I am back! I have ignored this site for an embarrassingly long time. I think because I was trying to be someone I'm not. So here goes the new and improved blog/site!
Like most of y'all, I am trying to whip up Food Channel worthy meals with no training and very little money. This week I checked out the sales ads of the 3 stores that I like in my area. I want fresh, plentiful produce, plenty of choices, quality meat and great prices. The store has to be clean and well-stocked. I get frustrated when the things that brought me to a store are out of stock. The 3 aforementioned stores meet that criteria so their sales papers are the ones I routinely check. There is a pattern to the sales in this area. Meat seems to go on sale at certain times and I have developed a pretty good system for when NOT to buy something I might want because I know it will be on sale next week. Probably. It's not full proof but it works more often then not.
I've also come to realize and accept that I work for a living. I might long to be that woman that rushes home and fixes a big, glorious dinner but it's not gonna happen. I am tired. I want to eat, clean up and watch TV. So do my kids. I needed meal plans with lots of flexibility and variety as well as fast and easy for weeknights.
Here's what I came up with for the week:
Sunday - Ratatouille with bread
Monday - Leftover ratatouille, add a little cheese or fresh spinach for a change
Tuesday - Teriyaki Chicken Salad with spring greens and veggies (blends were marked down!)
Wednesday - Cuban Mojo Pork Roast and potatoes with leftover green salad and grapes
Thursday - Cuban Sandwiches with avocado
Friday - Pasta with whatever was leftover.
Sunday I spent a little bit of time in the kitchen. I made a big pot of ratatouille. Just like the movie but no mice were involved. It was relaxing. My kids were in the kitchen with me. I chopped and cooked. We talked and laughed. I put it on to simmer and the smell was divine!
Next I made a marinade for a pork roast that had been thawing in the fridge. It is for Cuban Mojo Pork. The marinade is fairly easy to make and quick. I let it sit in the fridge for a couple of days. I flipped it and worked the marinade around a few times. I put it in the crock pot on low for 10 hours and went to work. My kids adored it! I thought it was too acidic to eat as an entree but it rocks as a sandwich! I might cut back on the juices and add a little kick to it next time.
After I finished the marinade for the pork, I made a different marinade for 2 chicken thighs I had thawed out. Simple and delicious Teriyaki Marinade. I threw them in the oven, wrapped tightly in foil for about 30 minutes. Cut all the meat off the bone and shredded it. I made a big salad while the chicken was cooking and then added the meat to the salad. Great and nutritious dinner in 30 minutes that fed 3 adults for less than $6.00 total!!
Leftover pork made for great sandwiches. Burritos would work but I got lucky and bread was on sale.
This week I managed to feed three adults a home-cooked meal every night for about $3.00 each and my total prep and cooking was 30 minutes or less on weeknights! I think this week was a success!
Like most of y'all, I am trying to whip up Food Channel worthy meals with no training and very little money. This week I checked out the sales ads of the 3 stores that I like in my area. I want fresh, plentiful produce, plenty of choices, quality meat and great prices. The store has to be clean and well-stocked. I get frustrated when the things that brought me to a store are out of stock. The 3 aforementioned stores meet that criteria so their sales papers are the ones I routinely check. There is a pattern to the sales in this area. Meat seems to go on sale at certain times and I have developed a pretty good system for when NOT to buy something I might want because I know it will be on sale next week. Probably. It's not full proof but it works more often then not.
I've also come to realize and accept that I work for a living. I might long to be that woman that rushes home and fixes a big, glorious dinner but it's not gonna happen. I am tired. I want to eat, clean up and watch TV. So do my kids. I needed meal plans with lots of flexibility and variety as well as fast and easy for weeknights.
Here's what I came up with for the week:
Sunday - Ratatouille with bread
Monday - Leftover ratatouille, add a little cheese or fresh spinach for a change
Tuesday - Teriyaki Chicken Salad with spring greens and veggies (blends were marked down!)
Wednesday - Cuban Mojo Pork Roast and potatoes with leftover green salad and grapes
Thursday - Cuban Sandwiches with avocado
Friday - Pasta with whatever was leftover.
Sunday I spent a little bit of time in the kitchen. I made a big pot of ratatouille. Just like the movie but no mice were involved. It was relaxing. My kids were in the kitchen with me. I chopped and cooked. We talked and laughed. I put it on to simmer and the smell was divine!
Next I made a marinade for a pork roast that had been thawing in the fridge. It is for Cuban Mojo Pork. The marinade is fairly easy to make and quick. I let it sit in the fridge for a couple of days. I flipped it and worked the marinade around a few times. I put it in the crock pot on low for 10 hours and went to work. My kids adored it! I thought it was too acidic to eat as an entree but it rocks as a sandwich! I might cut back on the juices and add a little kick to it next time.
After I finished the marinade for the pork, I made a different marinade for 2 chicken thighs I had thawed out. Simple and delicious Teriyaki Marinade. I threw them in the oven, wrapped tightly in foil for about 30 minutes. Cut all the meat off the bone and shredded it. I made a big salad while the chicken was cooking and then added the meat to the salad. Great and nutritious dinner in 30 minutes that fed 3 adults for less than $6.00 total!!
Leftover pork made for great sandwiches. Burritos would work but I got lucky and bread was on sale.
This week I managed to feed three adults a home-cooked meal every night for about $3.00 each and my total prep and cooking was 30 minutes or less on weeknights! I think this week was a success!