It’s my favorite time of year! December is the best. I just love, LOVE the holidays and while this time of year is incredibly busy I can’t help loving it. The holiday music, gift giving, parties, family celebrations, and the culmination of a year of long and hard work with a week of time off and family time is just perfect. I’ll share some party menus in the coming weeks, but for now I tackled our month of dinners.
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December Menu Plan
Tuesday (December 1): Taco Night
Taco Tuesday for the win! I plan to make my homemade guacamole-it’s so, so easy!
Wednesday (December 2): Steak and Potatoes
Steak with mustard shallot sauce, roasted potatoes (add a little lemon when you’re done and it makes them totally pop!), green beans, and salad with apples and walnuts.
Thursday (December 3): Stir Fry
I love all the veggies on top of more veggies! It’s so delicious with all the great seasonal produce we have during the summer. We usually have beef for stir fry (our local Wegman’s carries organic stir fry meat) and/or shrimp, and sometimes bacon. Because bacon.
Friday (December 4): Pizza!
It’s ‘za night at the Whalen house. We’ve been relying on a local pizza shop of late since our schedules are so packed this month, and while I don’t love spending a small fortune on pizza it’s nice to support a local small business and have a night off cooking + dishes.
Saturday (December 5):Clean out the fridge night
Once a week we eat up all our leftovers. It saves us a bundle and reduces food waste (which costs use BILLIONS each year).
Sunday (December 6): Brinner
Breakfast for dinner is always a favorite. We’ll have gluten-free pancakes, smoothies, and bacon.
December: Week Two
Monday (December 7): Paninis
Paninis are a great dinner option because they’re easy to make, and they can be customized for everyone. Served with a side salad and some homemade fries they’re a great, hearty dinner.
Tuesday (December 8): Birthday Dinner
I’m not crying…I swear. My oldest ‘baby’ turns 18 today, so he gets to pick his birthday dinner. I just have something in my eye….excuse me.
Wednesday (December 9): Greek Yogurt Chicken Kabobs
These Greek yogurt chicken kabobs are a lot of work, but all the kids LOVE them. I do, too. The tangy yogurt makes these so good. (As a side note I don’t seem to react to Greek yogurt, and have heard from other folks that have lactose intolerance or dairy issues that they have found similar things.) Essentially you marinate in a few spices and the yogurt, cook them, and then devour their deliciousness.
Thursday (December 10): Paninis
Paninis are a great dinner option because they’re easy to make, and they can be customized for everyone. Served with a side salad and some homemade fries they’re a great, hearty dinner.
Friday (December 11): Fish Tacos
Fish tacos with corn tortillas, salsa, cabbage slaw, and easy guacamole.
Saturday (December 12): Clean out the fridge night
We’ll work on cleaning out the fridge of all the leftovers and foods that need to be eaten up before they go bad. It’s a great way to reduce waste. Read about how we reduce food waste at home here.
Sunday (December 13): Gluten-free BBQ chicken wings
Honey BBQ chicken wings, roasted potatoes, green salad.
December: Week Three
Monday (December 14): Steak Sandwiches
Bob knows how to make a mean steak sandwich. We serve them up on Schar gluten-free buns, a great big salad, and a side of fries.
Tuesday (December 15): Chili Lime Fish
Fish is a great addition to the diet and this chili lime recipe is amazing. It is for tilapia, though I suspect it will work well with many types of fish.
Wednesday (December 16) Steak and potatoes
Steak with mustard shallot sauce, roasted potatoes (add a little lemon when you’re done and it makes them totally pop!), green beans, and salad with apples and walnuts.
Thursday (December 17): Chicken + Kale
Kale coconut salad, perfect chicken, and sweet potato fries.
Friday (December 18): Pizza night
We’ll pick up pizza from our fave local shop tonight and serve up a side salad.
Saturday (December 19): Clean out the fridge night
We’ll work on cleaning out the fridge of all the leftovers and foods that need to be eaten up before they go bad. It’s a great way to reduce waste. Read about how we reduce food waste at home here.
Sunday (December 20): Appetizer Night
Every once in awhile I like to serve up an appetizer/tapas night. My parents used to do this when I was a kid and I loved it! I was never a big traditional dinner eater so this was my favorite. Serving up cheeses, crackers, salami, olives, veggies and dip, fruit and yogurt dip, and more.
December: Week Four
Monday (December 21): Taco Night
Taco Monday? Yes, indeed. There’s no wrong night to have tacos. Taco beef, cilantro rice, black beans, homemade guacamole, and all the fixings.
Tuesday (December 22): Stir Fry
Stir fry night is my favorite! We get to choose what goes in our custom-made stir fry, and I always choose ALL the veggies. Snow peas, broccoli, carrots, onions, and more. The must-have? A sprinkling of ginger and garlic. YUM.
Wednesday (December 23): Paninis
Paninis are a great dinner option because they’re easy to make, and they can be customized for everyone. Served with a side salad and some homemade fries they’re a great, hearty dinner after a lot of summertime play.
Thursday (December 24): Christmas Eve Feast
We always have a big meal for Christmas Eve, and I’ll be sure to share this year’s menu soon.
Friday (December 25): Christmas
We don’t do a big dinner on Christmas instead opting for brunch like waffles, bacon, berries, and of course lot of coffee for sleepy parents.
Saturday (December 26): Clean out the fridge night
We’ll work on cleaning out the fridge of all the leftovers and foods that need to be eaten up before they go bad. It’s a great way to reduce waste. Read about how we reduce food waste at home here.
Sunday (December 27): Pizza
Because we’re lazy after the holiday.
Monday (December 28): Tangy Slow Cooker Chicken
This chicken is delicious! We eat it with a big green salad and gluten-free cornbread muffins.
Tuesday (December 29): Taco Night
Taco Tuesday! Taco beef, cilantro rice, black beans, homemade guacamole, and all the fixings are on the menu.
Wednesday (December 30): Bacon wrapped chicken skewers
These are the bomb dot com. Chicken wrapped in bacon and slow cooked in the oven for a delicious dinner.
Thursday (December 31: New Year’s Eve
We typically do an appetizer type night for New Year’s Eve. It’s fun, easy, and cleanup is simple. Olives, charcuterie, cheese 9or faux cheese for me), mini meatballs, etc. are all great options.
What’s on your menu this month?
Kelly
