October opens this week and the food turns cozy. There is a lasagna soup to start, sumac chicken thighs roasted over a pile of soft onions, pumpkin mac and cheese, a coconut lime fish stew, and sausage and peppers in the slow cooker for Friday.
For the bonus recipe, a pumpkin bundt cake with cream cheese frosting. It is moist, warmly spiced, and it serves twelve, so it covers a weekend gathering or a week of slices with coffee.
Helpful Tips for This Week
- The sumac chicken wants a head start. Marinate it in the morning, or the night before, up to 24 hours in the fridge.
- Two pounds of onions sounds like a lot for that chicken. It is right. They cook down to almost nothing and turn into the sauce.
- Lasagna soup keeps for three days. If you want it ready ahead, stop before the noodles go in and cook them fresh when you reheat.
- Shred the cheddar yourself for the pumpkin mac and cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is coated in starch that stops the sauce going smooth.
- Brown the sausages and load the slow cooker the night before. It keeps in the fridge for a day, then goes straight in on Friday morning.
- Bake the bundt cake the night before and frost it the next day. It needs a full hour to cool before the frosting goes anywhere near it.
1
Monday — Lasagna Soup
An easy recipe for Lasagna Soup makes your favorite hearty pasta dish into a rich and delicious soup that can be made in under 30 minutes.
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2
Tuesday — Sumac Chicken Thighs with Onions
This one-pan sumac chicken features juicy roasted chicken thighs baked over soft onions seasoned generously with tangy sumac. Toasted pine nuts add crunch, while warm bread soaks up the flavorful onion and chicken pan juices.
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3
Wednesday — Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
This creamy pumpkin mac and cheese combines tender elbow macaroni with a smooth pumpkin sauce made with two kinds of cheddar. Crisp sage breadcrumbs add a buttery, savory topping that works well with the rich cheese sauce.
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4
Thursday — Brazilian Fish Stew
This quick and easy recipe for Brazilian Fish Stew (moqueca) is so delicious with a perfectly spiced coconut lime sauce. Serve it over rice for a hearty weeknight dinner.
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5
Friday — Slow Cooker Peppers and Sausage
Easy and delicious, this Slow Cooker Peppers and Sausage recipe features juicy Italian sausage and tender veggies in a rich tomato sauce.
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6
Bonus — Pumpkin Bundt Cake
This moist and flavorful pumpkin Bundt cake is infused with warm pumpkin spice and topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for autumn gatherings or holiday dessert tables, it’s easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser.
View Recipe →
Easy Serving Ideas
Keep the sides simple. The lasagna soup needs nothing but extra Parmesan and torn basil. Serve the sumac chicken with warm flatbread, yogurt and a chopped salad, the fish stew over rice, the mac and cheese with something green, and the sausage and peppers with crusty bread or over pasta.
Shopping List
This shopping list includes everything you need to make all five dinners, plus the bonus cake included in this week’s plan. Click the button below to print it and take it to the store.
Produce
- 4 pounds yellow onions, 2 of those pounds go into the sumac chicken alone
- 1 large sweet onion
- 2 bulbs garlic
- 7 bell peppers, 6 large for the sausage and 1 red or yellow for the fish stew
- 1 jalapeño
- 3 medium carrots
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 large lime
- 1 small package fresh sage
- 1 small bunch fresh parsley
- 1 small bunch fresh basil
- 1 small bunch fresh cilantro
Meat and Seafood
- 1 pound ground beef, 90/10
- 2 pounds bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, 6 to 8 thighs
- 2 pounds Italian sausage, about 10 sausages
- 1 pound shrimp, 31 to 40 count, peeled and deveined
- 1 pound white fish fillets, such as halibut
Dairy and Eggs
- 3 large eggs, or 1 dozen if you need to restock
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 small carton whole milk, at least 2 cups
- 1 small container ricotta cheese, you need 8 ounces
- 1 (8-ounce) bag shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 small wedge Parmesan cheese, or ½ cup grated
- 4 ounces sharp yellow cheddar, in a block
- 4 ounces medium white cheddar, in a block
- 1 small container sour cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 small container plain yogurt, for serving with the sumac chicken
Canned and Jarred
- 2 (24-ounce) jars marinara sauce
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 2 (32-ounce) cartons low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (14-ounce) carton fish or seafood stock
- 1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
- 2 (15-ounce) cans pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
Pasta, Bread and Dry Goods
- 1 box lasagna noodles, you need 8 sheets
- 12 ounces elbow macaroni
- 1 small box panko breadcrumbs
- 1 small bag pine nuts
- Flatbread for the sumac chicken, pita, taboon or naan
Baking Aisle
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Light brown sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Baking soda
- Pure vanilla extract
Oils, Condiments and Spices
- Olive oil
- Extra virgin olive oil, the sumac chicken takes ½ cup
- Vegetable oil, the cake takes 1 cup
- Dende red palm oil, or coconut oil
- Dijon mustard
- Sumac, you will need 5 tablespoons
- 7 spice or baharat, optional
- Kosher salt
- Fine sea salt
- Ground black pepper
- Italian seasoning
- Dried basil
- Paprika
- Ground nutmeg
Supplies
- 6-quart Dutch oven
- 12-inch oven-safe cast iron skillet
- Large pot for the pasta
- Large deep skillet or saucepan
- 7-quart or larger slow cooker
- 9-cup Bundt pan
- Instant-read thermometer
- Box grater, for shredding the cheddar yourself
Optional Serving Ideas
- Warm flatbread, plain yogurt and a chopped salad with the sumac chicken
- Steamed rice with the Brazilian fish stew
- Crusty bread or soft rolls with the sausage and peppers
- Extra Parmesan and torn basil on the lasagna soup
- A simple green salad with the pumpkin mac and cheese
Made something from this week’s plan? Leave a 5-star rating and a quick comment on the recipe. It helps other readers decide what to cook next, and it means a lot to me. Thank you for your support!
Susan says
This menu every week is so helpful. Thank you
Especially love the shopping list.
Little Sunny Kitchen says
Thank you, Susan! I’m so glad the meal plans and shopping lists are making your weeks a little easier!