The Menu: Recipe and Tips

"I don't have time to cook!" 
"We are so busy."
"I need fast and simple recipes."

These are the three most common sayings I hear from friends and people I talk to about eating well on a budget (which I can manage to talk about food with anybody).

One, if you just read the first part on THE MENU (click here), then you will see that we are all busy, but you do have time to cook good meals that don't always have to been done in 30 minutes.

Today...or rather I should say tonight (I have a small window of peace and silence, must work fast), I am going to give some tips on filling up that menu.  I'm even gonna share some of my favorite recipes. 

Finding Recipes
Tip #1:  Get a Pinterest account!  If you don't already have one of these then you've practically just set yourself back to caveman days.  Many of us do already have a Pinterest account, my advice USE it.  I know some people that have hundreds of recipes on their Pinterest accounts and have made about ten of those recipes.

Tips #2-6:  Pinterest can be overwhelming and addictive, I agree.  And not every recipe is a real recipe.  Gotta watch those links.  With massive amounts of recipes to choose from so you need a starting point.

• Start with what you know.  Find some of your favorite sources and stick with them when searching recipes.
• For example, here are some of my go to's:  my mom and family members, Myrecipes.com (they are all Southern Living's recipes and I trust just about anything they put out there), Southern Living Magazine, Alton Brown, Pioneer Woman
• Keep a folder of your "tried and true" favorites or organized somewhere on a computer/in a notebook.  You want easy access. 
• I don't particularly love to use my tablet in the kitchen (I don't like touching the screen with my dirty hands while I'm cooking) so I still print my recipes out, put them in sheet protectors in a binder (if I end up liking the recipe).  I have folders for different things: Dinner, Breakfast/Breads, Desserts, Salads.  I also have several issues of my SL magazines that have multiple recipes from each issue that I use regularly.
• Try new things slowly.  Only try two new recipes a month or once a week.  You don't want to waste your budget on wasted food.  Do not make every meal a new recipe.
• Change it up.  Organize your meals and then search or base your recipes upon your plan.  Remember we are trying to add variety to our meals.  This includes not eating the same thing everyday.  I actually know someone who told me once that her mother had about 8-10 things that she rotated and that's all they ever ate.  Easy on the budget and planning but I still cringe at the thought.  There are lots of ways to do this:
• Monday-meatless, Tuesday-red meat, Wednesday-seafood, Thursday-chicken, etc OR
• Monday-Mexican, Tuesday-Italian, Wednesday-Chinese, etc.

So many rules!!!  Anyone checkin' out on me yet?  Seriously, I LOVE helping people with this.  If you live nearby, I am more than willing to get together and help you set this up.  If you don't,  I will find a way to help!  Just comment or contact me somehow.

RECIPES

You can link to my Pinterest account for several of these recipes.  I am slowly trying to write ratings on the ones I've already tried, for my own reference to know whether I'll make it again. 
Now, just because my family loves it doesn't mean you are.  We all have different acquired taste, but don't be afraid to try some new things with flavors you may be unfamiliar.  That's what really opens the door to good food.

Curry Coconut Basil Chicken. {melskitchencafe.com}

This made it into my monthly staples within the last year.  I may not always put it on my menu, but I make sure I always have the ingredients anyway.  It's a 40 minute meal tops with loads of goodness.  I never have leftovers.

 

Skillet Burritos with Creamy Cilantro Sauce {Southern Living}.

This is one of those soccer practice nights kind of meal.  It's simple, quick, delicious, and easy for on the go if needed.  It's also awesome for a luncheon with friends.

Apple Cinnamon Grilled Cheese {my own recipe adapted from Kraft}.  This is more of a lunch item but I love the different flavors, and we all have to eat lunch.
Two slices of bread
sliced Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
thinly sliced apple of your choice (about6-7 slices)
sprinkle of cinnamon
Layer the cheese, the apples, and then the cinnamon on one slice of bread.  Then, put the other slice bread on top.  Butter on outside sides of bread and grill on skillet till cheese is melted and both sides of bread are lightly brown.

Chicken Shwarma {jocooks.com}

Jarom introduced me to kababs waaaay back when we went to England.  He loves them. Then when we were visiting San Francisco last Summer, we went to an Egyptian restaurant and they served shwarma and kababs.  I was sold and searched Pinterest 'til I found one I loved.  You got to have a love for the Middle-Eastern spices.  This recipe cooks for a while but so easy to prepare...you must try!

Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken. {Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen}

I'll confess I'm not a huge fan of crock pot meals, but this one is different.  I love dark meat (and it's cheaper).  This recipe calls for skinless and boneless.  I skin it myself and leave the bone.  It's just as yummy.  I serve it with broccoli and rice.  Voila, you've got a meal. 

Pizza.  {my own recipe adapted from Family Fun Magazine}


I try out all kinds of assortments when it comes to pizza.

This is a habit I just can't seem to break.  Every-now-and-then, I trade it in for a different Italian dish but rarely.  I LOVE pizza.  It was my high school job.  I've never tired of eating it.  Pizza is so versatile and that's what I love about it most.  You can add so many different toppings!  I also love to cook it sometimes in a iron skillet. I've tried a lot of different dough and still do but this is my go to pizza dough.
 

1 1/2 cups of warm water
2 1/2 teaspoons of active quick-rise yeast
1/2 teaspoon of sugar
Add sugar and yeast to warm water and let sit for 5 minutes.

In a mixer with the bread kneader attachment add to yeast mixture:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 teaspoon of kosher salt (or regular salt)

3 cups of bread flour

Knead in mixer until dough becomes baby bottom soft at medium speed.  About 5 minutes.  Then pump it up to the next speed and knead for another 5 minutes. 

Take out the dough (your mixing bowl should look clean) and transfer into a large bowl with a little oil in bottom.  Turn the dough until it is covered by the oil.  Cover and let rise in a warm place for at least an hour.

Divide the dough into two parts (this will make two medium pizzas or two thin/crispy large).  Put about 1 tablespoon of cornmeal flour on a non-stick surface.  Get a fork and poke holes in the dough.  Roll it out until desired size and thickness.

Add desired sauce and toppings.  (I would share my pizza sauce recipe...but I'm undecided, it's my secret I've been working on.)  Bake at 425 for about 12 minutes.

Chicken Drumsticks {the Gourmand Mom}

I have found buying drumsticks a big money saver with chicken and it's appealing to my kids.  This recipe is simple, not full of flavor but still good.  It doesn't say to marinate, but marinate it, trust me.  However, this is another versatile item.  You can grill and bake this chicken less than an hour with so many different types of seasonings and marinades.  You will find this on my menu every month if not twice.  We actually, just had it last night with  baked sweet potatoes and mixed green salad.

 

Surprisingly, I noticed I posted almost all chicken recipes.  Oddly enough, I prefer red meat.  I'll just have to save those for another day along with some of my favorite breakfast items.  Breakfast is my favorite meal.

Let me know how those menus are coming along!