Had a hard day at work and just don't have the energy to fool around in the kitchen? Try this no fuss recipe - everything comes right out of the freezer and into the dutch oven. Let it cook while you take a shower. By the time you've got into comfortable clothes, it's ready!
What You Need:
1 (16 oz.) pkg. frozen hash browns 1/2 t salt 1/4 t of pepper 1 1/2 lbs. frozen chicken breasts 1/2 C teriyaki sauce 1 (16 oz.) bag of frozen mixed vegetables
How to Make It:
Pre-heat your oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cast iron Dutch oven well with a non stick cooking spray. Place the frozen hash browns into the bottom of the pan and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Lay the frozen chicken breasts over the top of the potatoes. Pour the teriyaki sauce over the chicken. Dump in the bag of frozen vegetables. Cover and bake 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Use any type of frozen vegetables you have on hand. To make the potatoes a little creamier, you can add 1/4 cup of water, milk or chicken broth before adding the chicken.
Makes 4 servings
Preparation Time: approximately 5 minutes Baking Time: approximately 45 minutes Total Time: approximately 50 minutes
Do you eat a lot of pizza in your house? We love pizza here. I had one of those wheel type pizza cutters, and it always got a lot of use, but somehow I lost it! I think it got thrown out in a pizza box. When it comes to pizza, regular knives just don't cut it (haha.. cut it - get it?) - that's why I was so excited to see this free offer -
All this talk about stews, soups and chili - how about a recipe? Like I mentioned in my earlier post on chili, the red stuff comes in many different variations, and this version is a serious meal. It has a thick stew like consistency that is hearty and delicious - you can use any type of bean in place of the black beans - I like kidney beans or pinto beans.
What You Need:
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/4 C of white rice
1 1/4 C of beef broth
1 (26 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 lbs. ground chuck
1 (4 oz.) can green chilies, drained and diced
1 t of salt
1 t of ground cumin
1 t of dried oregano
2 C zucchini, shredded
1 (14 oz.) can petit diced tomatoes
How to Make It:
Allow the oven to preheat to 450 degrees.
Spray the sides and bottom of a cast iron Dutch oven pan with a non stick cooking spray.
Scatter the onions over the bottom of the pan.
Spread the rice over the onions and pour the water over the rice.
Smooth the rice out into an even layer.
Place the beans into a mixing bowl.
Add the ground chuck, chilies, salt, cumin and oregano and mix until well blended.
Drop the mixture by forkfuls into the pan.
Spread the zucchini over the meat mixture and top with the diced tomatoes.
Cover and bake 45 minutes or until cooked through.
Makes 4 servings
Preparation Time: approximately 10 minutes
Baking Time: approximately 45 minutes
Total Time: approximately 55 minutes
If you don't have a dutch oven, I recommend getting one! The Le Creuset French Oven is a great choice - I prefer enameled cast iron. This chili can also be made in the slow cooker.
When it comes to warming up, not only our bodies but our kitchens, stews are at the top of the list. Just the smell of a simmering stew spells comfort and warmth. Soups can also give us this warm feeling, but be not confused - soups and stews are very different. Both are generally cooked on top of the stove or in a crock pot and both can contain meat and vegetables, but their liquid bases are different in many ways.
What is Stew?
The definition of a stew is solid food cooked in resilient gravy. Solid ingredients include meats, carrots, potatoes, celery and other types of vegetables. These meats and vegetables are chopped coarsely and added to a liquid. The liquid is thickened by flour or arrowroot after the stew simmers for a period of time.
Stews are simmered over low heat. The simmering time may be 3 hours to 8 hours depending on the type of stew. This simmering process allows the flavors of the stew ingredients to intermingle with each other. Often times extra spices are not necessary to give the stew its distinct comforting flavor and smell.
Where Did Stews Originate?
It is said that stews have long been a favorite in France. The French are known for making flavorful stews that are economical. When stew first originated it was considered a food for peasants. Stews were easily made with just a few ingredients and can be a dish that is served for more than just one sitting.
