Pantry Staples and Easy Sides

Friday I posted my list of protein staples.  I thought for sure once I hit "publish" that my mind would flood with proteins I had forgotten.  Fortunately that didn't happen.

When it comes to quick dinners there are a few items I always try to keep on the pantry shelf, here they are:

Pasta -  I like to keep a wide assortment of pasta on hand.  It's inexpensive even if you splurge on whole grain or gluten free it's usually an economic choice.  It cooks quickly and is incredibly versatile.

Rice - While I always have some long grain or wild rice available I also like to keep minute rice or even rice-a-roni on hand.

Bisquick - Obviously a choice for biscuits (although I don't think I've ever used it for that). I like using it for pot pie crusts, quick and easy dumplings or waffles for dinner.

Sauces - Spaghetti sauce, alfredo sauce, cheese sauce, whatever suits your families needs.

Canned Veggies - I like our meals to be balanced.  Canned, frozen or fresh veggies are a necessity.  Choosing fresh is healthiest but in the off season frozen and canned may be your only choices.

Soups - Cream soups are an ingredient in many recipes and an inexpensive item to keep on hand. Hearty soups can be a meal in themselves in a pinch or a nice accompaniment to a sandwich.

Broth - This is one staple that doesn't seem to matter how much I buy it's never enough.  I buy cartons of it by the case at Costco, cans at Walmart and I keep Better than Bullion on hand when I run out of the others or only need a cup of broth.

Mac and Cheese - If you're a household with children this is almost a necessity 😊

Gravy - Powdered mix or canned if you're a gravy loving family and don't mind these options.

Taco Seasoning - Either mix up a big batch from scratch or stock up on the envelopes.

Potatoes - Instant, real or both.  My family likes instant.....and real...., ok, we like potatoes.  I also use instant in a pinch for breading and also for thickening soups.

Corn Bread Mix - This item deserves mentioning, how can we eat chili without it.

Tomatoes - Stewed, sauce, diced, paste.

Quinoa - Love this stuff, if you haven't tried it yet you should.

Now that you've got your protein list and pantry staple list let's talk about sides.  Veggie side dishes always seem to make me struggle, which is probably why I'm such a fan of casseroles and one pot meals.  I like my meals to be balanced, so usually, for us that looks like a protein, grain and one or two veggies or fruit and veggies in the summer time.  I love it when fresh melons are local and in season.  We are almost ready for yummy strawberries.

Salad, salad, salad - Salad is my go to, especially in the summer time.  A side salad makes an easy side dish when you're tired of canned green beans.  I also love how well salad seems to compliment Italian and Mexican cuisines.

Broccoli - Steams super quick, in way less time than any of the dishes that we'll be making. 

Asparagus - Especially if you're going to grill.

Spinach/Kale - Now, my family won't eat a serving of wilted spinach but they do eat it if I throw the same spinach or kale into a pot of alfredo, so it gets it in there.

Brussel Sprouts - My family loves them but we don't eat them often because the preferred method of cooking is to be pan fried with bacon.

Seasonal Fruits - Whatever fruit is in season from late spring through early fall, I love putting fruit on the table.

Squash - Summer squash cooks quick and can be seasoned to go with anything.  Winter Squash takes longer to cook but tends to be a little hardier. 

Protein Staples

I nearly couldn't sleep last night building this list in my head.  I've been compiling it mentally since I decided to go ahead and proceed with the blog.

Here are some items that I deem worthy of keeping on hand.  I do realize that much of it will seem processed.  Again, we do not eat like this all the time and the month of April will be highly exaggerated with my dining out ban and the launch of the blog.

When it comes to meat, dairy and produce I say buy the best you can afford.  If you can afford organic, locally sourced, grass fed beef, go for it, but if your budget only allows for buying the 10lb chub at Winco, there's no shame in that.  I've been in both places, the important thing is getting a balanced dinner on the table for your family.

Most of us are not so busy every single day that we need to cook like this on the regular, but I find it helpful to keep at least a couple meal options that can go from freezer to table quickly.  Many of the options I will be listing could even be made from scratch and frozen for later if you so desire.  This would cut back on preservatives and probably a few calories too.

