Happy New Year! I hope these first days of January are off to a fruitful start. It was a quiet New Year's Eve at home as we celebrated with our kids in pajamas, made pizzas, and held an apple juice toast at 9pm to watch the ball drop in NY Times Square. When I think about how I used to ring in the New Year compared to now the differences are stark but I really love this season the most. How did you ring in the New Year? What's been your favorite way to celebrate this time of year?
It's Week 1 of Dinner Plans and it's the first one for 2024! We skipped our CSA box delivery on New Year's Eve given my husband and I scored a 24-hour mini getaway with my parents graciously and generously offering to help take care of our kiddos so we could enjoy some time alone to reflect and make plans for the year ahead.
We've had a number of vegetable ingredients that have held on well the past couple of weeks and are still fresh! See below for my plan to cook these up and use them in the week's Dinner Plans.
Seasonal Cooking Tip: Taking Stock in the New Year
This time of year prompts resets and fresh starts. After a couple of weeks where we indulged in cookies and cakes and savored delicious roast meats and hearty veggies, I always find a desire for lightness in these early weeks. That does not need to come in the form of salads, though winter salads are so delicious too! Nourishing soups, a pot of beans, and even fibrous grain bowls are a few things I begin to crave this time of year. When I checked the produce baskets and drawers going into this week, here's what we have on had from our last CSA deliveries in 2023:
- Butternut squash
- Black Futsu Squash (see here for a helpful fact sheet on this heirloom seed)
- Acorn squash
- Carrots, potatoes, celery, onions
- Pomegranates
- Persimmons
When checking our freezer, I still had quite a bit of freezer Zucchini Basil Pesto that needs to be used before I start making our seasonal Spinach Arugula Pesto.
PS: don't forget to check out Part I and Part II of my Pantry Essentials Series for more tips and recommendations for keeping a well stocked pantry ahead of the holiday season.
Dinner Plans for the Week
Our family caught another cold (thanks Kindergarten class) and that means we're home again for a quiet holiday. Soups are definitely on the menu for the week ahead as we navigate gnarly head colds and try to enjoy the last days of winter break. I didn't take out any holiday meats like turkey or ham. When I asked my family what they were craving, lasagna came up often as a response so that will be our dinner at home for Christmas. Not how we planned it, but it will still be a delicious week of nourishing plans for dinner.
Our Game Plan for Dinner this Week:
Sunday: New Year's Eve Dinner at Home with Herby Mushroom Risotto and lots of snacks as we wait for the ball to drop in Times Square at 9pm PST because parenthood means early bedtimes for all. 😉
Monday: Brothy Beans with Crusty Bread (recipe in development)
Tuesday: One Pot Tender Beef Stew
Wednesday: Pasta with Sausage, Peas, and Roast Tomato Sauce
Thursday: DIY Sushi Rolls
Friday: Pinto Beans and Cilantro Lime Rice with Pico de Gallo
Saturday: Pizza with Caramelized Onions, Mushrooms, Sausage, and Spinach
From favorite recipes to new things with a wide variety of ingredients, cooking delicious food with our CSA definitely gets us out of a dinner rut and reduce food waste. I share meal ideas for our busy weeks with our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to be in the know when they’re live. 😉
Wishing you a nourishing week ahead as we kick off the New Year. 🧡
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