Today's challenge is about our favorite kitchen tools. Right now, my favorite is the crock pot. Since I am still so new to home cooked meals, I like the idea of being able to throw ingredients in the crock pot and have a dinner waiting when I get home.
I'm looking forward to learning how to use other kitchen gadgets. (I was surprised how much I enjoyed zesting the lemon with the microplane this week!)
Your turn:
What are your favorite kitchen gadgets. Which ones would you grab if you had to leave in a hurry?
Remember, all comments on the challenge posts earn an entry into the drawing.
Showing posts with label TWFDS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TWFDS. Show all posts
Friday, January 27, 2012
TWFDS Project: Day 4 Go-To Meals
Kathi Lipp talks about how every family has their go-to meals. You know the ones...when all else fails, you make this. I don't really have any of these--yet. I used to make spaghetti about once a week. I boiled noodles and heated up a can of Hunt's (or Wal-Mart brand) spaghetti sauce. Add a can of corn and a can of olives, and dinner is on the table in 20 minutes.
It was meals like this one (and ones with frozen chicken nuggets or corndogs) that made me decide I needed to expand my repertoire to offer my family better choices.
Your challenge:
Today, share you family's favorite recipe. What's the one (or two?) go to meal that you make almost every week? Remember, comments on this series will get you an entry to win a copy of The What's For Dinner Solution.
It was meals like this one (and ones with frozen chicken nuggets or corndogs) that made me decide I needed to expand my repertoire to offer my family better choices.
Your challenge:
Today, share you family's favorite recipe. What's the one (or two?) go to meal that you make almost every week? Remember, comments on this series will get you an entry to win a copy of The What's For Dinner Solution.
For more ideas, Kathi
has a newsletter filled with great recipes and tips for every area of your
home. Plus when you sign up for the newsletter, your will receive The Ultimate Guide to
Man Food an e-cookbook that will rock your husband’s culinary world. Head over
to her website at KathiLipp.com
TWFDS Day 3: Kitchen Tips
I have been out of the habit of daily blogging, so some of my TWFDS Challenge posts are not on the right day. But, I refuse to let my blog control my life, and I won't succomb to blogger guilt! I'll post the final challenges today.
Today's theme is organizing your kitchen. I didn't do much with this because I don't have my own kitchen. My MIL has the kitchen set up the way she likes it. My husband added his touches. I think this may be a case of "too many cooks"....so I won't (yet) do anything to disrupt the status quo. As I get more familiar with kitchen tools, I'll start leaving my mark. For now, my birthday presents, are in a big Sam's Club bag on a shelf in my room. But I'm okay with that.
Some of the tools that have earned a space our kitchen counters are: coffee pot (FIL); toaster over, Kitchen Aide mixer, vacuum sealer, and can opener. On a rolling island in the kitchen, we keep the large stock pot and the large crockpot. We have lots of cabinets in the kitchen, plus a large alcove in the garage where less frequently used items are kept. (My husband is a gadget collector! Some work, some don't.)
For food storage, we have an inside cabinet with canisters (flour, sugar, etc) and a small pantry for open stuff (crackers, Ranch dressing mix) as well as small packaged items. We also have a closet sized pantry in the laundry room with shelves. Our most recent addition is a shelf in the garage where we are buying bulk extras in case of hard(er) times. We keep canned goods out there.
What are your favorite tips for keeping an organized kitchen?
Remember, share here to be entered in the drawing!
Today's theme is organizing your kitchen. I didn't do much with this because I don't have my own kitchen. My MIL has the kitchen set up the way she likes it. My husband added his touches. I think this may be a case of "too many cooks"....so I won't (yet) do anything to disrupt the status quo. As I get more familiar with kitchen tools, I'll start leaving my mark. For now, my birthday presents, are in a big Sam's Club bag on a shelf in my room. But I'm okay with that.
Some of the tools that have earned a space our kitchen counters are: coffee pot (FIL); toaster over, Kitchen Aide mixer, vacuum sealer, and can opener. On a rolling island in the kitchen, we keep the large stock pot and the large crockpot. We have lots of cabinets in the kitchen, plus a large alcove in the garage where less frequently used items are kept. (My husband is a gadget collector! Some work, some don't.)
For food storage, we have an inside cabinet with canisters (flour, sugar, etc) and a small pantry for open stuff (crackers, Ranch dressing mix) as well as small packaged items. We also have a closet sized pantry in the laundry room with shelves. Our most recent addition is a shelf in the garage where we are buying bulk extras in case of hard(er) times. We keep canned goods out there.
