French Toast... oven style

Yesterday, on the way home from school, I do what I always do, and I ask

my boys if "Blah, blah, blah" sounds good for dinner.

Even if they say no... it's what's for dinner, so I don't know why I ask... I guess I'm a little

bit Sadist...

But yesterday, when I ask if "French Toast" sounded good, my 9 year old Johnny piped in...

"Oh Mamala... it's my fave... breakfast for dinner."

Well... that's all the help I needed.

But I was tired... I'm not sleeping well, due to Hubby incessant snoring.

So what did I do?

I made French Toast... but in the oven.

I had to homemade Baguettes that I baked on Monday, that were on their way to being stale and moldy in a few days if I didn't either use them or freeze them...

I diagonally sliced both up, whipped up a batch of custard consisting of

12 eggs

2 cups nonfat milk

2 T vanilla

Orange Zest of one orange

I placed all the bread into a large 13x9 stone, and poured the entire egg mixture over all the

bread, soaking it. (This is actually best done the night before, so it gets all soggy and gooey)

Then I popped it into a 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes.

It was divine.

I served it with some sliced and cooked Aidells Chicken and Apple Sausage

and orange slices from our oranges out back.

So yummy!

I wish I had pictures... but we devoured it all so fast... when I remember to snap a shot...

Johnny opened his mouth and said...

"This is all that's left Mama!"

Nice.

I am raising them to be such little gentlemen...

Make Ahead meals... or Cook Once... eat twice!

Let's face it... everyone seems to be panicking these days.

Do we really need to worry about what to make for dinner, on TOP of everything else in life?

NO!

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I, for one, really enjoy the prep I do to ready myself for the week ahead.

I haven't heard too much of whether this helps YOU or not... but I have decided to continue with my message of doing today to save time tomorrow.

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One of my bloggy friends heads over to a Dinner establishment and buys dinners she helps prepare at the establishment, so she can have them for those days and times I like to call

Arsenic hours or D-Days.

Going to those places is all well and good, but they can be pricey, and if you count in your driving time, gas, being away from home... it is actually a bit more than the cost of the prepared dinner.

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But... make that same dinner at home, and split it up into 3 meals to be eaten at a later date...

now you're talkin'!

You'll save TONS of money... you'll actually cook three meals at one time...

AND

when you freeze things they are good for 3 months!

What a great idea!

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I LOVE to do this with my Enchilada Casserole.

here's the recipe

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1 large can Las Palmas Green Enchilada Sauce

1 16 oz container low fat sour cream

1/2 cup chunky salsa

1 can diced green ortega chiles

2 cans black olives, sliced

1 lb cheddar cheese

1/2 lb monterey jack cheese (optional)

1 packet or 1 tablespoon of Taco Seasoning

20 green onions, chopped

2 dozen corn tortillas

Cooked Chicken Breast or Shredded Beef, or no meat at all... (optional)

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Mix the sauce, sour cream, salsa, chiles, 1/2the olives, and 2 cups of the grated cheese together in a bowl.

Get two big stones or casserole dishes with high sides that are at least 12x9

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Place a layer of corn tortillas on the bottom of the pans.

Put about a cup of the mixture in each and spread around.

Sprinkle with green onion, a little olive and some meat if you are using it.

sprinkle with cheese,

place another layer of tortillas, and start the process over again until you have three

layers in each casserole dish.

Bake one for dinner tonight, and bake the other one and let it cool completely then wrap in foil,

date it, and freeze it for another meal when things are just too hectic.

Enjoy!

Dinner...in a pinch

Dinner.

The bane of my existence sometimes... when I don't have all the ingredients for

something I planned to make.

The pictures above depict the hodge podge that was dinner one evening.

I had broccoli, chicken, onions, potatoes, a small block of cheddar and some

ranch dressing.

I hadn't been shopping for a while... trying to use up the pantry items again.

So... what you see, is what we ate.

It was good... but kinda strange eating an appetizer as a side dish.

The very next day... I went to Costco and bought the entire warehouse.

Eat a meal TOGETHER...

It is time to get cookin' people!

Families are in need of an hour a day of 'downtime'.

Dinnertime should be that time.

We all really need to set aside a dinner hour, for conversation, table manners,

catching up, venting, laughing, solving the worlds problems, and

enjoying breaking bread together.

***

It seems like the buzz words these days are...

"But our lives are so busy, we don't have time to eat together..."

I beg to differ.

We all have time and make time for what is important to each of us.

Some people watch countless hours of TV a night... time was made for that...

Some people clean their house at night... time was made for that...

Some people... like me... are chauffering their kids to and from activities...time is made for that...

Why can't dinner or any meal, for that matter, be scheduled in?

Can't do an hour?

1/2 hour is fine too!

Just make sure to sit down somewhere, where the TV is off, and the family has to engage in conversation. That's the key. No distractions.

