Pook’s Blog

Dinner Divas Meal Plan: Week 142

January 3, 2020

Happy New Year, everyone! Welcome to the first Dinner Divas Meal Plan of 2020. This week, the Dinner Divas have some comforting soup recipes and a really delicious cocktail that comes together in less than 5 minutes. Looking for an old menu? You can find all of our previous menus on the Dinner Divas Menu Plan page on this blog!

The dinner divas provide a week’s worth of dinner recipes plus 2 extra recipes each week. Our meal plans feature mostly healthy dishes that won’t take all day to cook, because weekdays are busy enough.

dinner divas meal plan images for week 142

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Mediterranean Couscous Salad

December 31, 2019

Light and fresh Mediterranean couscous is quick, easy and delicious. Loaded with fresh vegetables like tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers, it is a healthy side dish perfect for weeknight cooking. Couscous salad also makes a great weekday Mediterranean lunch!

Filled with fresh Mediterranean flavors, like fresh dill and mint, and a bright, tangy lemon dressing, this couscous salad is hearty enough to be the main dish. It is a vegetarian recipe, but can easily be made vegan by omitting the feta cheese. Want to bulk it up even more? Add in a handful of chickpeas for extra protein or a few slices of grilled chicken.

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Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp)

December 29, 2019

Gambas al ajillo make an excellent party appetizer or light dinner. Garlicky shrimp with crushed red pepper and parsley is a classic Spanish appetizer. Served with a crisp white wine, it makes an excellent addition to a tapas party, as do Spanish-style marinated olives and tortilla española.

Whether you are serving this as an appetizer for a fancy New Year’s Eve party, or as a nibble for a summer BBQ with a glass of wine, this Spanish garlic shrimp recipe is great for any occasion.

You can increase the portion and have it for a light dinner with a piece of crusty bread for soaking up all the delicious juices.

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White Wine Spritzer with Blood Orange Soda

December 28, 2019

A white wine spritzer is the perfect party drink any time of the year. It’s light and refreshing, which makes it a great cocktail for holidays when you are enjoying parties, but don’t want to overindulge. Wine spritzers are a great choice if you are trying to watch your calorie intake while still being able to enjoy a wine cocktail.

Blood oranges are in season during the winter months, as is most citrus. If you can’t find blood oranges, regular oranges or cara cara oranges make a great substitute.

blood orange white wine spritzer cocktail

photo: kab photography

A blood orange spritzer makes a great holiday drink. They are quick and easy to make, not too sweet and they are light and citrusy.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

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Dinner Divas Meal Plan: Week 141

December 27, 2019

Welcome back to the last Dinner Divas meal plan of the year! Can you believe that we’ll be saying goodbye to 2019 in a few short days? With that, comes the new year and we are going to be bringing you lots of new and delicious meal plans in the coming year. Looking for an old menu? You can find all of our previous menus on the Dinner Divas Menu Plan page on this blog!

Now that the holidays are winding down, we’re starting to get back into our routines. This includes our meal plan and making weeknight dinners.

This week, I’ve started making quite a few soups. Having soups made for the week is a great time-saver and freezing some for later is a huge help for those days when you have no time to cook.

Autumn Minestrone is a great option for weeknights because it is fast and easy! The most popular soup recipe on the blog is this Easy Lentil Soup, and with good reason. It is also a quick and easy recipe plus it is absolutely delicious.

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Simple Turkey Chili Recipe

December 26, 2019

Simple turkey chili is made with ground turkey and plenty of vegetables for a fast and easy chili recipe perfect for weeknight cooking.
For a delicious slow cooker chili, try my Turkey Pumpkin Slow Cooker Chili. It is creamy and just a little spicy.

This chili is a staple in our house during the fall and winter months. I make double batches to freeze for quick dinners when I need them. Chili always tastes even better the next day, so plan ahead if you can.
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Restaurant-Style Bloody Mary Recipe

December 22, 2019

The Bloody Mary. It is THE quintessential brunch beverage, yet I only have them at a restaurant. Brunch and Bloody Mary’s go hand in hand. We are going to make a restaurant-style bloody mary recipe at home. I made a killer batch of bloody mary’s last weekend and they were hands-down one of the best I’ve ever had.

How to Make a Restaurant-Style Bloody MaryFirst things first, we are making it from scratch. The difference is remarkable when you don’t use a store-bought mix. The drink tastes MUCH fresher and brighter, which if I’m being perfectly honest, can be dangerous.

I’m usually a two drink max kind of girl and I had two drinks in no time flat. Consider yourself warned, because they go down Very Easily. This is the best bloody mary recipe and one you’ll want to make over and over.

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Gingerbread Rum Balls

December 21, 2019

Gingerbread rum balls are full of warm spices for a holiday twist on my classic easy rum ball recipe.

Old fashioned rum balls are a Christmas staple in our house. They have been since I was a teenager. Over the years, I’ve made a few variations and these festive holiday rum balls are the latest version.

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Dinner Divas Meal Plan: Week 140

December 20, 2019

Welcome to the last Dinner Divas meal plan before Christmas. I can’t believe the year is almost over. This week, we have a few hearty dinners that are perfect for cooler weather and a couple of fun extras!

You can find all of our previous menus on the Dinner Divas Menu Plan page on this blog! It gets updated weekly as new menu plans come out, so if you missed a week, you can pop over there and get the menu.

short ribs for dinner divas meal plan 140

Before we get to this week’s menu, I want to share a couple of recipes that are happening in my kitchen this week.

Last night, I made a batch of Homemade Buckeyes. They are everyone’s favorite around here. I had to swat away hands before they were even set.

Gluten free Clementine Cake is another holiday favorite. I’ve made it every Christmas for as long as I can remember. It is super simple – the batter is mixed in the food processor, so clean up is a breeze.

Are you ready to get to this week’s menu? It’s a good one!

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

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Homemade Buckeyes

December 18, 2019

Homemade buckeyes are the perfect no bake treat for peanut butter and chocolate lovers.

Buckeyes are fast, easy and delicious, making them a great choice for the holidays when you need a tasty treat that doesn’t take too much time or energy. Another no bake treat (for adults) that is always on hand during the holidays are these easy rum balls.

The very basics of a buckeye candy are peanut butter, chocolate and powdered sugar. As easy as a buckeye recipe is, not all buckeyes are created equal. This recipe has a secret ingredient to make these homemade buckeyes the creamiest and most delicious peanut butter buckeyes ever!

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

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