Menu Planning Ideas

 

Holiday Theme

Make the holidays with family and friends a treat for you, too. Here are some of the dishes throughout the book that have a festive flair.

 

Fresh Ginger Cider 1

Pomegranate Sparkler 1

Orange-Cranberry Chutney 1

Fresh Orange, Red Onion, and Pomegranate Salad 1

Wilted Greens with Warm Cranberry Vinaigrette 1

Festive Cider-Glazed Turkey Breast with Roasted Sweet Potatoes 1

Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes, Kale, and Herbs, vegetarian option 1

Wild Rice and Cranberry Harvest Salad 1

Orange-Glazed Carrots with Fresh Mint 1

Roasted Apples and Squash with Rosemary 1

Celebration Chocolate Cake 1

Gingersnap-Crusted Pumpkin Pie 1

 

 

Brunch

Many of these brunch foods can be made ahead of time; ask guests to bring a dish, and the whole meal can be a leisurely way to share the day.

 

Banana Flax-Jacks with Blackberry-Lavender Sauce 1

Fall Harvest Waffles with Maple Syrup 1

Retro Broiled Pink Grapefruit 1

Blackberry-Lavender Compote 1

Bellini-Style Peaches with Raspberries 1

Lox of Love: Smoked Salmon with Bagels and Green Onion Cream Cheese 1

Bountiful Breakfast Strata 1

Wake-Up Pizza 1

 

 

On the Go

One of the keys to Energy Balance is to keep from getting too hungry throughout the day, as hunger can trigger food choices you might not otherwise make. Including protein and whole carbohydrates (whole grains) will help. Planning for snacks while at work or on the road will help you prevent those impulse-buying decisions!

 

Soothe Thee Fruit Smoothie 1

Cranberry-Raspberry Green Tea 1

Spiced Blueberry Applesauce Muffins 1

Roasted Rosemary Garbanzo Snacks 1

Mexican Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing 1

Thai Lettuce Cups 1

Mediterranean Tuna Salad with Roasted Red Peppers 1

Asian Chicken Salad with Fresh Ginger Vinaigrette 1

Sweet Couscous with Dark Chocolate and Dried Fruit 1

 

 

I’m Home and I’m Hungry! Dinner—Fast!

We’ve all experienced this—coming home and having to get dinner on the table before you or your family run over one another racing to the nearest cookie jar to satisfy those hunger pangs. Here are the quick-fix dishes that feed you well in a jiffy.

 

Potato Frittata Twist 1

Cheese Tortellini with Artichoke-Roasted Red Pepper Sauce 1

Orzo with Spinach, Garbanzo Beans, and Feta 1

Veggie Burger with Roasted Tomato, Garlic, and Basil Topping 1

Pan-Seared Chicken Breasts with Artichoke Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Asparagus 1

Lemony Chicken and Mushroom Stir-Fry with Quinoa 1

Turkey, Apple, and Cranberry Wrap 1

Barbecue Sirloin Steak Strips with Smoky Peppers and Polenta 1

Shrimp Fra Diavolo 1

Seared Tuna with Baby Bok Choy, Black Pearl Rice, and Fresh Ginger Vinaigrette 1

 

 

What’s for Dinner?

Relax! Here is dinner, all figured out for you. Lots of choices and flavors to suit your fancy!

 

Island Fish Tacos with Fresh Pineapple Salsa 1

Ricotta and Parsley Gnocchi with Slow-Simmered Tomato Sauce with Red Wine 1

Pan-Seared Chicken Breasts with Artichoke Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Asparagus 1

Lemony Chicken and Mushroom Stir-Fry with Quinoa 1

Turkey, Apple, and Cranberry Wrap 1

Festive Cider-Glazed Turkey Breast with Roasted Sweet Potatoes 1

Highway 1 Meatloaf with Power Pilaf and Baby Greens 1

Burgundy Beef with Fresh Mushrooms, Herbs, and Noodles 1

Barbecue Sirloin Steak Strips with Smoky Peppers and Polenta 1

Feel-Good Lasagne 1

Shrimp Fra Diavolo 1

Seared Tuna with Baby Bok Choy, Black Pearl Rice, and Fresh Ginger Vinaigrette 1

 

 

Caring and Sharing: Food to Comfort

It’s always great to have a reliable stash of portable, potluck recipes to make and take to a gathering or to a friend in need of a little TLC. Many are remakes of favorite dishes—such as granola, broccoli-rice casserole, and carrot cake—that keep the essential flavor of the original dish, but give it a Back in the Swing twist.

 

Fresh Ginger Cider 1

Wendy’s Wonderful Granola 1

Flatbread with Grapes and Gruyère 1

Seafood Salad Louis 1

Citrus Sesame Chicken Salad 1

Feel-Good Lasagne 1

Wild Rice and Cranberry Harvest Salad 1

Mushroom and Broccoli Risotto 1

Bountiful Breakfast Strata 1

Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Pineapple–Cream Cheese Frosting 1

 

 

Celebrate!

These dishes are great for parties and gatherings of all kinds, or when you feel like making a beautiful batch of glorious food and drink for you and your family to savor.

 

Pomegranate Sparkler 1

Sea Breeze Mocktail 1

Aztec Guacamole 1

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus with Warm Pita Bread and Endive 1

Black Bean, Tomato, and Corn Salsa with Baked Tortilla Chips 1

Baja Bites 1

Orange-Glazed Carrots with Fresh Mint 1

Wild Rice and Cranberry Harvest Salad 1

Roasted Apples and Squash with Rosemary 1

Burgundy Beef with Fresh Mushrooms, Herbs, and Noodles 1

Festive Cider-Glazed Turkey Breast with Roasted Sweet Potatoes 1

Provençal Salmon Aioli Platter 1

Brown Sugar and Walnut Meringues with Fresh Strawberries 1

Gingersnap-Crusted Pumpkin Pie 1

Celebration Chocolate Cake 1

Banana, Cinnamon, and Walnut Bundt Cake 1