It didn’t take long for stews to become a dish of distinction. Today the French pride themselves on their vibrant and hearty stews. Yet France is not alone on their love for this type of dish. Polish too have their own form of stew known as “bigos” and the Germans consider goulash their favorite type of stew. The Americans are also true lovers of a good stew.
The Difference Between Stews & Soups
Even though both soups and stews warm the body, there are significant differences between the two.
Soups are often water based. Milk, or even fruit juices, can also be used to make a soup base. Soups can be served warm or cold and are usually served in a bowl due to the thin liquid soups are cooked in. Soups cook quickly compared to stews, which means the addition of more spices and seasonings are often times necessary to give a soup its distinct flavor.
Stews are much thicker and their liquids are often referred to as gravy. Stews are usually served as a main course. Soups can be both a main course or served as a starter for a meal. A good stew is always served hot and can be placed on a plate rather than in a bowl due to its thicker consistency. Stews are also much richer than soups and hold well when frozen and reheated.
Soups and stews can warm you up on a cold winter day and give a little comfort to fight off the winter blues. The differences between the may be quite distinctive, but the end result is still a warm comfort and great taste. Try simmering a hearty stew to see the difference for you.
What is a bowl of red you might ask? Why, it’s chili of course! Right off the bat you can see the controversy. Chili is a warm food eaten in the chill of winter. Just how strange is that? In America it’s not very strange at all actually. Just ask the participants at one of the numerous chili cook offs held throughout the United States every single year.
Just what is chili anyway? The answer to that question depends on what part of the United States you find yourself in? Most chili includes ground beef, beans, onions, tomatoes, chili powder and tomato juice. Pretty basic until you travel around to some of the best chili spots in North America and discover how people have added and removed some of those ingredients to create a huge variety of the dish.
Texans are great fans of chili. Their chili is as hot and spicy as any around. Stew meat is often found in southern chili instead of ground meat. These types of chili also include cayenne pepper. The hotter the red, the better the red. That’s the norm in Texas. Many Texans dislike the use of beans in their chili also.
Cincinnati, Ohio is known for their 5 way chili. This chili includes ground meat, spaghetti noodles, beans, onions and cheese. Some cities have tried to improve on this 5 way chili by adding spices and tomatoes. These types of chili are often called the five alarm chili.
For most Americans chili is whatever we can find to put in the pot. Some prefer very basic chili, while others work hard to refine their chili until it’s perfect. Most won’t give their recipe away either which makes for a very guarded secret in many places.
Some chili has even been known to contain corn and bits of potatoes. Some chili dishes include ground pork or ground turkey instead of ground beef. Most chili contains onions and tomatoes, but vary on the other types of vegetables included. There are chili beans in some, kidney beans in others and still some who combine both types of beans. There are even versions of chili made with chicken and white beans, which is known as white chili.
Most chili contains tomato juice. V-8 juice has become a popular replacement for plain tomato juice. With the different varieties of V-8 juice now, some chili experts shy away from adding extra spices. There are chili’s made with wines, beers and even a few that contain orange juice.
Peppers have also found their way into many chili recipes. Bell peppers, jalapeno peppers and hot chili peppers are often added to give color and taste to the best recipes. It is also said a pinch of sugar (brown or white) can be added to remove the acid found in many tomato based chili recipes.
Americans are so proud of their chili that many areas have "chili cook offs". These cook offs bring in chili of every kind you can imagine. Tasters must choose the best pot of the bunch. To be the chili king or queen is a prize held in the highest regards in some areas.
No matter where you are from or what you put in your chili, it is sure to bring on a few doubtful taste buds, especially among fellow cooks. Of the diehard chili makers, no one believes another’s chili is better than their own, no matter how much they consume. Try making your own version of the best chili around. It just takes a little imagination and often times a liking for the hot and unknown. No matter what you put in that chili pot it is sure to fight off the chill of a cold winter day.
Are you suffering from mom burn out? Do you struggle just to make it through each day? Moms everywhere are breaking down because they are too chicken to say, "No".
"No" may be a tiny, two-letter word, but it can be your secret weapon. And you can say it. Here are some ways you can say "no" without feeling guilty about it:
Sorry, I’m taking a break.
