Category: Food

Food

Rethinking the Meal Plan and the Budget

JanetLeave a comment

See Mindy Mom recently posted that she has had to rethink her food plans not only because of budget but the ages of her kids – all now in their teen years. That got me to thinking. Have you found yourself dealing with shrinking budget and a list of meals that just aren’t hitting the mark anymore?

For those with kids, it can be deceptively easy to forget that what was once sufficient because they didn’t eat as much or their tastes were a bit limited but now that they have grown a bit things have changed. Growing kids need a lot more good healthy foods to help them keep growing and keep them healthy. Adults, too, need good healthy foods but their tastes have changed a bit, too.

Recently I was meandering through the weekly ad from one of my local markets and found myself seeing things I hadn’t bought in a Very Long Time. Why? Because I was tired of eating them. We have also had shortage issues with a few things and by the time the shortages were resolved, I’d forgotten all about what used to be a regular item in my pantry.

As we head into the Summer season when school is out and kids are home more, many will be challenged to find items that the kids can snack on and meal items that won’t break the bank. Farmer’s Markets will, I hope, become a fast favorite to find those locally grown foods that will check many of your meal plan boxes.

If possible, plan to put some of that produce aside in the freezer for later. My mom used to take peaches, peel and slice them and then put them into freezer containers and tuck them away. The sweet summer flavor would be a welcome surprise when they made their way out of the freezer in Autumn.

Waste not, want not!

Now might also be a good time to sit down and make a list of what you, and your family, actually wants to eat. Once you’ve found uses for the left overs in the fridge, freezer and pantry (the stuff that kept being pushed aside…) it is a good time to refresh with items that you will actually look forward to using.

I don’t know about you but in my house the meal plans change with the season. Winter’s stews, roasts and such give way to lighter fare once the weather warms up a bit. And, really, who wants to have the oven on when it is hot outside?

That being said, habit tends to get in the way when putting a shopping list together. Sometimes I have to literally sit myself down and remind myself that it might not be the right time for that particular dish…

So, the Summer Menu Reset is on! Let’s see what we can find to make us look forward to meals rather than just eat.

Enjoy!

Cooking

Struggling For New Meal Ideas?

JanetLeave a comment

I’ve been enjoying Stacey’s Simple Meals this month. Stacey has embarked on a Recipe A Day In The Month Of May and it has been such fun seeing what she comes up with!

Click HERE to visit her YouTube Channel.

Click HERE to visit her website.

Stacey normally presents recipes for one or two people but on her website she has included the latest updates, what you will need for larger quantities and alternate cooking methods.

Check it out and let us both know what you will be making!

Cooking

It Does Not Have To Be Difficult

JanetLeave a comment

Cooking and baking can be extremely simple or excruciatingly complicated and everything in between. For most of us the day to day meals the occasional (or not so) extra special deserts are relatively simple affairs that can be accomplished by reading the recipe and understanding the instructions.

Recently Glen & Friends over on YouTube posted a great example of what happens when recipe writers, and those who use those recipes to make sales, create recipes that are almost certainly guaranteed to frustrate, annoy, and fail. Check it out:

Be sure to check out both recipes in the description box below the video. Eye opening stuff!

I have to wonder if the original recipes might have gone through some tool to adjust it for folks in different parts of the world or who use different measuring tools. That might explain some of the ridiculous measurements.

What Glen does is take the absurdity out of the equation and provide a usable recipe that anyone should be able to make. Even someone who is new to the cookery craft.

As I said, things like this do not have to be complicated but there is also a touch of confusion when you are working with a recipe intended for folks who use scales and those who do not. Either method works you just have to be mindful to be sure you are keeping with the method you chose.

Those cookies do look good!

Food

Simple Ingredient With Multiple Applications

JanetLeave a comment

The other day I came across the Backyard Chef over on YouTube. The feed brought me to a dupe that, frankly, astounded me by how easy and affordable it is. Check it out:

The possibilities are endless. You can flavor it anyway you like, mold it anyway you like, serve it as simply, or fancily, as you like.

But don’t forget that cream cheese is a basic building block for cheese balls and dips. You can use it with a variety of crackers, breads, veg and fruit.

As someone who was frustrated that her favorite flavored cream cheese was rarely in stock, this might just be a game changer. And don’t forget that you don’t have to limit yourself by purchasing the Big Brand Name version. The store brands can be just as good and a lot less expensive.

Food

Compound Butters

JanetLeave a comment

That little something extra.

Sometimes it is the little things that elevate a dish. Think cinnamon sugar on buttered toast. Honey butter spread on pretty much any warm baked good… Biscuits, waffles, pancakes, scones, etc., etc.

