As a chef I am often asked, how do you come up with all these recipes? Well, for me its an easy thing to do; I just get bored eating the same old things, so I experiment. I will admit it is not always perfect the first time around, but that makes me work even harder to get the desired result for a finished recipe. I, like everyone else who writes about food, look at the websites available and at times use the recipes I find there, but for this avenue of information I try to offer you one-of-a-kind recipes. These recipes are creations of my own, or handed down from friends or mostly family. Anyone can copy a recipe from someone else and post it on "Factoidz", but I prefer to offer artistry-based original recipes; after all, if you wanted to look at a cook book I am sure you would just pull one out. I have always been the type of person who wanted to create, and with a background in Art & Interior Design, I have always tried to be original.
As an event planner and caterer I realized early on that being original in my food presentation, as well as offering creative product, was what would set me apart. Anyone can decide to be a catering professional, but I pride myself on being able to offer product especially designed for specific clients or events. Yes, at times I use the same recipe for more than one event; I do, however, never use the same menu for groups of clients. This makes each event special for the client and keeps me on my toes trying to keep my originality fresh. For instance, I have a client who is looking for a cocktail snack so I offer meatballs. But my meatballs will be served in a Sweet and Sour Grilled Peach Glaze. On the same day, or perhaps a day before or after, I may have a luncheon for a group and for them I offer a Grilled Jerk Chicken Breast served over Wild Rice with the same peach glaze. This way I am making the most of my time and product by creating two separate products for two separate events that are totally different, yet freeing up my time and keeping my costs in line so as to be able to make the maximum profit. Catering is like any other business with one very distinct exception: your product is perishable.
Thinking in this way for everyday household meals will be of great advantage for you and your busy family if you just plan ahead. Today I am going to try to impart some ideas as to how you may save money, save time, offer exceptional menu selections to your family, while getting you the most Bang for your efforts! I have noticed a couple of folks on here asking what are good recipes to make and eat again throughout the week. This has bothered me as I can not imagine eating the same thing all week…YUK! So today I will offer some ideas on how to shop and use your purchases wisely to make 4 meals from the same ingredients for a family of 4. First off, planning is the key to success!
For the first menu, you will need 2 Rotisserie Chickens from your local market. Use one half of a chicken to produce your favorite Chicken Salad recipe. This is great for sandwiches or to be served over salad greens with some tomato slices for one meal. Be sure to "stretch" the chicken by adding ingredients like onions, grapes, celery, bell pepper, diced apple, almonds, just anything you like with some mayonnaise www.hellmans.com to make it bulk up the chicken.
For the next night use the other half of the chicken in place of ground meat with a package of Taco seasoning www.oldelpaso.com with a can of Rotel Tomatoes to add the moisture to the meat mixture, stretching it even further. Packaged Taco shells are used, and to this filling we add some of the lettuce we purchased as well as some diced tomatoes, a bit of shredded cheese and its a feast for four! By adding a can of refried beans and some rice (make extra for Meal #4) we have a whole new meal idea which is sure to satisfy.
For Meal Three I suggest Chicken Spaghetti. Use 1/2 of the second chicken, diced, adding it to your favorite premade Sauce www.delmonte.com, 1/4 cup of dry red wine, and 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar www.rolandfood.com. Heat thoroughly and serve over cooked spaghetti. A side salad and some bread, and you’re good to go! By adding the wine and vinegar we bring a whole new level to our finished product, giving it a home made taste! I some times add fresh mushroom slices or some bell pepper, or even stretch it further with a can of roasted red peppers, this adds flavor and makes it less noticeable as a quick meal.
For Meal Four I suggest a Chicken and Rice Casserole. When we made the rice for meal two we made extra rice and saved it for today. In a large bowl place the diced chicken, the rice www.mahatmarice.com, 1 can of cream of chicken soup, 1 can of cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup of shredded cheese www.kraftfoods.com, some sliced mushrooms, and a package of frozen broccoli crowns or a can of drained, chopped artichoke hearts–or perhaps even both–some green onion and some diced bell pepper. Season with some garlic powder, and your favorite herbs. Place in a baking dish and top with shredded cheese; bake for 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees and Voila! –another meal…. LOL! Serve with a side salad and crusty bread and you’re all set.
Here we have 4 meals for a family of 4 for about $40; now thats a deal! By using only half a chicken and stretching it with other ingredients we have added bulk to the meat, and added different flavors for every meal. Why make one casserole or pot of soup to eat on for a whole week? If you are a single person consider the same principals and invest in some freezer ware to store part of the product for use at a later date. Just by planning ahead we are save money and time with our meals!
Ground Beef is another great way to save money. Using only 4 lbs of ground beef, you may consider these same ideas and recipe suggestions to feed a family of 4 again for around $40 for 4 great meals!
Think ahead: use 1 lb of the beef stretched with bread crumbs www.iansnaturalfoods.com/breadcrumbs, onion, bell pepper, and diced canned tomatoes to create a meatloaf (reserve some of the meat and make meatballs for Meal #4, below). Sides could be some rice or mashed potatoes, and perhaps a salad or some frozen peas or green beans.
For meal two use 1 lb of the beef as you used the second half of the chicken and make tacos, or even some nachos both of these are very tasty and satisfying and families love them! A side of rice and perhaps a can of Black Beans www.bushbeans.com will round out the meal. When serving nachos, I suggest adding some lettuce and diced tomatoes to the top after cooking, this way you get the salad in the kids without them even noticing.
Meal 3 is just as simple. How about some baked Ziti? Just buy a box of Ziti at the store, cook per package instructions, and add to it the ground beef, which has been cooked with some diced onion and bell pepper. Drain the fat off the beef and add a jar of your favorite Tomato Sauce www.contadina.com. Mix it up and put it in a baking dish with a layer of cottage cheese www.frienshipdaries.com and bake it in the oven till heated through. Serve with a side salad and some crusty bread, and it’s a done deal!
Our final meal is a play on an old favorite of my mom’s when in a pinch. When she was making Meatloaf she would use the mixture to make meat balls as well. Cook them at the same time as the meatloaf on a baking sheet and let them cool, then refrigerate, or even freeze, until needed for today’s meal. These are great heated in 1 can cream of chicken soup and also a can of mushroom soup, www.CampbellsKitchen.com, to which she would add a package of brown gravy mix and 8 oz of sour cream www.daisybrand.com. Season with some dried Thyme and Black Pepper, along with 2 Tbs of cooking Sherry. Heat through, and serve over rice or Pasta www.bertolli.com as a quick and tasty Meatballs Stroganoff!
Feeding a family these days is tough with the economy the way it is, but with a bit of planning it can be done, without too much stress on our pocketbook. These are just a few ideas I have for getting the most bang for your buck, and offering quick and simple meals with exceptional results. Being a fan of great food is what I am all about, but I also realize there are many people who may not be able to afford extravagant meals all the time. Some other ways to save money is by using products like Kool Aid www.koolaid.com as an alternative beverage to other soft drinks, and by baking a cake or just buying some ice cream www.formostdairy.com–you save even more than going out for treats! By taking these short cuts you have greater control over what your family eats, and it is a great to have family time around the table. As always Good Eats, and enjoy!
