November 10th, 2008

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Last-Minute Meals

Monday, November 10th, 2008

I’m really good at last minute meals.  I love menu planning, having all my ducks in a row and all the shopping done.  Don’t we all!  But let’s face facts.  It does not always happen that way. 

As long as I have some sort of “core” idea, i.e. will it be chicken or fish, and a pantry full of ingredients and plenty of spices, I can make something happen pretty quickly.

I worked today, so no time to bake or cook in the middle of the day.  At about 2 this afternoon I put three large chicken breasts with skin and rib meat in a large pot of water to boil.  While I worked, they boiled until they were completely done and falling apart.  I cut the burner off to let them sit and cool while I finished my day.

At about 5:30 I had my usual last-minute-meal epiphany.

I took a clean large pot and put in two cans of black beans with juice.  I turned the heat up and added three cloves of minced garlic.  I then added a small can of diced tomatoes with chiles.  I then put another can of sliced tomatoes seasoned with celery and onions into the food process to puree’.  I dumped that into the “soup” as well.  I added a couple of cans of water, getting the last bit of tomato residue from the cans.  I then sprinkled in probably a teaspoon of ground oregano, a teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon each of ground thyme and ground white pepper.  The soup was starting to boil by then.  I put a few tablespoons of olive oil in and added back in the cooked chicken cut into small pieces. 

I let the mixture simmer while a pot of rice cooked. 

It is wonderfully delicious — the bean soup over rice.

I was finished cooking by 6 p.m.  

The broth where the chicken cooked will be strained and put in the fridge.  Tomorrow I’ll skim the fat off and freeze the chicken broth for later soups.

My favorite pantry staples for quick meals:  pasta, rice, spaghetti sauce in the jar; canned black beans, pinto beans, corn; all types of seasoned and plain canned tomatoes, black olives, tuna, salmon, chicken broth, dried lentils and split peas, fresh garlic and onions.

Do you have favorite pantry staples or last minute meals?

Lynn

Posted in Cooking and Food, Working and Homeschooling | 3 Responses »