As my mother will attest I am by far the least organized person she knows. I make no decisions in advance out loud. Contemplating in my brain does not count. Anyway, in order to stay on top of things, since as I mentioned I work full time +, I try to think of what meals I am going to make for the week. No, I am not like Rachel Ray, I don't cook a week in a day, my Sundays are for hanging with my husband and the kids; However, I find that if I go to the grocery store, and I have a clue as to what I will make for the week, the food is bought that I need at that time, and I don't have to run back after work. This will come more naturally as you determine what your family likes to eat.
I want to say one thing before anyone gets overwhelmed. This is a progression, no one can expect their family to give up mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, tuna, or hot dogs all in one week. However, even if you plan one meal during the week that is fresh and fast you are on track. So as I walk through the store and pick up the items we buy regularly, I will formulate some ideas based loosely around the kind of food my family will eat.
Ok one meal down (Monday) three more to go. I like to make some chicken or meat meal during the week as well. We already talked about hamburgers, but a quick a yummy meal that I made tonight is baked chicken fingers. We like them crunchy, and believe it or not you can get a nice crunch even if you are baking it in the oven. This meal takes 45 minutes start to finish, and with help it is even faster.
I will give you some ideas on how to change it up but here is the basic recipe to start. The recipes are loosely based because cooking is all about making things that you like in the flavors that you enjoy.
I have a family of six so the amounts will feed my crew.
Oven Baked Chicken Fingers
Corn Flake Crumbs 1 TBS Onion Powder
2 eggs 2 TSP Paprika
Salt and Pepper Oil
Preheat oven to 400 Degrees F
Remove chicken from package and cut lengthwise into strips. If you prefer nuggets cut them into nuggets. If you prefer the breast whole don't cut.
Season with salt pepper garlic powder and onion powder. Set aside. In a bowl place about 3 cups of Corn Flake Crumbs into a bowl. Season liberally with Salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder as well as paprika. Taste the crumbs to be sure it is well seasoned. Add more or less seasoning to taste. At this time you can add different seasonings as well, Cumin, Oregano, Basil, Cayenne to spice it up, Curry powder. Whatever you and your family might like this is your kitchen.
In another bowl crack 2 eggs and whisk lightly. add a little water to thin out the egg.
This is the part, where if you have kids, they can really help out and have fun. Dip the chicken piece into the egg and cover with egg on all sides. Move egg coated chicken to the corn flake crumbs. Coat well and place on a greased cookie sheet. Do the same for all remaining pieces. Drizzle oil over the chicken pieces and place in the oven. The chicken is pretty thin so it should not take more than 20 minutes to cook. After 10 minute turn pieces over to crisp other side. After 10 more minutes remove from oven and serve.
Now that the main is cooked I needed to decide on the side. We just had sweet potato fries two nights ago so I was not planning on more potatoes. This is where the pantry comes into to play. I have rice, and I always keep a couple cans of black beans on hand. Kids like black beans, don't take my work for it, try them.
In ode to my husbands father, and his Cuban descent, I decided to make black beans and rice. Make the rice according to the package directions (2 cups of liquid to 1 cup of rice). Next, open the can of beans place in a pot and begin to heat. Add some cumin, and garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste, and some diced onion. Cook it on the stove at a low temperature while rice and chicken are cooking. Serve alongside the rice. Again those that don't want the black beans can have plain rice, and those that do can add them to their rice.
Who knew we were going back to Cuba tonight, we made it to Cuba and back with
"GOOD FOOD IN GOOD TIME"
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