Things to Eat - Shirazi Salad & Our Four Week Meal Plan

Lots of easy recipes now that summer is in full effect. We've tried a few salads from Persiana: Recipes from the Middle East & beyond and they've all been good, but I think my favorite is Sharazi Salad, the pomegranate seeds adds a the perfect touch of sweetness.

SHIRAZI SALAD (slightly adapted from Persiana: Recipes from the Middle East & beyond)

Ingredients:
* 1 cucumber
* 6 tomatoes, halved and cored
* 1 red onion
* olive oil
* salt
* juice of 1 lemon
* 2 tsp sumac (I bought this on Amazon)
* 7 oz of pomegranate seeds (Trader Joe's sells these in the refrigerated section)

1. Finely dice the cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion.
2. Drizzle with olive oil, just enough to moisten.
3. Season with salt and pour in the lemon juice. Mix.
4. Add the sumac and pomegranate seeds on top. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or more before serving.

WEEK 1

Monday - Eggplant pasta (via Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites: Flavorful Recipes for Healthful Meals). This was the best pasta sauce I've ever made. Ever. Though the kids ate around the eggplant.

Tuesday - Black bean chilaquile (recipe here). This is one of my favorite recipes ever. The kids never used to like it (too many things mixed together), but this time they all said it was great. Score.

Wednesday - Grilled chicken bruschetta (via Skinny Taste). This was so good and so easy. Definitely a keeper.

Thursday - Taylor Gourmet take-out.

WEEK 2

MONDAY - Turkish white bean salad (via Persiana: Recipes from the Middle East & beyond) with grilled chicken breasts. I loved this salad, though everyone else mainly ate the chicken.

TUESDAY - Burrito bowls (via Dinner A Love Story, the blog). These are a fantastic (and easy) way to make everyone happy.

WEDNESDAY - Tomato lentil salad (recipe here); the kids ate (junk) from the snack bar at P's swim meet.

THURSDAY - Pizza for P's birthday party (yes, I know her birthday was in November, but I tend to procrastinate. Plus summer parties are better/easier/more fun).

WEEK 3

MONDAY - Dinner out at Kapnos Tavern; spaghetti for the kids.

TUESDAY - Pizza with kale chips for the kids; Quinoa salad with toasted pistachios, preserved lemons, and zucchinis (via Persiana: Recipes from the Middle East & beyond.

WEDNESDAY - Shirazi salad (recipe above); sandwiches for the kids before P's swim meet.

THURSDAY - Tilipia baked clam style (via IT'S ALL GOOD: Delicious, Easy Recipes That Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great) with watermelon, peach, tomato salad (recipe here). This was one of the best salads I've ever eaten, as in EVER! I also made a kids' version with just watermelon and peaches. I messed up the fish, but, usually, this is one of our favorite fish recipes. The kids had pasta as they're felling picky lately.


WEEK 4

MONDAY - Shirazi salad again (I love this); spaghetti for the kids

TUESDAY - Easy chickpea/cucumber salad before Peter Pan (recipe here); sandwiches for the kids. This salad is wonderful, I'm making it my new go-to lunch.

WEDNESDAY - Burrito bowls again (via via Dinner A Love Story, the blog). The kids love this meal.

THURSDAY - Chicken breast sauteed in red onion and lemon (recipe here) (thank you Not-So-SAHM for the great suggestions!!) and watermelon/peach/tomato salad again (because it is so good). The chicken was wonderful and kid-friendly, we'll be returning to this recipe a lot.