I should also state that I detest thawing meat in the microwave, I find it very unappetizing and pretty much refuse to do it with a few exceptions that you will find listed below with some tips.

Without further ado, here is a list of items I like to keep supplied:

Ground Burger - Whatever kind you desire, beef, turkey, wild game or even a vegetarian alternative if that's your preference.  Burger is one of the very few items I will defrost in the microwave. I never used to but many years ago we got a microwave that had an option to defrost by weight.  When I put in a pound of frozen burger and programmed the microwave accordingly it would set the defrost time to eight minutes.  It would stop at the four minute, halfway point and prompt me to pull the defrosted meat away from the still frozen core.  After removing the thawed meat from the microwave I could then continue the next four minutes and defrost the remaining burger.  It was perfect every time and this opened an amazing window for me.  That  microwave is long gone now but I still use this technique when I have forgotten to defrost.

Bacon - Bacon is another item that I will defrost in the microwave if need be.  Using the same method as above but this time pulling off thawed slices at two minute intervals.  The thing about bacon though is that if you're buying your typical national brand options the best by date is often at least a month from your purchase date which makes it the perfect candidate to just remain in the fridge, thawed for a busy day.  Be mindful of the date, if you do not need to use it just toss it in the freezer before that date and it'll still be usable at a later time.  I must say, as much food that gets wasted, bacon has never been one of them, at least not in this house.

Canned Meats - Tuna, chicken, Spam if you desire, I even saw canned pulled pork the other day.

Eggs - Eggs are an amazing, readily available protein that is usually always in our fridge.  Don't underestimate their importance at dinner time as well.

Beans - Canned or dry.  I prefer dried but let's face it, this blog was created out of my inability to plan ahead and dried beans take time to prepare correctly.  I like to keep an assortment of canned beans on the shelf as well.

Lunch Meat -  Usually a staple in most homes where kids go to school and parents pack a lunch for work.  Don't forget this already thawed, lurking in your fridge protein when supper time comes around as well.  Grilled turkey/ham and cheese with some tomato soup on a busy night is fast and really hits the spot.

Frozen Chicken Patties -  These can be used for the obvious chicken sandwich but I've also used them to make a mock chicken parm, I've chunked them up to make a creation I call Chicken Parmaghetti, I've even sliced them up and simply placed them on a salad.

Meatballs - Meatballs are a prime example of a homemade make ahead if you have a recipe you enjoy.  If not, they are available in the freezer section of your grocery store.

Cheese - Again, usually already in most homes.  I like to make sure I have my basis covered.  I usually have block, sliced and shredded all on hand.  While I prefer the block, on a busy night it doesn't get much better than shredded cheese at the ready.

Peanut Butter - Yep, even for dinner.  You might be surprised at the uses.  From Asian dishes to stuffed French toast when breakfast is for dinner you can make this an easy dinner time protein.  Also, I'm not a short order cook and I have a picky eater at home.  I don't cook to cater to her and I refuse to make a second meal.  If she doesn't like what I'm making she is always welcome to make her own PB&J sandwich.

Precooked Diced Chicken - This is another that you can buy already done but I recommend doing yourself should you find yourself with some extra time available.  Buy 10-20 lbs of boneless chicken, breast, thigh or both.  Trim it up and toss it in the oven or on the grill and then you can choose whether to leave whole, slice or dice to throw back in the freezer for later.  I always freeze cooked chicken on a baking sheet first until frozen and then move it to a freezer bag.  This allows me to grab a few handfuls of diced chicken for soup or chili instead of having a brick I have to chisel the pieces off of. 

Chicken Breast or Tenderloins - If you're buying these bagged, get the ones that have been individually flash frozen.  If you're buying fresh to portion out and put in the freezer yourself try freezing them on a baking sheet individually before placing them in a freezer bag. They will cook faster and you'll easily be able to grab just what you need.

Brown and Serve Sausage Links - Not the best choice when it comes to sausage but not to shabby in a scramble or omelet.

Kielbasa - This is another that can usually be in the fridge for several weeks usually, check your dates.  I know this is another that contains a lot of preservatives but they are making some advancements towards offering uncured, nitrate free versions, just be aware they may have a shorter shelf life.

