Okay, it's time to share the competition that's been playing out in my kitchen. Since gas started spiking, I made the grand announcement to my terrorized family that I was going to start making dinner every.single.night. We need to cut money somewhere.
Now, if you read my stuff with any kind of regularity, it's no secret that I'm not much of a hausfrau. I hate cooking. We eat too much take out. Not anymore. As of tonight, it will be 12 CONSECUTIVE days that I've cooked dinner.
TWELVE CONSECUTIVE DAYS. Sorry for yelling. I just wanted to see that again.
Now, we're not picky eaters, and it's the right time of year for my kind of basic, cook-with-the-season kind of grub. I've told the kids they will each be responsible for a dinner once a week, no matter how bad it is. Ari was cool with that - he's the best cook in the house. Christer looked stricken - he's even worse than me. I told Poor Sod he'd be responsible when his work hours get back to normal. We all looked stricken at that - I think he can make toast.
So, why tell you this? Start firing over the recipes! If it picks up, I'll get WebGod to set up a separate countdown and recipe suggestions. Keep it simple, nutritious and goofproof - dinner has to happen in the same time it takes to pick something up or have it delivered. Gas ain't going down, food is going up, so it's probably a good time to attempt something like this, and stop eating crap at the same time. I'll share the things my kids love that don't kill me to make. Oh, and extra points for using less dishes.
Lorraine, with your intelligence and expertise you can fire off your recipes for us to try. Less pans? Do what I did..Got cast iron fry pans, three sizes, seasoned them well and cook everything on the BBQ.I wash and clean everything outside. Works the best when you have a covered deck which I have for the fair weather days.. Good luck but most of all make it fun. Look forward to trying your creation of Wellington of Burlington...
ReplyDeleteCouple of quick questions...
ReplyDeleteDo you possess a working gas grill (BBQ)?
At least one full tank of propane? Ot are you a natural gasser -- careful, this may involve roasting cauliflower!!
I'll assume you have a dollar-type store within your eating area -- to purchase foil pans? Dirt cheap at the dollar store and they can often be reused...
When you say not fussy, can you be a little more precise? For me and my five sibs growing up, we alwats thought that cigarette ash was a condiment...! Do you like plain food or would slightly more adventurious be considered?
How about a crockpot? My all time favourite kitchen utensil!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent suggestion!
ReplyDeleteMade a vegetarian-based pasta sauce yesterday that cooked from 8.00am until dinner at 7.00pm. A couple of hours before serving, added frozen meatbals. Voila -- dinner last night, tonight and for another evening in the future!
Foolproof?
ReplyDeleteTake said crockpot, one inexpensive cut of beef (every now and then you see them advertisied, 5 lbs of meat for $ 10.00) and a pack of onion soup mix.
Open soup mix and sprinkle on the bottom of the pot. Wash meat, pat dry and place on top of soup mix. BO NOT add anything else. Cover pot, fire it up on low and let it simmer away for 8 hours or so...
Easy pot roast or the beginnings of great beef sandwiches on crusty buns!
Okie doke. I can see this is gonna work well. I already have another reader emailing me a recipe-of-the-day, and when my sisted Roz gets in here, she's going to blast me. "I tell you every day what to cook! And you're going to go to complete strangers for advice???"
ReplyDeleteI have a very large crock pot, still in the box. I have a rice cooker, still in the box. I have a big BBQ, natural gasser. We eat mostly chicken, I buy ground turkey and turkey sausages, some beef once in awhile, a little pork. I miss my mom's roast beef, and Roz doesn't eat beef so she can't yell at me for trying out your recipes!
We use tons of garlic and onions, I go through lots of olive oil, I don't have fancy-ass spices, but can be persuaded to start getting some.
Looks like I'll be having a chat with ol' WGJ later today...
Everybody in?
Tell Roz were not strangers -- just strange like her sister!
ReplyDeleteStop, I am getting hungry. Lorraine, what's on for tonight? We are all coming over. Mac and Cheese?
ReplyDeleteok. this is Roz. I can't believe what I'm reading. SHE'S looking for recipes? joke. She'll probably print them off and use them as a book mark. She really can cook, just doesn't cook unless SHE'S hungry. I love her anyway. Besides, I have to be able to do something better than her.
ReplyDeleteAhem. 13 days now. Big Greek salad, boneless chicken on the BBQ, and buns to slap 'em on.
ReplyDeleteAnd, for the record? I make awesome homemade mac and cheese...extra old cheddar, ground pepper....
And ignore Roz. She does everything better than I do. My kids have asked if they can go live with her whether I die or not.
Baked Perogies.
ReplyDeleteUse a big cassarole, layer the perogies, bacon and onions like lasagna, and bake.
One pot.
Lorraine, the mac and cheese sounds delicious. That sounds exactly the way I make it, sliced extra old cheddar with the pepper mill just a howling with course home ground black pepper. Toss in some bacon strips for good measure. Under the broiler at 375F for a bit and voila. A tummy filler.
ReplyDeleteHey remember guys, whatever recipes you pass on and if her nibs tries it, it had better be good breakfast food too! Too many secrets shared?
ReplyDeleteRoz
p.s. where's WGJ? Doesn't he cook too?
S, it is becoming apparent that cholestrol is an issue that is either not being dealt with or completely ignored in the Golden Horshoe??
ReplyDeleteCholestrol? Good point, but were are a happy bunch with full tummies. Oh,oh!!! I can hear my arteries closing now.
ReplyDeletecrockpot again
ReplyDeleteany kind of roast, beef or pork, one bottle of bbq sauce, cook on low all day, pull meat apart with forks and you have pulled pork or beef for sandwiches......yummy and super easy
as a variation to omemee's roast I sometimes add a can of undiluted tomato soup with the onion soup and you now have instant gravy too
unpack the crock Lorraine they are fabulous
amw
Never BBQ just one night's meat. Throw a little extra on the grill and use it the next night in quesadilla or spaghetti sauce!
ReplyDeleteMarilyn