? (you might have done a post on this, sorry if you have) I like using whole grains, but would like to have at least a few totally gluten free days a week as well.
My mother in law is definitely not health conscious, love her, but before we got married my husband didn’t realize veggies could be eaten without cheese.
He now does pretty well, but has to be really convinced (or tricked) into eating certain things. 
DeAnna,
Tell you what, I’ll post on this topic in a couple of days. It’s been on my mind lately, and I’ve just started experimenting with some new ingredients. So it’s a good time to write about it. Stay tuned!
Oh, your poor husband. I bet it’s been quite an adjustment for him! I think it’s really hard to overcome childhood eating patterns. I hope I can give my children a great start in that area.
Those cran-turkey enchiladas sound really interesting. Thanksgiving- Mexican style!
kamaile,
LOL. Yes, exactly. I plan to make them this Christmas the day after the big meal to use up the leftover turkey.