Nuts and Seeds - Not a huge alternative in our home but a good high fiber source of protein so I thought I would add it.  I do enjoy seeds in my salads and nuts as a snack and occasionally in Asian cuisine.

Fish Sticks and Chicken Nuggets -  In all honesty I can't remember the last time I bought fish sticks because I'm not a fan but they certainly are an option if you do like them.  Chicken nuggets I have actually used in casseroles and find them slightly more versatile.

Breaded Fish Patties or Fillets - Mentioning fish sticks made me remember that there are also frozen fish patties and fillets that can also go from freezer to oven.

Burritos - Again, make your own ahead of time should you so choose, freeze individually and bag up for later.  You can either do this with the intention of prepping or you could simply choose to double your ingredients the next time you're making burritos for your family and freeze the leftovers.

Corn Dogs - Rarely do these make it into our home but they are worth mentioning.

Hot Dogs - Again, it's rare but I do enjoy the occasional chili dog and as the days warm up we enjoy roasting them over the fire.

Pre Made Hamburger Patties - These can literally go from freezer to oven or grill.

Stew Meat - Since it's in chunks it usually cooks pretty quickly and can also be thawed in the microwave using the pull apart method mentioned in the burger segment checking every couple minutes.

Frozen Entrees - Never underestimate having a premade, throw in the oven, meal in the freezer.  Whether you double your favorite casserole the next time you make it and throw one in the freezer for later or buy a Costco lasagna give yourself a little grace and allow to have a meal that you don't have to think about.  These are great for when the hubby (or whoever is the non cook in the family) or kids need to fend for themselves or at least get things started.

Pizza Toppings - If you like pepperoni, salami or Canadian bacon these are also easy keepers in the fridge.

Pizza - In the same category as the frozen entrees, many families like to have a pizza night.  Keeping a couple in the freezer makes for an easy dinner when you may have otherwise been tempted to dine out.

That's the start of my list, I'm sure there are items I'm forgetting.  I will get pantry staples and simple sides also posted this weekend before I really dive in to my challenge on Monday, April 1st.

Team effort

Tonight I used the remaining two pounds of chicken left from yesterday.  I have to say, when you have a plan things really do go more smoothly.  Do you think that realization will carry over into the day to day? Not likely  😃

With Spring Break upon us, today, I once again made the two trips into town and knew it would be another late evening.  Before I left for the second time I prepared the chicken breast using a recipe that my cousin posted on facebook just last night.  Since I knew I was using chicken and this recipe called for the amount I had it was a no brainer. Once prepared, I tossed a lid on my casserole dish and placed it in the fridge to be oven ready when I got back home.

As I was making my way home it occurred to me that if I called ahead my hubby could pull the casserole dish out of the fridge and get the oven preheating for me.

When I got home the chicken went into the oven straight away and needed 45 minutes to bake.  Now, I could have used that 45 minutes to make from scratch side dishes but I had exactly 45 minutes still left to work to complete my eight hour work day, so to the computer I went.

When the chicken was done and needing to rest I threw some home canned green beans on the stove along with instant (yep I said instant) applewood smoked bacon cheddar mashed potatoes.

The result, a dinner that was liked by all, a completed work day without having to stay up later and leftovers to make packing hubby's lunch tomorrow morning a breeze.

Here's the recipe I used tonight, the chicken was amazing!!!!! https://lifeisfantasmic.blogspot.com/2013/05/cheesy-chicken-bacon-ranch.html?fbclid=IwAR04_QTaJOnRbFZh5nSLJq_1rb4wJNHKwuuZJHT6-bVXyWKaIZufGHMgouY

Just a Little Taste

I know I said I wasn't really going to be full on posting until the first of the month but today was a So You Forgot to Defrost kind of day if ever there was one.

For those of you who don't know I live in a little town that's about 50 miles away from just about everything, shopping, most dining and pretty much all entertainment.  Today was one of those days that I had to make the 100 mile round trip twice.

After dropping our daughter off to spend the day with her horse I ran to Walmart to pick up some totes for organizing my yarn.  All the totes were sold out but I thought while I was there I'd pick up something that could easily be made into dinner and be finished when I got back from my second round trip later in the evening.

I picked up four pounds of chicken breast. Half to be used tonight and half for tomorrow night (at least now I've got that much of tomorrow planned).

