I am not a fan of make-ahead meals. You know the whole, freeze-and-eat for a month idea? I much-prefer a fresh-made meal, and would rather use the convenience of prepared ingredients to combat the challenge of making one every night. Even one step of a meal prepared ahead of time is one step closer to dinner. These prepared ingredients are gifts we can give ourselves. When utilizing the strategy of Cooking as a Sport, and playing offense, you need to be playing to win when you’re in the kitchen. Make the most of your time there, and give yourself a gift whenever you can squeeze it in.
The other day, I was making chicken soup. For it, I needed to season and roast 2 chicken breasts. The package held 6. So I seasoned and grilled all 6 chicken breasts. I cubed and ziploced the remaining 4, and stuck them in the freezer. These can go in chicken pot pie, chicken fried rice. fajitas, BBQ chicken pizza, salads, tonight’s fajitas, and more.
Tonight I am making chicken fajitas and as I mentioned, I already have the chicken seasoned and cooked. What a gift! I also got the peppers and onions sliced during some kitchen time this morning, another gift. After work, all I have to do is sear the meat and vegetables and dinner will be done in a flash.
Day 20
Menu: Homemade Mushroom and Mozzarella Pizza
Game plays applied:
Gifts to self
When I was making the chicken soup mentioned above, it called for about a cup of mushrooms, which was only half the package. Since mushrooms don’t have a long shelf-life, what I do when I have a half package left over is to make a mushroom ragout by cooking them up with some butter, onions, red wine, salt, pepper and cream. I then freeze this in ziploc bags to use on top of steaks, in omelets, or like tonight…. on top of pizza. Another gift was the pizza dough, already made. Pizza dough is one of those things that is just as easy to make 6 as it is to make 1, so I always do.
Day 21
Menu: Paninis and Homemade Soup
Game plays applied:
Having the right equipment
I was just given a panini maker, and I was SO excited to use it. Having good equipment you are excited to use brings some joy and ease to the dinner process.
Flexibility
I do not ever short-order cook for my family, but paninis are one item that is easy to personalize for each person with different meats, cheeses and other ingredients that we have on hand.
Day 22
Menu: Chicken Fajitas
Game Plays applied:
Gifts to self (see above)
p.s. the leftovers from Fajitas make a great tortilla soup when cooked up in some hearty broth, and topped with tortillas strips and cheese.
My apologies for being behind on this post series. On the downside I have been consumed with taxes (ugh!) and on the upside, had a great guest appearance on Milwaukee Channel 4′s The Morning Blend. View the segment here:
http://www.themorningblend.com/videos/119855929.html