Together means just that... together.

It breaks my heart to have heard and seen that some families will cook the meal together,

then scatter to different parts of the house to eat it, either in front of the TV, computer, or with earphones on, in their room.

NO! STOP THE MADNESS!

We are only together for a short period of time... then the kids grow up... and then what?

Do you want your grandkids eating in their rooms?

No.. of course not.

Buy a bag of salad, buy a Costco Roasted Chicken, and microwave some frozen corn in a bowl

and dinner is served.

You don't have to be a gourmet cook to eat dinner with your family.

Just make it a point to sit together.

You'll see how much you will want to please your family and yourself with

new things to cook, taste and do for the table.

Go on... give it a try...

Tell me what your family eating experiences are like.

If you would like help or suggestions on how to get them around the table... post the comment

here and I will answer it either publicly on the blog, or privately if you so wish.

Thanks for reading.

S

How to stretch food.

Feeling the grocery crunch?

Want to eat out more but just can't justify the expense?

Want to know some tricks for stretching food to feed more people

while adding nutrition?

Step into my kitchen.

You all know we rarely go out for dinner. It makes me cry to see $100 or more,

being handed over to a mediocre restaurant for 5 meals.

My boys don't eat from the kids section anymore...

so it can be pretty daunting what they can pack away.

So many times, I am looking at the dish saying "I can make that." or

"Holy Crap... $20 for THAT!"

Don't get me wrong... I do love eating out.

My favorite meal is any meal I don't have to cook and clean up after...

It's just with the boys in private school, the cost of everything going up, and my

need to have nice things and several homes, eating out is one luxury

I can give up and feel okay about.

We eat out on special occasions, so maybe about 10 times a year.

That is a LOT less than the 1-2 times per week most families eat out.

So I have come up with things that taste fabulous, add nutrition, and stretch the food

so if the kids want leftovers, there will actually be some.

The red, yellow and orange beauties are sweet peppers from Costco.

The are absolutely delicious poured into a screaming hot pan of olive oil and about 1/4 cup of good balsamic vinegar. Cook until browned and they are a fantastic side dish.

Add a pinch of salt.

Taco meat. I add onions, shredded cabbage, and sweet peppers to it, then the taco seasoning.

It turns a pound of ground beef into 2 lbs, with out fat or too many calories.

I buy the leanest ground beef, so there is no fat to drain.

Fries...

I slice up sweet and regular potatoes, toss them in Olive Oil, salt and seasoning,

and bake them

I sprinkle Romano Cheese over them just before they are done...

So yummy.

I hope this was useful.

More to come.

New Year's Day

New Year's Day Fare

Homemade Guacamole

Watching USC pummel whoever they played... and eating. Nacho fixings...

and Hot Taco Dip

Get organized to relieve holiday stress...

Yes... I actually practice what I preach.

We are going away for a week soon, and I have been prepping for the last 5 days for it.

Just made all the lists, did the shopping, and now it's time to assemble the food

I am going to prepare during our stay.

Here is my menu, and how I am prepping...

Chicken Enchiladas & Rice

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I am making them all ahead of time, cooking them, then we will reheat on site.

To make it easier for when I actually assemble... I've preshredded the cheese, and pre cooked the chicken. Easy Peasy.

I've precooked the rice, and all I have to do is add the seasonings and the frozen corn and it's done! It freezes really well.

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Salmon Spread

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Pre cut the green onions, drained the canned salmon.

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Hot Dogs

(Hebrew National, pricey... but the ONLY ones not made with butts or noses)

**

I chopped all the onions and bought a can of chili to top them with.

***

Corn Chowder

**

Cut all the onions, made the chicken stock, bought the potatoes.

***

Corn Bread Bake

**

Chopped all the onions, peppers, bought the chicken and apple sausage, and the best cornbread mix ever, Trader Joes brand.

***

Tuna Salad

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Chopped all the onion

(see a pattern here??? I did all the onions ALL AT ONCE. saved me a lot of time.)

Chopped the sweet pickle

Mixed the mayo with Dill mix, grainy mustard, and salt and pepper so it is flavorful.

***

When I actually begin to do the cooking and assembling... all I will have to do is grab the items out of the fridge, and do it. It won't take me hours and hours, just maybe about 1-2 hours,

and I will have 7 days worth of meals, for pennies on the dollar.

These are just the main meals, and we will have fruit, lunch meats, salads etc...

to round out the meals.

It sounds like a lot of work... but when it is done over days and spread out into manageable parts, you hardly feel it!

The last thing I want to do is do all kinds of cooking and slaving over a stove just before leaving for a holiday... that's too much torture.

Breaking it down into bite size pieces is much more fun, and it doesn't feel so overwhelming.

More tomorrow!

Going to go back to the archives and get some of the basics for ya... stay tuned...

Get ready... get set... DON'T STRESS!

Christmas is almost upon us.

Are you overwhelmed by all you have to do?

Are you wondering how you are going to get it all done?

Are you stressed about how you are going to be able to afford to buy the food and

specialty items you want and need?

***

Please don't worry about such things... and let me help you.

But first... remember this...

No one ever died because the table wasn't just so, or someone forgot to make a certain dish.

Breathe.

It's gonna be okay...

***

Oh! Just had an earthquake! A little one... but I felt it... Oh.. there are the kids yelling to let me know we had one...

***

Okay where was I...

Oh yes...

let me help you.

***

Are you the baker?

Get those pie doughs made and FREEZE THEM NOW! Yes, they are freezable,

and turn out lovely!

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Are you responsible for side dishes?

Stock up on frozen veggies and create your own medley when the time comes to cook!

I microwave my frozen veggies in my Rice Cooker Plus for about 8 minutes

Drain the water that accumlates, and add a little butter and my favorite

Seasoning... All Purpose Dill Mix. Yum! and SO EASY AND QUICK!

***

Need to bring or make something sweet?

here is the Pampered Chefs Recipe for

2 step Fudge.

Ready?

**

1 can chocolate frosting

1 12 oz. bag chocolate chips.

Melt the chips on low heat in a non stick pan... take off the heat when they are all melted.

Stir in the frosting...

I SWEAR YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO TELL YOU DIDN'T SLAVE OVER THE THAT FUDGE! I PROMISE!

Love nuts in your fudge?

Stir them in with the frosting!

Spread it all out on a baking sheet or casserole pan (8x8)

Put it in the fridge to set and cut the pieces in the size and shape you want.

***

You can make peanut butter flavored fudge by stirring and melting 1/2 cup peanut butter

into the chocolate chips!

Try different flavors and colors!

White chocolate chips and white frosting!

Pink Frosting and White Chips

or swirl them!

TOO EASY AND DELICIOUS!!!

***

I know.. I know.. you love me...

Send money. No coins please.

Applause is good too...

PREP 101 AGAIN....

So many people feel the crunch of the Holidays... and get a case of the Have to's and Need to's.

You know... the

Have to... shop, wrap, visit, shop some more, cook an 8 course meal, clean, blog, knit, sew,

and on and on and on...

And all the Need to's ... I need to lose weight, cut my hair, do all the laundry, clean out the cupboards, iron all my clothes, etc...

CHILLAX!

The only NEED TO'S AND HAVE TO'S ARE THESE...

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Love our family...

Be kind to yourself and others...

Do what you can/want to do, and don't stress the rest!

***

Dinner is NO EXCEPTION!

LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of people hate to cook.

I get told this by at least 2 people at every single show.

They, inevitably, buy the most products.

Every time.

Here's what I believe...

A lot of the hatred of cooking is really the stress and worry of not knowing what to cook and not having the ingredients at the ready.

Really, it's all the steps leading up the to the actual cooking that people don't like.

Cooking is the easy, less time consuming step.

Well... if you have been reading this blog for some time, and you haven't taken my advice and haven't been trying to look at cooking from my perspective... well then... I don't know what to tell ya. Hop on board.

Prep is the way to Kitchen Nirvana.

I promise.

Meal planning is great.

It's a great first step.

You MUST go one step further though... to really get in the swing of things.

You must PREPare yourself ahead of time.

Let's face it... you wouldn't go for a drive without your car... would you?

Or go shopping without your wallet?

or play baseball without a bat? would you?

No... of course not!

So why enter your kitchen every night and start from scratch every. single. time?

Why do that to yourself!

Right now...

Go get an onion.

Go on... I'll wait...

Tick tock... tick tock, tick tock... tick tock...

Okay... now get a knife. Hurry!

Chop it up or slice it now. Now! Go on!

Put those bits into a zip lock bag and put it in the fridge. Go ahead... it won't hurt.

DONE!

Now... got grab some frozen chicken or ground beef from the freezer.

Defrost it and cook it up, and place THAT into a zip lock bag.

Now... how long did that take you?

You are now free to cure cancer and promote world peace.

See what I mean?

It does NOT TAKE UP YOUR WHOLE DAY to prep food for another day or 6.

The first time is ALWAYS the hardest. ALWAYS!

You have just prepped the beginnings of either

Tacos

Chilimac

Sloppy Joes

Meat Sauce

See what I mean? Once you PREPare yourself, the possibilities are ENDLESS!

No go on...

Get your prep on... and report back here and tell me what you chopped, sliced, diced or precooked.

I'll post my menu in a bit.

Letti, this one was for you.

I know you hate to cook... but girl... you need to make it easy on yourself.

You live 2 doors down from me.

Get your butt over here and watch what I do... and do it at home.

I don't enjoy cooking either... believe me.

I just like buying the tools and selling the stuff.

I'm waiting...come on now...

USE ME!