I always enjoyed planning
meals when my kids were growing up, but I think it had to come to me more
naturally than for some. I have tried many new recipes, and still do, and my family
probably wished I would have served some things more often. I would love to share
some ideas to help those who tend to have a hard time creating menus for their
family.
~Post your
weekly menu on the refrigerator door. You don't have to stick to it, but at least
you'll have some ideas to choose from when you're hungry for a certain taste. If
you have teenagers or younger trustworthy kids, maybe they could help by
preparing a dish,or even preparing an item for dinnertime, like mixing/making
muffins from a mix.
~Planning ahead the night before is key! Do you need to pull out some meat from the freezer to thaw? Do you need to put out your crockpot on the counter so you remember to put that roast in?Do you need to marinade something? This will make your life a whole lot easier!
~Set your own family traditions - have pasta on Wednesdays or grill burgers every Friday. We love having breakfast for dinner on Sunday evenings.
~Don't be afraid to try new recipes. Ask a
friend who you know is a good cook, to share some of their recipes and menu ideas
with you. I have to admit - I try many more dishes, because I've been given the
recipe by someone I trust. They have helped me 'blossom' and grow in the kitchen -
literally (teehee).
~Come up with 3 or 4 weekly menus
and rotate them. Keep them simple and learn to substitute fresh veggies and fruit
when they are in season. To make things easier, plan a week's menu using the
same cookbook.
~Cook a double portion and freeze for
a quick meal on a busy night. This website has an awesome plan for making 40
freezer meals for the crockpot in 4 hours. Check it out at www.whoneedsacape.com(Who Needs a Cape)type'crockpot freezer cooking'in the
search engine. She even shares a printable shopping list to get you
started.
~Whether you are someone who relishes
your time in the kitchen or spends as little time cooking as possible, just
remember that family bonds and memories are made around the dinner table. Your
kids won't remember the meals they were served, nearly as much as they will
remember the precious times you spent together. I love that my daughter-in-love,
Lyn, makes a habit of asking her kids at dinnertime what their 'rose' and 'thorn' was for the day. Communicating around the table makes a real impact on
your family, so take time to talk whenever you're together.
This is one of my favorite crockpot meals. Pork and
apples complement each other so nicely. The flavor is awesome.
SLOW COOKER HONEY DIJON PORK CHOPS, APPLES
& ONIONS
1-1/2 lbs. pork chops, boneless or bone-in
5 small apples, peeled and sliced
1 onion, sliced
3 Tb. honey
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
generous grinds of black pepper
1/3 c. apple juice
Place pork chops in bottom of crock. In small
bowl,combine honey, dijon, salt and pepper together. Pour over apples and
onions;toss to coat. Place apples and onions on top of chops in slow
cooker. Add apple juice. Cook 5 - 6 hours
on high or 7 - 8 hours on low.
This next scrumptious make-ahead recipe makes the
house smell so good while they are baking. I have made these marvy meatloaves a
couple of times when I have visited my daughter, pre-cooking them partially then
putting them in her freezer for quick meals. The recipe comes from"Make Ahead
Meals for Busy Moms"cookbook by my friend, Jane Doiron.I like adding small chunks
of Velveeta cheese before baking.
MINI MEATLOAVES
2# lean ground beef
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried minced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 c. Italian-style or garlic & herb bread
crumbs
1/3 c. Parmesan cheese,grated
1/2 c. ketchup
1 large egg
OPTIONAL SAUCE:
1/4 c. ketchup
2 Tb. light brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
~A Day Ahead~ In large mixing bowl,combine
beef, salt, pepper, onion, garlic, bread crumbs, cheese, ketchup and egg. Press the
mixture evenly into four 3" X 5"X 2" mini loaf (foil)pans. Cover and
refrigerate.
~Cooking Directions~ Remove meatloaves from
refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Preheat oven to 350. Bake uncovered, for 45
minutes. Combine sauce ingredients and brush on top of loaves if desired. Bake 10
more minutes. (If using muffin pans, they will bake faster).
~Freezer
Directions~ Wrap the uncooked meatloaves (without sauce on top )in plastic
wrap and place in labeled freezer bags. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw meatloaves in
refrigerator 24 hours before heating. Bake as
directed.
CROCKPOT
BROWNIES
8
ozs. bittersweet chocolate,chopped
(I used extra
dark chocolate chips)
1/2
c. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1
c. sugar
3
lg. eggs
1 c.
walnuts,chopped, optional
1 c. chocolate
chips
1-1/4
c. all-purpose flour
1/4
c. unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4
tsp. baking powder
1/2
tsp. salt
Coat the
inside of your crockpot with cooking spray. Line the bottom with parchment
paper (or waxed paper) and coat the top of the paper with cooking spray. Melt
chocolate and butter together in microwave in microwave-safe bowl, stirring after
30 second intervals, until chocolate is melted. Stir in sugar and mix well. Add
eggs; blend til smooth. Set aside. Stir in nuts
and chocolate chips and mix well. Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients and
stir just until combined. Pour into crockpot and smooth top. Cover and cook on low
for 3 hours. Uncover and cook for 30
minutes. Insert a knife edge around brownies to loosen and place the crock (if
you have a removable one) on a cooling rack to cool for 20-30 minutes. Turn out
brownies and re-invert on cooling rack to continue cooling. (May substitute half
the sugar with a sugarfree alternative, but keep in mind brownies will bake
faster) TIP: When making
dessert in my crockpot, I always lay paper towels over the top of the crock
before placing the lid on. It catches the moisture that would otherwise fall into
the crockpot and make your dessert top wet.
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