Dinner Time Blues

The self professed "queen of dinners", (me, being dramatic) has caught a hard case of the blues! 

With the changing varied schedule and tight times, my dinner days are a fond memory. I have not been able to play and cook alot of REAL dinners since usually hubby works nights and when he is home our pockets are empty and cupboards are bare. Well, not bare bare, but not well stocked. We are reduced to cheap quick food, esp since his days off often turn into a whole day of errands. 

So when I have free time (or even when I'm suppose to be doing something and I'm procrastinating) I daydream of cooking. Hubs and I will talk about what we WANT to make, but then he gets overwelmed by costs and work stress and we end up with the cheap easy stuff. Makes it a tad harder to EAT RIGHT, when your just eating what you can afford. 

Occasionally I'll bake a sweet, but I miss cooking REAL MEALS!

LIKE :

pulled BBQ sammiches

cheesy chicken and broccoli cassarole

chicken adobo

cornbread with chunky chili 

fried chicken, i'm known for

biscuit topped chicken pot pie (southern thing)

etc... roasts, mac n cheese, stews, and so much I miss making! ahhh!

but soon, if wallets permit!

SOON!

LD

Random Cooky Tips

I don't claim to be an expert. But I do have some advice. ;)

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Gluten Free Tips?

Try mixing some pudding mix in your cakes and cake-like baked goods.

Try using unflavored gelatin to help act as a "binder"

Try adding extra eggs where you can

Use rich flavors, good quality foods and products, natural and fresh when possible

Try using healthier fats and sugars

Check labels! If your celiac, or intolerant enough,

you need to be careful of hidden gluten!

Practice makes perfect, gf cooking is not easy, but it doesn't have to be hard.

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Dinner Tips?

If your busy often, and have no thinking time, try keeping egg noodles (or gf version) on hand. Keeping quick cooking noodles on hand regularly can help in tight spots! Egg noodles are an easy go-to noodle because than are very versitle! Regular items my husband and I keep around are...

bags egg noodles

jars of alfredo sauce

jars of herb tomato pasta sauce

bags of frozen veggies like broc, green beans, spinich, etc

chicken meat seperated in dinner sized portions, frozen

Same with beef and fish (any other meats)

--- this way meat can be defrosted easily. just pick a meat the night before to through in the fridge to defrost by dinner time ---

I like to keep fresh bread in the house, a good general go to is italian steak rolls (like sub/hoagie rolls)

Butters and oils

Herbs and spices

cream ofs, broths, etc

a few good cheeses, we like mozzarella and feta

a gf (or norm) flour blend - self rising/all purpose

salad blends (big cont last about a week in freshness)

With those items you can make a variety of fairly quick pasta type dishes. Our 3 faves that include the chicken and egg noodles?

Chicken Broc Alfredo

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken "Spagetti" Pasta

All three are fairly easy, under 30 mins a pc. I use those 2 ingriedients 2 times a week now.

If nothing else pick a meat and veggie, cook and serve. ex: salmon filet and a salad.

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CASSAROLES AND BAKES

can be a life saver. find a meat, a few mix ins, and "liquid", and a topping. Through it in the oven to cook.

SLOW COOKERS

these are a godsend! Endless ideas, and easy to operate. You can put it together before you leave, set in on low, and have dinner ready when you get home!

GROUND MEAT/SHREDDED MEAT

not just for beef anymore, any (non fish) meat can be turned into bbq, burgers, chili, meat loafs, etc!

play around and experament!

SOUPS AND STEWS

These can be fun, like liqid food confetti! You can do sooooo many things with soooo many ingridents! You can buy broth, or make your own broth. These can be done in a pot, or slow cooker.

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Baking tips?

Well one of my all time fav life saving, or food saving, websites is

cook's thesaurus

It can help if you are out of something you need to make your dish!

Also, with regards to the oven, ALWAYS WATCH.

Not everything gets done the same. Oven temps by brand, age, type, and allitude can effect cooking time. If you have an electric oven, try keeping a moisture to it. By either spraying the walls, or leaving a pan of shallow water. Electric ovens can remove moisture in a dish.

Try this website for further tips - Cooking Tips

Thats all, for now!

xoxo

ld

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HERE IS A BONUS - BEEF MEAT MAP: