It's the first week of December. The holiday season is well underway—and so is dinner party/cocktail party/office party season. So let's start out the month with a meal plan full of easy dinners that are packed with flavor and may even inspire you to get your own party season started by week's end.
Monday: Salmon Rice Bowls
Keep Monday easy by tossing a few salmon fillets on a sheet pan, drizzling with olive oil and salt, and tossing them in the oven. Next, make an extra big batch of the accompanying quick pickles using cucumber, carrots, radishes (or really any thinly sliced root vegetables that you have on hand)—set aside some of it for Thursday's dinner. Make plenty of rice too, it'll come in handy come Wednesday. By the time you've got those elements ready, the fish will be done, so you'll just need to whip up the bright hot sauce–spiked vinaigrette to dash over the grown-ups' bowls after assembling (and, you guessed it, go ahead and make extra of that vinaigrette too).
Tuesday: Sweet Potatoes and Greens
Briefly par-boil sweet potatoes so that they get extra-crispy once you slide them into a hot oven. And, oh yeah, go ahead and roast more than you need. To finish, top them with a homemade za'atar spice mix (that's sumac, thyme, and sesame seeds). No sumac? Add the zest of one lemon into the sesame-thyme mix instead and then squeeze a bit of the lemon's juice into the sautéed greens. Fry up a few eggs to go over the whole thing and make sure you garnish with a bit more of that fragrant za'atar.
Wednesday: Green Chicken Chili
Before you take off for the day on Wednesday morning, toss chicken thighs, a jar of tomatillo salsa, chicken broth, and a few spices into your slow cooker. When you get home, add a can of beans and those leftoverroasted sweet potatoes并让他们热身,你撕碎鸡肉nd cut up a few toppings: a bit of cilantro, some buttery avocado. This chili is great over rice, so if you'd like, warm up that rice from Monday to layer in the bottom of your bowls.
Thursday: Meatball Sandwiches
First things first: make lots of these meatballs. A few will get eaten while assembling the sandwiches (you know, just to make sure they're okay); plus, they freeze exceptionally well—and you'll want some to serve on Friday. Next, pull out thosepickled vegfrom Monday instead of making the ones here. Layer the meatballs and pickles in crusty French bread with Sriracha mayo, cilantro, and—for any family members who like the heat—sliced jalapeños for an irresistible Vietnamese–inspired sandwich.
Friday: Casual December Dinner Party
You're not really sure why you decided to host a dinner party so soon after Thanksgiving—and so close to the winter holidays—but you did, and they're coming, so you'd better get ready. Don't worry though, you've got this. First, get a mushroom ragout started in one pan while you get a creamy Parmesan polenta going in another. Seasoned with thyme, tomato paste, and miso, and enriched with a glug of red wine, this dish is just the sort of cozy, easy, flavorful, winter-ready table warmer that will wow your guests. While that's cooking, slide yesterday's meatballs into the broiler to reheat and serve as an hors d'oeuvre along with a bit of Monday's hot sauce vinaigrette for dipping. Round out the meal with asimple salad of bitter greensand some steamed broccoli for the kids, then pop open abottle of redand relax. This week is finally over.