What are your favorite tips for keeping an organized kitchen?
Remember, share here to be entered in the drawing!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
TWFDS Challenge: Day 2 LOOP meals
Yesterday I mentioned a LOOP meal on my menu plan for the week. LOOP stands for Left Overs On Purpose. Basically, the idea is that you make a meal early in the week and cook more meat than you need--on purpose. But you don't just serve leftovers. You use that item in a new meal later in the week. Sandra Lee, on The Food Network, calls these Round Two Recipes.
My MIL has always been very good at LOOP meals. I first tried Beef Stroganoff because she regularly cooked an extra steak or two and sliced it and used it the next night for Beef Stroganoff. Recently, she made a pork roast, and intentionally made one twice the normal size to serve pork carnitas (crispy fried pork shredded pork that we eat like tacos).
For my LOOP meal this week, I saved some of the roast that I made (in the crockpot) for Sunday dinner with the family, and I made Beef Stroganoff on Sunday night for my small group. Since I had gravy left over as well, it was really just a matter of boiling the noodles, crisping up the the meat a little bit, and throwing it all together. (With some sour cream added at the last minute!)
For dinner tonight, I pulled out the frozen lasagna I made last week and put it in the crockpot. It turned out pretty well, but it would have been better if I had been home and been able to turn the heat down sooner. (It was a bit dry). Also, next time I freeze a lasagna, I need to figure out a better way to wrap it. My foil was a bit frozen onto the lasagna!
Some of my layers
I also tried out the Lemon Garlic Shrimp recipe I found on Pinterest. It turned out well! My 6 year old loved it. My only complaint was it was a bit too oily (especially if I was actually trying to diet right now (which I should be!)
I'll try to add some pictures from my phone later....Right now I'm exhausted!
I added some pictures!
Your challenge:
Share a way you have (or want to) make LeftOvers On Purpose in your meal planning.
My MIL has always been very good at LOOP meals. I first tried Beef Stroganoff because she regularly cooked an extra steak or two and sliced it and used it the next night for Beef Stroganoff. Recently, she made a pork roast, and intentionally made one twice the normal size to serve pork carnitas (crispy fried pork shredded pork that we eat like tacos).
For my LOOP meal this week, I saved some of the roast that I made (in the crockpot) for Sunday dinner with the family, and I made Beef Stroganoff on Sunday night for my small group. Since I had gravy left over as well, it was really just a matter of boiling the noodles, crisping up the the meat a little bit, and throwing it all together. (With some sour cream added at the last minute!)
I forgot to take a picture of the Beef Stroganoff until I got to small group (notice the Glad Press N Seal?)
For dinner tonight, I pulled out the frozen lasagna I made last week and put it in the crockpot. It turned out pretty well, but it would have been better if I had been home and been able to turn the heat down sooner. (It was a bit dry). Also, next time I freeze a lasagna, I need to figure out a better way to wrap it. My foil was a bit frozen onto the lasagna!
I didn't have ancontainer to match my crockpot, so I improvised. I covered a popcorn bucket with foil and layered!
I also tried out the Lemon Garlic Shrimp recipe I found on Pinterest. It turned out well! My 6 year old loved it. My only complaint was it was a bit too oily (especially if I was actually trying to diet right now (which I should be!)
Garlic Lemon Shrimp
I added some pictures!
Your challenge:
Share a way you have (or want to) make LeftOvers On Purpose in your meal planning.
Remember: All (relevant) comments on my TWFDS Challenge posts this week will be entered to win a copy of the book. Share a tip, recipe, or answer to my challenge. If you want to post on your own blog and share the link here, that is fine. Or you can just answer here. No hoops to jump through! :)
Monday, January 23, 2012
TWFDS Challenge: Day 1, Menu Planning
Read to the end to find some freebies to print, as well as information about a giveaway!
Over the past few years, I 've been following an author named Kathi Lipp and her projects. Kathi has "project" books focusing on Marriage, Husband, and Me.
Her newest book is called The What's For Dinner Solution. (TWFDS) I've found some great ideas in Kathi's books, and I've enjoyed following her on Facebook as well as her blog. Last month, after commenting on one of her blog posts, Kathi checked out my blog and invited me to join the TWFDS Challenge. Since I am determined to learn to cook, I jumped at the chance.
