Month: February 2025

Cooking · Food

Couldn’t Find What I Needed At The Market. Now What?

JanetLeave a comment

My last grocery order was a bit more…incomplete than I had hoped (planned) for. I went in with the intention of creating a specific recipe but at the end of the day, I wasn’t able to find everything I needed.

It happens to everyone at one time or other. <sigh>

Between what I had on hand and what I was able to get at the market, here’s what I was working with:

  • Boneless Chicken Breasts
  • Broccoli Florets
  • Swiss Cheese
  • Stuffing Mix
  • White Rice
  • Sour Cream
  • Cream Soup
  • Canadian Bacon and Regular Bacon

I could not get the prosciutto, which should not have been a game changer but somehow was.

I ended up seasoning the chicken and baking it in the oven until almost completely done. I knew I was going to continue to cook it, so this short time wasn’t a game changer.

I pulled out my rice cooker and made my regular white rice setting up the steamer tray with frozen broccoli florets and one of the cooked chicken breasts. Once that was done, I added butter and pepper to the rice (I always salt my rice water before cooking) and pulled the chicken & broccoli aside to cool and be cut into serving pieces.

I now have one cooked chicken breast in addition to what I put into the rice cooker. I can combine it all with a sauce and add cheese with a topping…or use the stuffing mix as a topping…

This is what I was originally aiming for:

Either way works and I have options that I hadn’t considered when I put together my grocery order.

It also comes down to the other reality we all face at one time or other…sometimes we just aren’t in the mood for what we put on our menu. This bit of comfort food hit the spot and will be good for at least one more meal.

Happy cooking!

Around the House

I Must Have Lost My Mind!

JanetLeave a comment

Grocery shopping on Valentine’s Day?

First, there is no major need to hit the grocery store today, but…

Second, I am in the mood for a particular recipe and needed the ingredients I did not already have on hand.

Third, it seemed like a good idea…because we are looking at a change in the weather and… Well, you know.

The Magic Pantry still has some wonderful items in stock. I have all kinds of options for dinners and even a few breakfasts. I stocked up on bacon a while back and haven’t defrosted any to cook in a while and I was gifted some great sausages at Christmas, so there is that, too…

Heavens! I am making excuses even to myself. LOL!

The truth is I came across a recipe that I wanted to try and, wouldn’t you know, I only had part of what I needed on hand. I admit lately it has taken some…inspiration…to get me interested in playing in the kitchen.

It wasn’t until I had completed the order that I realized that it was Valentine’s Day… I’m hoping that my mid day delivery would allow my shopper to find what I need without issue. Ordinarily I am more aware of the calendar and such… <shrug>

Here’s hoping all goes well…across the board. 😉

Musings

A Change Is As Good As A Rest

JanetLeave a comment

Or spending a few days away from home can be both refreshing and recharging. Mr. Carrington recently spent a few days away from home to focus on work projects and take a breather away from the regular day to day. He was nice enough to bring us along, too.

Check out the first of the three vlogs here:

The cottage is just the right size. The village is picturesque. Frankly, it reminded me a lot of those English murder mysteries. 🙂

Sometimes I think we forget how just getting away from home for a few days can be so beneficial. In this case, the benefit of being an arm chair traveler is immeasurable.

Enjoy!

Cooking · Meal Building Blocks

Taking Advantage of What’s On Sale

JanetLeave a comment

Glen over at Glen and Friends recently posted a couple of videos where he made components to a fabulous meal. It started with a ‘What’s On Sale’ purchase.

The links to the roasted potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding recipes are below the video on his channel. Check them out, too!

The beauty of this is that it is flexible. You might not find a brisket when you are shopping. Customize your menu to fit what you can find.

Start thinking about alternatives. Roast potatoes…baked potatoes…mashed potatoes. What vegetable is available? Is there a sale in the frozen food section?

Think about leftovers. A good sized roast can become a stew or shredded for sandwiches. That leads us to looking at breads…cornbread…soda bread…

Enjoy!

Cooking

Happy Birthday, Jim’s Kitch Kitchen!

JanetLeave a comment

I’m a bit late to the party, but I thought I would share the collaboration over at Jim’s Kitch Kitchen. He and some friends got together to celebrate his birthday by making some Bisquick recipes. Check it out:

Click on the Description below the video for not only links to the other participants but the recipes.

I love Bisquick and these recipes give me some inspiration and ideas to try in my own kitchen.

Musings

Steady As We Go

JanetLeave a comment

Upheaval of any kind tends to make folks hunker down and cling onto the known. The thing is that when life tends to be chaotic it provides us an opportunity (or two) to discover alternatives.

I’ve known folks who have lost everything to some sort of disaster and, once the dust has settled, every one of them has found new ways to move forward in their lives. As odd as it might sound, the opportunity to change a pattern and go in a new direction provides a life that might never been dreamt of.

Some folks are terrified of change but the reality is that change is a normal part of life. Without it there is no life. Change might be scary but it might also provide a way to explore new opportunities, learn new things, experiment with possibilities. Things that might never have been contemplated if the requirement had not occurred.

That is not to say that there won’t be some sort of trauma involved. Fear is an ever present companion as we tread life’s journey. It is there for a reason but we must be diligent about not letting fear control how we move through our lives.

The interesting thing about embracing change and moving forward is the discovery of things we never thought about before. Good or bad, new stuff/things/experiences/places/whatever makes our journeys interesting and exciting.

Not sure where to start? Start small. Go for a walk. Try something new. Play with a new color or texture. Once your comfort level eases, move ahead with another new thing. Keep a journal about your experiences. It doesn’t have to be a huge endeavor, just a few notes. In a few months refer back to it and see what stands out to you.

A friend reminded me that life is a series of pendulums. Each one swings to extremes but they all return to the middle. Everything changes an each movement is a learning experience.

Slow and steady.