Seriously, wouldn’t it be nice if there was some simple, fast manual on how to get dinner on the table each night without a ton of planning, shopping, cooking and cleaning? There is a little work involved, but it doesn’t have to be super complicated and ONE day of cooking can set you up for 5 days. Here we go. In 5 steps. Really.
- Cook up a big batch of whole grains. Rice, quinoa, millet, barley, farro…or something else that you find. Whatever. They’re cheap and can be bought in bulk. Google ‘how to cook _____’ and you’ll find simple directions for boiling them (some take more water, some less). Always pop in some salt for flavor. If you have chicken stock, use half water/half stock for GREAT flavor. Done.
- Cook up a big batch of meat. Grill it, broil it, Instant Pot it, saute it. Slice it up and it’s done for the week.
- Make a sauce or a dressing you like. If you need to buy it, Aldi’s Journey to India Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce is good, as is their organic tomato basil spaghetti sauce.
- Roast a huge tray (or trays) of veggies. Cut up whatever you have: onions, potatoes (white and sweet), squash, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, etc. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Put in a 450 degree oven for 30m (stirring once) and you’re done! You can even use bags of frozen veggies! If you use them frozen you’ll need to cook them for 45-60m. You can combine bagged and fresh veggies, but should let the bagged ones thaw first so everything cooks in the same amount of time.
- Prep some snacks. This will tide you over to meal times and keep you from choosing drive-thru dinners because you’re hangry. Keep some humus and carrots, hard-boiled eggs, bags of nuts, sliced apples, Cuties, beef jerky (look for low-sugar versions!), olives or a banana around.
That’s it. When you’ve done this you’ll have the makings for multiple meals. With a few additions, your family might not even know you just worked some magic. Here’s an example:
M: Grilled chicken over rice with a side of roasted veggies
T: Chicken Tiki Masala over rice with naan bread (also at Aldi)
W: Chicken topped with basil, mozzarella and tomato basil sauce, side of roasted veggies and crusty bread
Th: Tapas dinner. That’s really just a fancy way of saying ‘We’re having finger food for dinner!’ Sliced meat and some cheese with crusty bread or crackers, small servings of roasted veggies, leftover naan dipped in Tikki Sauce, and some of those snacks. Olives, slices fruit/veggies, eggs and nuts are a hit with most kids.
F: Pizza! Make or buy a crust, top with spaghetti sauce, chopped chicken, roasted onions, basil and mozzarella (and whatever else happens to be hanging around). Cook for 12-15m in a 415 oven.
You may not win any 5 star ratings from famous food critics, but you’ll have a full tummy and a happy family. That’s a win in my book any day!
