Most of us work very hard and therefore I hope Labor Day is a restful and restorative day for you! Even though we are blessed with a 3-day weekend, it is a little bittersweet since Labor Day represents the end of summer.  Le sigh.  The good news for me is that my daughter Anna and her fiance are coming home for an extended weekend and bringing a few friends for a wedding they are all attending.  I love a full house!

My latest cooking class will be uploaded no later than September 1!  The theme for September is “Fall Family Dinners” and this is the flexible menu: Broccoli, Apple and Quinoa Salad with Honey-mustard Dressing, Chicken Scarpariello , Invisible Apple Cake, Spaghetti Squash alla Norma,  Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Shrimp and Pesto.

I give substitution suggestions for the big allergens and dietary preferences, so even if you’re vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, or grain-free, I have you covered!  Here’s your dinner planner for the week:

Meatless Monday (Labor Day): Usually a day for a cookout or a picnic.  I have lots of great grilling recipes on my site like the Best Flank Steak, Grilled Lemon-Herb Chicken, Summer Salad with Peaches, Corn and Creamy Cashew Dressing, Charred Corn Salad, Grilled Vegetables with Romesco Sauce or Lemon-Basil Dressing, or my all-time favorite Chopped Grilled Vegetable Salad, Greek Pasta Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad Sliders, and something sweet like chocolate zucchini cake!

Tuesday: Pizza Nerano or Pasta all Nerano. Hubs and I made the pizza on IG live and it was INSANE.  Check the caption for the recipe.  Otherwise, I linked a pasta alla nerano recipe for you.  Serve with a Caprese salad and pretend you’re in Amalfi.

Wednesday: Crunchy Kale Salad with Almond Vinaigrette with protein of choice (I’ll do grilled salmon)

Thursday: Fajita Night (use this marinade for chicken, steak, shrimp or even tofu); bell peppers and onions are traditional, but I’ll mix in zucchini and portobello mushrooms if I have them.  Plus guacamole, salsa, and cheese!

Friday: Lime-soy Grilled Fish (I used to make this with swordfish a million years ago, but now I do Mahi-Mahi or Halibut.  Once a year I eat swordfish, maybe this week is the week! I’ll add in Rice Chopped Salad and some grilled sweet bell peppers.

Saturday brunch:  Berry Bircher Muesli (make this ahead and eat it for days!)

Sunday: Chicken Marsala from Preppy Kitchen, simple egg noodles or pasta alternative or even cauliflower mashed potatoes, sauteed green beans with shallots

 

 

 

I have LOVED seeing all your creations of my recipes on Instagram. If you make any of my recipes, please tag me @pamelasalzman #pamelasalzman so I can check them out! I have a free Monday newsletter with my thoughts, new recipes, and things I’m loving lately. Subscribe here!