I hesitate to say we are getting back to normal, because LA will not be back to normal for years, if ever.  But we have to live our lives and move ourselves forward in whatever capacity we can.  Kids need to return to school, we need to eat and get back to work.  We are all worried about air quality and seem to be receiving conflicting information about air safety right now.  I’ve done a lot of cooking in the last couple weeks – mostly soups and casseroles because those are easy to make for a crowd and they’re really comforting.  Monthly online cooking class subscribers, we have a new February class coming your way soon.  Going forward, we will upload the class on the first of the month unless that falls on a weekend.  If that is the case, we will upload the class the following Monday. That’s basically an announcement that the class will be up by February 3rd at the latest!  

Here’s your dinner planner for the week:

Meatless Monday: Spicy Gnocchi with Fennel and Mushrooms from The Modern Proper (omit chopped Calabrian chili peppers if you don’t like spice) + spinach for extra veg

Tuesday: Turkey (or beef or tempeh) tacos + Fiesta salad with salsa vinaigrette

Wednesday: Super Greens Soup with Lemon-Tarragon Cream + Chickpea Burger

Thursday: Shrimp and mixed vegetables with coconut-basil sauce, Cauli-Rice + avocado 

Friday: Slow Cooker Pulled Barbecued Chicken, Creamy Cabbage and Avocado Slaw, Roasted smashed potatoes

Saturday brunch: Kale, mushroom and brown rice bake + Winter fruit salad

Sunday: Homemade ramen noodle soup with topped hard-boiled eggs (you could also do cooked shrimp, shredded chicken, or tofu) + steamed bok choy

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!

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!

Here’s your dinner planner for the week:

Meatless Monday: Christmas Wild Rice Salad Recipe (I’ll add chickpeas for extra protein)

Tuesday (Christmas Eve): Normally, this is a potluck dinner at my aunt’s house for 100-120 people!  We always have dozens of fish dishes, including linguine with clam sauce, baccala, stuffed clams, eel, octopus and more. I have never published a clam sauce recipe, but I do something similar to this one but with a little tomato cooked into the sauce. If you are doing a seafood Christmas Eve, check out Cod Acqua Pazza or the Halibut with Capers and Lentils from my December 2020 online class; a simple arugula and radicchio salad; plus some garlicky broccoli rabe. Here’s a recipe for Whole Roasted Branzino if you’re in the mood for an easy and elegant fish dish or you can do the broiled branzino fillets from QTQ. My cousin Allison makes dozens of “haystacks” and there are biscotti, panettoni, and more. Apple Amaretti Crisp with vanilla ice cream would make a great dessert too. Here are a few other dessert options: Whole-Grain Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet Cake with vanilla ice cream, Vegan gingerbread, Cherry Bakewell Tart. Don’t forget to check out my December 2024 Class for more ideas!

Wednesday (Christmas Day): My mom hosts Christmas dinner and we’ll start off with a big cheese board with nuts, salami, and crudites.  Plus I’ll make the Italian 7-layer dip, Baked Feta from QTQ, cheesy pull apart bread or broccoli and roasted tomato stromboli wreath from Quicker than Quick. My mom always makes chicken soup with tortellini and beef tenderloin, or onion-braised brisket, and a recent tradition is the vegan lentil shepherd’s pie. Last year the Cheesy Broccoli Casserole was a mega-hit. I am also considering a roasted carrot dish with a pomegranate-pistachio relish like this recipe + a basic green salad.  I will be making the Sticky Toffee Cake.  And the kids will make loads of cookies and bars that we’ll eat on Christmas as well.  I know Anna wants to make Magic Bars, Emma will make Molasses Ginger Cookies, and my niece is making Peppermint Bark Shortbread.  Although this Chocolate Bundt Cake with Peppermint Ganache has been a hit in the past and so has Pear-Cranberry Gingersnap Crisp. MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Thursday: We’ll keep it light with some leftovers or I’ll make Butternut squash and chickpea stew served over steamed rice 

Friday: Garlic & Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops from Delish D’Lites, roasted cabbage, Stovetop Braised Parsnips with Coconut Butter and White Balsamic

Saturday brunch: Sheet Pan Pancakes

Sunday: The Best Turkey Meatloaf, Cauliflower mashed potatoes, Ginger and honey-glazed carrots

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!

Happy Weekend!  I don’t know about you, but I am trying to find the joy in the holiday season and all that I have to look forward to and not be a grinch about my to-do list which only seems to grow and not shrink!  Gah!  I am doing a special IG live on Monday at 5:00 pm PST on Staub’s Instagram account.  I’ll be whipping up some delicious and easy appetizers for the holidays!  Also, if you take my online cooking classes, I am hosting office hours on Tuesday 12/17 at noon PST to answer any and all questions or just provide you a breather from the chaos!  Look for the zoom link in your inbox and let me know if you don’t see it. 

Here’s your dinner planner for the week:

Meatless Monday:  One-Pot Vegetable Jambalaya from The Kitchn + Crispy Baked Tofu 

Tuesday: Turkey sausages, Couscous with dried apricots and herbs, roasted broccolini

Wednesday: Pasta alla Vodka + Warm Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad 

Thursday: Spice-rubbed wild salmon, Fennel Salad with Citrus, Avocado and Ricotta Salata, quinoa with sautéed spinach 

Friday: Grilled Lemon-Mustard-Rosemary Chicken (I’m broiling these), Stovetop Cauliflower with Pomegranate Molasses, green salad 

Saturday brunch: Cranberry-orange almond flour muffin, Sautéed Apple Power Bowl with almond butter 

Sunday: Stracotto di Manzo served over Perfect Mashed Potatoes + sautéed broccoli rabe

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!