I was rather surprised, not to mention a bit impressed, when AllRecipes collected some recipes for compound butters. Click HERE to check them out.

That cinnamon honey butter sounds amazing! What are your favorites?

Cooking

I Had A Moment – A Culinary Moment

JanetLeave a comment

Recently one of my YouTube foodies mentioned that she was over Winter casseroles and ready for lighter Spring food. Yep! I fully understand.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my casseroles and a good roast but after months of that … Even your favorites on the menu no longer excite you, right.

I don’t know about you but I suspect we are in the same, er, cart when it comes to restocking the pantry and finding new meal options. I’ve been pondering my next grocery order and, well, let’s just say that it isn’t exactly going well. I have the roast and some ground beef and lots of chicken in the freezer along with more veg than should be there. In the pantry there are rice and pasta and a few cans of beans. One lonely packet of tuna is in the fridge. Note: I keep my tuna in the fridge because I mostly use it for tuna salads and it just makes sense to keep it cold.

Tuna. Tuna!

I realized that the biggest problem I was having developing my grocery list was that I wasn’t putting things on it I wanted to eat. Head Slap Moment!

A few weeks back I pulled a packet of smoked tuna out of the fridge and made my usual tuna salad with it. O. M. G.!!! That was amazing! Smoked tuna isn’t always easy to get hold of…why not buy a bottle of liquid smoke to add with the rest of the salad ingredients?

Liquid smoke could also be used in oven barbeque sauces or added to gravies.

I realized that I wouldn’t mind having some salmon patties, too. I’m not up to trying to cook salmon fillets but a salmon patty is easy and tasty.

A variety of Spring greens are now available, too. That broadens the salad issue. Some of the Spring fruits and berries are coming on, too.

I think the grocery order is starting to look interesting and, dare I say it, exciting.

What have you been missing that might go on your next grocery order? Something you haven’t had in a while, I hope!

Happy Cooking!

Cooking · Instant Pot 3QT Mini

The Simple Comforts Step By Step Instant Pot Cookbook

JanetLeave a comment

The Simple Comforts Step-by-Step Instant Pot Cookbook: The Easiest and Most Satisfying Comfort Food Ever ― With Photographs of Every Step by Jeffrey Eisner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I finally (!) treated myself to an Instant Pot for Christmas. I chose a 3 quart model because I don’t have room or need for a larger model. As I looked into the Instant Pot I realized I would need a guide that might be more comprehensive than the standard cookbook and I wanted something that would cover basic foods not necessarily the more complicated dishes.

I’ve lost count of how many books I checked out to find this one.

I’d seen several of Jeffrey Eisner’s YouTube videos in addition to sampling the book so I thought I had a decent idea of what to expect. I was off by quite a bit. In a good way.

I found a spiral bound copy of the book which I find exceptionally helpful. The book lays flat and I can fold it back on itself if I need to.

There are tons of photographs. While that isn’t one of my usual requirements in a cookbook, it is very helpful to have as you go through the recipes.

The recipes are well designed. The layout is thoughtful and well organized with photos showing what things should look like every step of the way.

The food charts are extensive and seem to cover all of the basics. You might be shocked at how many Instant Pot / Multicooker cookbooks don’t have them.

The book provides a lot of information that, frankly, should have come with the pot. Everything you need to know to get started. Things you might want to have on hand. Instructions on how to use the recipes with the size of pot you have – essential when most such books focus on the 6 quart models and I have a 3 quart model.

Overall this colorful, informative book has been useful. The recipes are interesting but provide you with some leeway to make changes if your taste is different.

My first recipe from the book was Chicken and Rice which was easy to do and the results exceeded my expectations.

This book is one to add to your collection.



View all my reviews

Cooking · Food · Meal Building Blocks

Playing in the Kitchen: Canned Tuna

JanetLeave a comment

As you might recall if you’ve been around here for a while, I enjoy canned tuna with crackers. Without crackers. In patties. Let’s just say it: I enjoy canned tuna. LOL!

A few months ago I added a variety of tuna packets (not cans) into my grocery order just to see what they were like. The packets (pouches) are smaller than the cans, hence less expensive, but come in a variety of flavors in addition to a plain version. In addition to the plain, I got lemon pepper and a smoked pouch.

The other day I was in the mood for tuna salad with crackers and pulled out the last of my canned tuna and one of those pouches. In fact, I grabbed the smoked version.

After making my salad, I settled in for a leisurely lunch but was quite amazed at what I was eating. That smoked tuna added such a lovely flavor to the rest of the salad!

Who would have thought?

Needless to say I will be buying smoked tuna more often. LOL!

It is these little choices that can elevate a simple dish into something amazing. And, because they are smaller than the cans, these packets/pouches are less expensive, too.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.