The number one reason why you should say, "no" occasionally is simply that you deserve a break. You are chef, chauffeur, dish washer, and more. You job never ends on any given day of the week. You deserve a break. If you feel bad for saying "no", say, "Sorry, I’m taking a break".
My schedule is full.
We tend to jam-pack our schedule full of activities, leaving time for nothing. Cut back on your kids activities. Start a car pool and share driving responsibilities. Do whatever you can to free up some time in your schedule.
I don’t have time.
You’re headed out the door, rushing to the next appointment when the telephone rings. What do you do? Do you come to a screeching halt and answer the phone? Let’s say you do, and it’s a family member, calling to dump their latest woes on you. Do you stand, tapping your foot impatiently while you roll your eyes and listen to the sob story? This is a typical scene for many moms.
I have another commitment that day.
Say it and mean it. Regularly schedule in time with your family or time alone and if someone ask for your help during that time look in your planner and tell them you have another commitment.
Instead of rushing to be everything to everyone, stop. Ask yourself if you truly have time for whatever comes up. If not, say no by walking away, turning off the ringer on the phone, or not answering the knock at your door.
Always remember that you are a mom — not a super hero. When you have to say no, people will understand; if they don’t at first, they will get used to it eventually.
Editor's note: Still having trouble putting your foot down? Sometimes, we just need some extra guidance, a listening ear or a gentle and loving kick in the butt. You might want to give Aurelia Williams's free coaching session (affiliate) a go. She's a life coach and mom of 3 who has adult, teen and school age children so she definitely knows what she's talking about.
In many areas of the world soup is considered to be the main meal of the day. Most homemade soups are made without any recipes using only cooking skills that have been passed down through the generations and concocted within imaginations. Market produce, home grown vegetables, herbs and leftovers find their way into some of the best soups.
Soup for the Soul Soup is pure comfort food that warms your body and heart. It is simple to make and fun to eat. Just ask any child who slurps from the spoon at the dinner table how much fun it can be. This hearty dish fills you up yet, is easy on the tummy because it’s so easy to digest.
How Did Soup Start Anyway? Soup is believed to have come from the word “sop.” This term means to pour a rich warm broth over a slice of bread. Bread is a main staple in many homes and goes perfect as a complement to soup. Torn bread, a crusty loaf of bread and even croutons find there way into soup bowls all over the world.
There’s Nothing Quite Like a Bowl of Homemade Soup In this day and age homemade soups have taken a back burner in many homes. With the ready made convenience of canned soups many have forgotten just how warming and comforting a good bowl of soup made from scratch can be. Soup is an extremely versatile dish because it can include just about any ingredient you’ve got on hand. Vegetables, chicken, beef, pork, fish and even fruits can be placed in a soup pot with the end result being a delicious meal. Depending on the ingredients, soup can be a hearty chunky concoction served in rustic style or a silky, creamy dish fit for even the most refined setting. Hot or cold the possibilities for soup creations are endless.
Tips for Creating the Perfect Homemade Soup A good soup has a strong and hearty flavor. Ingredients such as garlic, tomatoes or onions can give flavor to a simply prepared soup. These types of ingredients will give any type of liquid you add to your soup the best flavor and appeal.
Another way to enhance the flavor of your soup is by using a well flavored stock. Stocks are made by using raw vegetables, meats or fish. Place the ingredients into a stock pot with water and allow them to simmer until the liquid becomes infused with the hearty flavors.
Once the stock has simmered, strain it well and use it as the base liquid for homemade soup. Stocks are best when made in large amounts and frozen for later use. This not only saves money, but time too because you don’t have to wait for the stock to be prepared before you begin putting together the soup itself.
Water is always acceptable in place of stock when making homemade soup. Just remember when you use water the soup will have less of an infusion of flavor and less body. That doesn’t mean your soup will be bland and boring. Simply, create the flavor you’re looking for with herbs and spices. Wondering how much stock to use for a pot of soup? Using 8 ounces of stock per person will prove to be the perfect amount.
