Meals for Week of March 5, 2012

So I'm making this short and sweet.  This week's list has several crock pot recipes and I have 2 recipes for shrimp, both with coconut, but yet they're not really the same.  The recipes this week are healthy and either easy for a weeknight or something you can make ahead and re-heat leftovers.

We had this in my house and loved it!

Meals for Week of March 5, 2012

Thai Coconut Curry Shrimp- Using light coconut milk still provides that great flavor combination with red chili paste, but reduces the calories and fat. 

Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken- This is recipe requires browning the chicken on the stove first, which really helps to sear in the flavor and keeps the chicken from cooking down into nothing.  It also is best cooked on high for 4 hours, so it’s not the sort of slow cooker recipe that you put out in the morning and leave all day.  But it is useful for a busy weekend where you can get it assembled and then leave it.  Or make it in advance and then just re-heat for another night. 

Skinny Coconut Shrimp- These are great as an appetizer with a dipping sauce or for a meal you can serve them with rice and a big vegetable stir fry.  I made one change to the recipe; I added the juice of one orange to the beaten egg.

Quick and Easy Zesty Sausage Pasta-  A fantastic sauce you can put over pasta, gnocchi, soft polenta or even over roasted vegetables for a low carb meal.  It’s quick to cook, but full of flavor.

Balsamic Roast Chicken- Delicious low fat method for roasting a chicken.  This recipe uses a whole chicken, but you could apply the same method to chicken parts.  Add sliced onions to the pan for caramelized onions to go with the chicken.

Slow Cooker Enchilada Chicken Chili- A slightly different flavor than your usual chili.  Really good!  The recipe suggests controlling the heat by cutting back on the chili powder if you’re using a spicy enchilada sauce.

Vegetable Bean Soup- Here is a meatless but filling soup that has many options for you to change it to suit your tastes.

Crock Pot Pasta Fagioli Soup- This is a beef, vegetable and pasta soup that is filling and you can make a large amount to eat all week or to feed a crowd. 

Peanut Butter Granola Balls- Really easy, a great snack for kids or to pack in their lunch.