Last week, I mentioned TWFDS in my post about getting organized as well the list of recipes in my recipe book. Yesterday, I told you how I used tools like Ziplist to preplan my shopping.
Today is time to talk about menu planning. Knowing what I'm going to fix makes getting dinner on the table much easier. One reason I began this journey to learn to cook "on the other side of the hill", is I was tired of coming home from and struggling to find something to feed my kids. I was tired of fast food runs, overprocessed quick foods (corndogs, Mac 'n cheese, etc), and tuna sandwiches. I wanted to be able to feed my kids (and myself) some real meals.
My menu plan will look different than yours. I don't cook every night. Since we share a home with John's parents, and I work full time, my MIL cooks most of the weeknight meals. My plan includes the nights I know I will cook, plus a couple of extras in case I need them.
Sunday Dinner (my big meal) ---- 3 Packet Pot Roast
Sunday Night (small group potluck) ---- Beef Stroganoff (LOOP)* From TWFDS
Tuesday Night (in-laws are out) ---- Roasted Lemon Garlic Shrimp
Thursday Night ---- Cheesy Chicken Ranch Lasagna
Saturday Lunch ---- Pepperoni Roll
Sunday Dinner (planning ahead) ---- Honey Butter Pork Loin
*Come back tomorrow to learn more about LOOP meals: Left Overs On Purpose*
Here are a couple of free printable Kathi provided to make your meal planning easier!
50 Dinners (a brainstorm list---try Google or Pintrest to find a recipe!)
Menu Plan (put it on paper!)
Giveaway information..... Kathi sent me an extra copy of her book The What's For Dinner Solution to share with one of my readers. Every relevant comment will earn an entry. (By that I mean, don't just stuff my comment box with "me! me! me!" posts! lol). Share a recipe or tip. Compliment me! (Hey! I'm a last born and my primary love language is Words of Affirmation!) Share your journey. Answer the challenge.
Today's Challenge:
Post your menu for the week. What are you going to serve your family?
Over the past few years, I 've been following an author named Kathi Lipp and her projects. Kathi has "project" books focusing on Marriage, Husband, and Me.
Her newest book is called The What's For Dinner Solution. (TWFDS) I've found some great ideas in Kathi's books, and I've enjoyed following her on Facebook as well as her blog. Last month, after commenting on one of her blog posts, Kathi checked out my blog and invited me to join the TWFDS Challenge. Since I am determined to learn to cook, I jumped at the chance.
Last week, I mentioned TWFDS in my post about getting organized as well the list of recipes in my recipe book. Yesterday, I told you how I used tools like Ziplist to preplan my shopping.
Today is time to talk about menu planning. Knowing what I'm going to fix makes getting dinner on the table much easier. One reason I began this journey to learn to cook "on the other side of the hill", is I was tired of coming home from and struggling to find something to feed my kids. I was tired of fast food runs, overprocessed quick foods (corndogs, Mac 'n cheese, etc), and tuna sandwiches. I wanted to be able to feed my kids (and myself) some real meals.
My menu plan will look different than yours. I don't cook every night. Since we share a home with John's parents, and I work full time, my MIL cooks most of the weeknight meals. My plan includes the nights I know I will cook, plus a couple of extras in case I need them.
Sunday Dinner (my big meal) ---- 3 Packet Pot Roast
Sunday Night (small group potluck) ---- Beef Stroganoff (LOOP)* From TWFDS
Tuesday Night (in-laws are out) ---- Roasted Lemon Garlic Shrimp
Thursday Night ---- Cheesy Chicken Ranch Lasagna
Saturday Lunch ---- Pepperoni Roll
Sunday Dinner (planning ahead) ---- Honey Butter Pork Loin
*Come back tomorrow to learn more about LOOP meals: Left Overs On Purpose*
Here are a couple of free printable Kathi provided to make your meal planning easier!
50 Dinners (a brainstorm list---try Google or Pintrest to find a recipe!)
Menu Plan (put it on paper!)
Giveaway information..... Kathi sent me an extra copy of her book The What's For Dinner Solution to share with one of my readers. Every relevant comment will earn an entry. (By that I mean, don't just stuff my comment box with "me! me! me!" posts! lol). Share a recipe or tip. Compliment me! (Hey! I'm a last born and my primary love language is Words of Affirmation!) Share your journey. Answer the challenge.
Today's Challenge:
Post your menu for the week. What are you going to serve your family?
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