Coming Up With a Delicious Winter Meal Plan
Meal planning has taken off in popularity lately for a host of reasons. Meal planning involves deciding what meals you’re going to have throughout the week, stocking up on the necessary ingredients, and even beginning to prep some of them ready to cook. Some people begin to meal plan for financial reasons. Meal planning allows you to make sure that all of the ingredients you buy are used up over various dishes throughout the week. For example, if you have a meal incorporating potatoes on a Monday, meal planning can make sure that you use the whole bag of potatoes by the end of the week. Some people meal plan for health reasons. It allows them to make healthier choices and avoid reaching for convenience foods after a long shift at work or a day out and about. Whatever your reason for meal planning, you might want to consider switching yours up and incorporating some winter dishes. Here are some suggestions!
Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken provides you with plenty of protein, while dumplings are a little more stodgy and provide you with carbs. Preppy Kitchen’s chicken & dumplings recipe is a wholesome, flavor packed stew with shredded, tender chicken and biscuit-like dumplings, providing you with a big bowl of nourishment. You will need to start the stew with a classic mirepoix – a base made from a mix of aromatics, such as onions, carrots, and celery. Other necessary ingredients include chicken stock – which can be bought for convenience or created from scratch for authenticity – flour to thicken the soup, baking powder to keep the dumplings fluffy and milk to make the stew smoother and more flavorsome.
Mushroom Stroganoff
The most famous form of stroganoff is beef stroganoff. This is a dish that was initially created by a French chef who worked for a wealthy St. Petersburg family and made the dish for a cooking contest in 1891. Named after his employer, the stroganoff is a dish of sautéed pieces of beef served in a sauce of mustard and smetana (sour cream). But why not consider a vegetarian alternative? The mushroom stroganoff replaces beef with thickly cut mushrooms for a similar texture and a deep, full flavor. Serve with mash for an extra dose of carbs.
Kale and Gnocchi Bake
Creamy, warming, and filling, a kale and gnocchi bake is a perfect winter dish. Not only does this taste great and pack you with long-lasting carbohydrates, but it gives you a good serving of greens in the form of kale. You will need kale, shallots, garlic, all-purpose flour, dijon mustard, potato gnocchi, and cheese. It takes a while to bake to perfection, so prepare it well in advance of when you actually plan to eat.
Rice Pudding
Looking for a winter dessert? Rice pudding could be the perfect option for you. Rice pudding is a traditional dish made from rice mixed with water or milk. People often choose to incorporate additional ingredients or flavorings, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, or raisins.
These are just a few different meals that you might want to incorporate into your winter meal plan. Hopefully, each will make its way onto your personal menu!