Meals for Busy Mommies/Parents

When you have kids, life changes a bit. The pace is different and you no longer have much time to yourself...even in the kitchen. Here are some meals we have used ever since baby Ethan was born. Preparation time varies depending on when and how you prepare. In order to save time on some of these meals, cutting and seasoning sometimes has to be done long before the actual cooking time (e.g. during baby's naptime)

Sample Weekly Menu
(for a sample veggie dish, see older post: http://melbob.blogspot.com/2005_12_01_archive.html


MONDAY

Quick Beef Casserole (serves 8)

ingredients:

1/2 lb. 90% lean ground beef
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup green pepper , cubed
3 1/2 cups tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 cup frozen peas
2 small carrots, diced
1 cup uncooked rice
1 1/2 cups water

cooking:

1. In a skillet, brown the ground beef and drain off the fat.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well.
3. Cook over medium heat and cover skillet until boiling.
4. Reduce to low heat and simmer for 35 minutes.



TUESDAY

Adobo Chicken/Spareribs

1. Mix 1 cup rice vinegar, 3/4 cup soy sauce (or chicken marinade), dash of pepper, 3-4 bay leaves, garlic cloves chopped.

2. Chop chicken pieces/spareribs. (Typical recipe uses about 3-4 lbs. meat so if using only 1 lb. or less, go easy on the vinegar and soy sauce).

3. Mix #1 and #2 and cook over slow heat (after boiling for 20-30 min.)

4. Dissolve 2 teaspoons cornstarch to 2 tablespoons cold water. Stir into ingredients and then serve.


WEDNESDAY

Stir-fry Flank Steak & Zuchinni

1. Cut slab of flank steak into thin biteable pieces (perpendicular to grain).
2. Marinate/season with soy sauce, oyster sauce, salt, sugar, cooking wine, cornstarch (as desired to taste)
3. Cut/chop zuchinni into bite-size pieces.
4. Cook zuchinni in frying pan with oil and sprinkle Mrs. Dash and some salt (to taste)
5. Remove zuchinni once soft from pan.
6. Cook, stir-fry steak in pan with oil until done (slightly red/pink on the inside--not too well done)
7. Serve and place zuchinni at bottom of plate and top with steak.
8. (optional) can add cooked sliced tomatoes for color

THURSDAY

Arroz con Pollo (Rice w/ Chicken)

what you'll need:

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (I use Costco frozen thighs, already boneless and skinless, pre-marinate chinese style)

oil

1 medium yellow onion, diced

2 stalks celery, medium diced

chopped garlic

1 1/2 cup raw long-grained rice

1 cup white wine

1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, juice and all

1 1/4 cup chicken broth

1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles

1 tsp saffron threads (Trader Joes has it much cheaper)

1 bay leaf (may skip if you dont have)

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup frozen peas

3/4 cup frozen white or yellow corn

cookin' time!

1. Brown seasoned chicken pieces over medium heat with oil until evenly brown. Set aside

2. Add onions, celery, garlic to a big pan.
3. Cook, stirring, until vegetables begin to wilt, about 4 mins. Add rice and cook, stirring for 1 mins.
4. Add white wine and tomatoes and cook for 1 min.
5. Add broth, green chiles, saffron, bay leaf, salt and chicken to the pan and replace the lid.
6. Cook for 20 mins, open twice to stir.
7. Add peas and corn, cover, and cook for 3 more mins. Serve.

FRIDAY

Macaroni/Cheese/Beef Casserole

This one is really quick for a Friday night dinner.

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese package (follow package instructions in preparation)
1 can Campbell's Cream of Celery
1/2 lb. ground beef (season with salt, pepper, soy sauce to desired taste)

Put in baking Pyrex pan in oven for at 350 for 1/2 hour. And you're done!!

Mom's Apple Pie

What to do with all the granny smith apples from our baby shower? Well, my mom came up with a great idea!! We used them to make apple pie! Mmmm..yummm

Filling:

1. Approx. 2 quarts of water

2. 1/4 cup of lemon juice

3. 6 lbs. of tart apples (granny smith) Approx. 6-8 of the large size ones.

4. 1 3/4 cup of sugar

5. 1/4 cup of flour

6. 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

7. 1/4 tsp. of nutmeg

Mix it in!

In a large bowl, mix the water with 2 tablespoonsfuls of lemon juice. Peel and pit apples. Cut into slices and let soak in water/lemon mix.

In the meantime, in a large pot, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and the remaining lemon juice. Drain the apples (throw away the lemon water), add to sugar mixture and stir gently. Let stand for 20 min. Then cook uncovered over medium heat, stirring often, until mixture begins to thicken (about 30 min.) Let cool. Pack in freezer containers, leaving 1/2 inch headspace; apply lids and freeze. Makes about 4 pints.

When ready to use, thaw out apple filling, pour over frozen pie crust, and bake at 375 degree for 30 min. uncovered. Make sure you wrap the edges of the pie crust with aluminum foil so it won't burn. Remove the aluminum foil towards the end of the 3o min. so it will turn brown to look better.

Enjoy!