Gazette | The Maple Press

Meal Plans: March 13-19

Mar 11, 2022

Last week's meals were simple and filling. Lunches were light and refreshing, as well as the Lemon Chicken and Fish Taco Bowls. The Baked Potatoes were the most filling dish and made up the bulk of leftovers for the week. The Dutch Baby was divine, as well as the vanilla bean ice cream. The Lemon Coffee Cake might need to be tried again, as it didn't turn out as expected, though it could have been due to the whole wheat flour that was used in place of all-purpose flour.

This upcoming week's meals are bright, simple, and mouthwatering. With a tried-and-true warming soup that offers comfort this, often chilly, transition into Spring needs, and some perfect recipes to celebrate and honor Ireland, just in time for St. Patrick's Day. Enjoy!

This upcoming week's meal plan:

SUNDAY

Lunch - Turkey Sandwich + Citrus Slices (recipe inspiration)

Dinner - Chicken Noodle Soup + Rolls (recipe source)

Dessert - Green Ice Cream - possibly pistachio, mint, or lime (inspiration)

MONDAY

Lunch - Pasta Salad + Citrus Slices (recipe inspiration)

Dinner - Salmon Lettuce Wraps + Glazed Carrots (recipe inspiration)

Dessert - Lemon Muffins (recipe source)

TUESDAY

Lunch - Turkey Sandwich + Citrus Slices (recipe inspiration)

Dinner - Leftovers

Dessert - Green Ice Cream - possibly pistachio, mint, or lime (inspiration)

WEDNESDAY

Lunch - Pasta Salad + Citrus Slices (recipe inspiration)

Dinner - Breakfast Quesadillas + Tortilla Chips + Salsa (recipe inspiration)

Dessert - Lemon Muffins (recipe source)

THURSDAY

Lunch - Turkey Sandwich + Citrus Slices (recipe inspiration)

Dinner - Corned Beef + Cabbage + Potatoes + Carrots + Rolls (recipe source) (corned beef source)

Dessert - Lucky Charms Cookies + Green Ice Cream - possibly pistachio, mint, or lime (recipe source)

FRIDAY

Lunch - Pasta Salad + Citrus Slices (recipe inspiration)

Dinner - Leftovers

Dessert - Lemon Muffins (recipe source)

SATURDAY

Lunch - Turkey Sandwich + Citrus Slices (recipe inspiration)

Dinner - Pizza with Side Salad (recipe inspiration)

Dessert - Green Ice Cream - possibly pistachio, mint, or lime (inspiration)

Kid's Lunch Box:

As always, each weekly meal plan will include a kid's lunch box menu with two options to switch between during the week. The lunch will incorporate most components of the above-listed lunch menu, with slight variations if needed. The layout will always feature the PlanetBox Rover Stainless Steel Lunch Box along with other Planet Box accessories such as the Rover Pod 4-Pack, Rover Little Square Dipper, Rover Big Round Dipper, and Rover Little Round Dipper. Check out The Maple Press post on PlanetBox lunchboxes here.

Until next time,

The Maple Press

Children's Books: March Picks

Mar 6, 2022

There's something undeniably special about children's books. Their words, stories, illustrations, and even the specific type of paper have a monumental impact that is unforgettable. As an adult, seeing the classics of childhood stir up emotions and memories as if they were frozen in time. The wonderful opportunity to introduce those classics to children is a tender moment with hopes that they will feel the same connection to the words inside. Choosing new written words that will someday be their classics is a magical experience as well.

This month's top children's book picks feature a majority of new works (from 2017-2020), along with the timeless bestseller, Olivia, by Ian Falconer from 2000. The words and illustrations by Jessica Hische in Tomorrow I'll Be Kind and Tomorrow I'll Be Brave are comforting and moving, encouraging the young and not-so-young readers to keep trying. I'll Love You Till the Cows Come Home is filled with endearing illustrations, by Kristyna Litten, along with rhymes, by Kathryn Cristaldi, that dance out of the mouth and right into the heart, where they'll be loved more and more after every read. My Friend Earth, by Patricia MacLachlan, is a thoughtful work of poetry to inspire readers to consider the planet as a dear companion, with illustrations, by Francesca Sanna, and die-cut pages that captivate the attention of even the most distracted little readers. Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth, by Oliver Jeffers, is a dear work of art that holds within it the touching love of a father offering valuable insight into such a wide world, and the reassurance that help is never far away.

May these inspire a love of reading and open a window or a door into new and adventurous worlds, full of the familiar and the wonderful.

Until next time,

The Maple Press

Meal Plans: March 06-12

Mar 4, 2022

Last week's meals were a success, with both lunches being simple yet completely satiating. The Lemon Ricotta Pancakes were delicious, though the recipe yielded much more than expected, even with the recipe halved. Orange Chicken was complete and utter perfection, along with the New England Style Sandwiches. The One Pot French Onion Pasta was seriously the ABSOLUTE BEST pasta recipe, full of deep flavor and an aroma that transports the kitchen into a rustic French country home. The Basil-Yogurt Panna Cotta with Grapefruit Gelèe was fresh, though verging on too bitter, while classic Chocolate Chip Cookies never fail to disappoint.

This upcoming week's meals are simple and continue to highlight the citrus of the Winter season, along with other seasonal produce like avocados and leeks. Above all, these dishes embody the fresh essence of this transitional time of year, while maintaining the subtle warmth the body looks for during the remaining chilly days until Spring. The Lemon Chicken and the Fish Taco Bowls are some tried and true recipes, while the rest will be a surprise, which shouldn't fall short of delicious.