5-Day Meal Plan with "Dovetail Tips" for Big Time Savings!

Download these recipes into your Cook'n software. Then, you can save time and money by using your Cook'n software to make a grocery list! Save time by using the dovetailing and "prepare-ahead-of-time" features designed into this menu!

Monday

California Pizza
Pepperoni-Cheese Breadsticks
Banana Cream Pizza

Dovetailing Tips: We have lots of dovetailing this week and being Monday you had to know you would be doing a little extra credit today to get way ahead! Today you will need 2 cups of cooked, cut up chicken for the recipe. If you go ahead and cut up all your chicken for the week before you cook this recipe you will save a lot of time and dirty dishes later in the week. Especially with meat, it is nice to only have to handle it once. Cut up about 3 pounds. Cook one for tonight and save the other two uncooked for later in the week.

You will also want to handle your onions only once. Chop the three largest, finely slice one medium onion, and quarter the two smallest and you will be set for the week. Also grate 2 cups of parmesan cheese and use 1 cup tonight and save the rest for Friday (freezer is great for this). Last, but not least, chop 1 1/3 cup of pecans. Use the 1/3 cup and reserve the full cup for Wednesday!

Tuesday

Cheese-Steak Crescent Braid
Oven-Fried Onion Rings
Citrus Salad

Dovetailing Tips: You will use some of your chopped onions today. That work is paying off already!

As you prepare this meal you can take just a couple more small steps to get even more ahead. Slice the green bell pepper for this meal and cut one additional into 1 1/2 inch pieces. You will also be using pineapple for the next 3 days. As long as it isn't over ripe today you can cut it all at once. Cut 2 fresh pineapples into chunks. You will be glad you did when it is time to prepare dinner tomorrow!

Wednesday

Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs
Steamed Chinese Vegetables With Brown Rice
Apple Pecan Bread Pudding

Dovetailing Tips: Today is payday! Use the 2 small quartered onions, the sliced onion, 1 pound of cubed chicken, the green bell pepper pieces, pineapple chunks, and pecans. Wow!!!

The only little "extra" you will do tonight is cut 1 extra red bell pepper into 1 1/2 inch pieces as long as you are slicing one for this meal.

Thursday

Marinated Shrimp Kabob Salad
Apricot-Glazed Coconut-Chicken Bites
Cashew Caramel Yummies

Dovetailing Tips: No work, all play today! You will use chicken, pineapple, and red bell pepper that you have prepared earlier in the week.

Friday

Pasta Primavera
Caesar Salad
Italian Trifle

Dovetailing Tips: Friday, sweet Friday! Use the rest of that parmesan cheese today.