There is something to be said about having a bowl of chicken soup when you are feeling under the weather. Comforting and warming soups can supply us with everything our bodies need to make it though a long cold winter. So, head to the kitchen and see what you can come up with to create your own homemade soup today.
Ever have those days when you just don't have time to eat... or to fix the kids something for breakfast? Planning ahead can save your booty - try making a few batches of these great breakfast burritos to have on hand.
All in One Breakfast Rollups
What You Need:
1 T olive oil
1 Ham steak - diced into small pieces
2 C frozen southern style hash browns, thawed (or make your own from shredded or diced potatoes)
8 eggs
1/2 C salsa
1 pkg (6" size) tortillas
1 C shredded Mexican style cheese
Wax paper
Freezer bags
How to Make It:
Place the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
When hot add the ham and hash browns.
Cook until they are both beginning to brown.
Place the salsa in a large mixing bowl.
Add the eggs and stir until mixed together.
Pour the salsa mixture in with the ham mixture.
Leave heat on medium high and cook until the eggs have set.
Place a tortilla flat (first, heat tortillas in microwave or according to the instructions on package)
Place about 4 T of the ham mixture down the center of the tortilla.
Roll the tortilla up completely.
Continue until all the tortillas are used.
Wrap each rollup in wax paper.
Place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
When ready to eat remove from the freezer and unwrap.
Place each rollup on a microwave safe plate and cover with paper towel.
Microwave 2 minutes on high or until the burrito is as heated as you like.
These taste better than the fast food variety, and frankly, are more convenient. You can zap them in the microwave while you put on your makeup or shave - and have time to sit and eat instead of waiting in the drive-thru and eating in the car.
What do you do when a meal is finished? Most of us wash the dishes and wrap up the leftovers, but what happens to the leftover portions not eaten? Do they get consumed later or do they sit in the refrigerator until they start to smell and you finally throw them out? If you tend to do the latter, how about saving some time and money by learning how to use those leftovers in new ways to surprise your family at dinner time.
Some people like leftovers and some do not. Still then, many will eat them one day out, but quickly get tired of eating the same thing over and over. Here’s a way to fix the problem if you or someone in your family is the same way. Let’s start with an example.
You prepare a roasted pork loin and rice for dinner one night. The family wants something else for dinner the following night so the pork loin gets pushed to the back of the refrigerator. Normally, that’s where it will stay until you clean out the fridge, right? Not anymore. Let’s do something to keep that pork loin from going to waste.
Eating leftovers the way they were originally served, is probably what’s turning family members off from wanting it again the next night. Your family doesn’t have to eat the pork loin as is. So, chop that pork loin up into bite size pieces.
Now you’re probably thinking, ok that’s great, but what do I do with it now? In a large skillet or wok, stir fry the leftover rice with a bag of frozen veggies, an egg, and some of the chopped pork loin to make pork fried rice. Add a little soy sauce and you’ve got a whole new dinner for your hungry family.
This is just one way that leftovers can be turned into a new dish with a new flavor. The same can also be done using chicken, seafood, or beef. Let’s take a look at beef.
If you have hamburgers left from dinner, chop them up until they resemble ground beef again. The meat can be combined with chili powder and taco sauce to make beef tacos. Or, add some beans, chopped peppers and tomatoes, and sauce to create a pot of chili. If you have the imagination, there are an unlimited number of possibilities of what you can do with meats and side dishes from a previous night’s dinner.
Using a little leftover magic can make one meal last for two, three, or even four more days. But, you don’t have to eat it all in the same week. Fix a new meal with the leftovers and freeze it until you are ready to have that particular meat again. On that day, dinner will already be made, all you’ll need to do is heat it up. Yes, it really can be just that simple.
Your family will be amazed at your ability to transform any meal into a new creation they will enjoy. Besides that, you will save money on your grocery bill and won’t be throwing it away in the trash can as spoiled leftovers. Try these and similar ideas to expand your family’s palate.
I got tired of life happening while I made other plans, so I quit my job and came to Peru. I live here with my Peruvian husband, two sons, three dogs and various other family members, depending on the weather.
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