After getting back home I got busy finishing the other half of my shift for my day job.

Before heading into town for the second time I threw dinner into the crockpot.

Inspired by a recipe I found at https://showmetheyummy.com/crockpot-orange-chicken/

Crockpot Orange Chicken with cilantro lime rice and chicken egg rolls.

Chaos cooking is all about being versatile and being ok with making substitutions when you may not have all the ingredients a specific recipe may call for.

I, for example had forgotten that my daughter had used all the honey to make treats for her horse so I substituted some home canned pear syrup in it's place and it worked like a charm.

Once the crockpot was loaded up I was free to go with the confidence that I would have a hot homemade meal waiting when we all got home tonight.

                                         I added onion and bell pepper to the original recipe

My oldest daughter and I joined 9 Round, a kickboxing fitness center today!  She works full time so this limits our time frame to work out to evenings which will make it now, more important than ever to have quick and easy dinner solutions.

When I returned home the house smelled awesome.  I threw some thickener into the sauce and cranked up the heat to allow it to thicken.  While the crockpot was finishing up I made the rice and tossed the egg rolls into the oven.

Everyone was happy with dinner and hubby is excited about leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

What's it gonna be

Just thought I'd clue you all in to some of what you might find her in the near future.  

As you know for the month of April I've challenged myself to not eat any dinners out.  Does this mean I'm magically going to have time to provide beautiful homemade meals for my family? Of course not.  Life isn't going to slow down just because I've decided to challenge myself to do just that.  What it does mean is that on a really busy day we may be eating cereal for dinner and there's no shame in that game.

This is not going to be organic, low fat, low carb, keto, vegan or gluten free.  It is going to be an assortment of easy meals, many from packaged ingredients and hopefully a decent assortment of meals that you can create from frozen meat when you've forgotten to defrost or forgotten to plan all together.  

Do not be alarmed, I love to create wholesome, balanced meals for my family and don't usually use so many boxed or packaged ingredients, but for this month you may be seeing a lot of these.  It's not the norm and I'm not even suggesting that you follow along.  But maybe, just maybe, when you've worked all day followed by a kid's sporting event and still want to cook dinner you can come here for some quick ideas.

Later this week I'll be posting some items that I think of as staples.  When I say staples I'm not talking about sugar and flour.  In this instance I'm talking about shelf stable proteins, and items that come from the freezer and either defrost quickly or can be prepared from a frozen state.  

A Long Time Coming

August 9, 2015.  That's the day I posted a question on facebook. A question that I had been mulling around in my own head for quite some time before asking and has been nagging me since. 

The question, would there be interest in a blog or facebook group dedicated to quick and easy recipes (I use this word loosely) that could be thrown together at the last minute even if you forgot to plan or perhaps planned but forgot to set out your protein (or other ingredients) to defrost.

Between the comments, private messages and likes it seemed that this idea had legs and may be worth pursuing.

I'm a busy wife and mother, no busier than the rest of you but we are all busy none the less.  I work full time, home school our youngest daughter and we live an hour from everything so even a trip to go shopping is usually a minimum of three hours.  Getting dinner on the table in a timely manner when you're away from home during those crucial meal prep hours can be difficult to say the least. We often eat out, and when I say often I'm minimizing the extent of the situation. Lately we've been eating out more than we are eating at home.  Not only is this expensive but it certainly isn't healthy either.  I've always enjoyed putting a wholesome, hot, home cooked meal on the table but lately it has seemed impossible. 

I decided enough is enough and am self imposing a challenge to not eat out for dinner for the entire month of April.  This will take some planning, and perseverance on my part.  Will every day be gourmet? Of course not.  Might we enjoy freezer burritos or corn dogs at least once?  It's highly likely.  But, my hope is that we will save some money and a few calories all while enjoying some family time at the dinner table.

I will spend the next week creating my plan of attack.  Check back here for my tips moving forward regarding items I like to keep on hand, menu planning, and maybe some money saving short cuts.

This challenge is going to be rewarding in many ways I think.  Aside from saving money and calories, I'm hoping this will help free up some freezer space before hunting season comes along and it will also force me to learn to use my Instant Pot.