Uyuni Quinoa, Brown Rice, and Potstickers
Sometimes there are days that are so busy I can barely put together a decent family meal. You know the days --- the ones where you are tempted to head out to the nearest fast food restaurant and pick up something (anything!) just to keep things simple. Maybe it's a lack of proper planning or unexpected activities, but somehow nothing on your menu plan will work that day. What do you do?
I've had seasons where my freezer is stocked with meals for times like these, and I've also had seasons where I struggle to put together any kind of meal, let alone additional meals to store in my freezer for later.
Here are three items I keep on hand for quick and easy dinner options on super busy days:
- Frozen chicken and vegetable potstickers (cooks on stovetop for 10 minutes)
- Frozen tilapia (cooks in oven for 10-13 minutes)
- Seeds of Change Uyuni Quinoa and Brown Rice, to pair with each of the above. The link takes you to the product on Amazon, which is very over-priced; I purchase the four-pack box at Costco for only $7.99. (microwaves in 90 seconds)
Keeping these in my freezer and pantry gives me peace of mind; I like knowing I can pull something together in a pinch that's still fairly healthy, requires little effort, and is more cost-effective that grabbing a quick dinner out.
Meal plan for this week:
- Curried chicken, carrots, and potatoes, served with garlic naan
- Grilled whole amish chicken, grilled corn, baked potatoes
- Tostadas loaded with avocado, other veggies, and cheese
- Southwestern black bean tacos
- Patio steaks, mashed potatoes, grilled carrots
What's on your meal plan this week? Do you keep any quick dinners on hand for hectic days?
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Also shared at Tip Me Tuesday, Domestically Divine, {Titus2}sdays, Homestead Barn Hop, Menu Plan Monday, and Monday Mania
AWESOME, Jaime! Love your encouragement to have some quick meals on hand for a hurry, rather than succumbing to the temptation to eat out. I keep grilled diced chicken in the freezer for several different quick meals, such as grilled chicken pesto pasta, grilled chicken quesadillas and grilled chicken-veggie bowls (brown rice – also in the freezer-mixed with whatever veggies I have fresh or frozen and the grilled chicken – just saute in a large skillet or wok). I also keep browned/cooked ground beef and turkey in the freezer so I can whip up quick tacos or spaghetti with meat sauce, etc. Can’t wait to read more ideas from your readers too! Thanks for this great post! I didn’t think about tilapia fillets! Great idea! They would make great fish tacos! Blessings, kel
Love those ideas, Kelly! We keep diced grilled chicken in the freezer, too; I forgot to mention that. We usually use that for a quick lunch, although I do add it pasta for a quick meal occasionally. It’s so helpful! I haven’t frozen brown rice yet; may need to give it a try. Do you do anything special to it?
On Fridays when I super busy in the garden it has become a tradition to have homemade pizza for lunch. I use the 45 minute pizza dough cycle on my bread machine (something to check for if you buy a bread machine – it is the most used cycle on my secondhand machine bought for $5 at a garage sale!) and toss the flour, salt, olive oil, yeast and water into the pan and put it on to mix before heading out into the garden. It takes just 10 minutes to roll out the dough for two pizzas on baking paper and transfer to the tray for super speed topping! I have tomato paste and pre- grated mozarella ready and top with grilled bell peppers or sun-dried tomatoes out of a jar (Aldi’s brand which are very good and not too expensive) I use scissors and snip them straight onto the pizza base. Much faster than using a knife and having to de-seed bell peppers. I may also use tinned tuna, cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta, basil leaves, whatever is on hand that doesn’t need lots of prep. The more I make pizzas – the faster I become at making them and the family loves them. My oven also has a pizza mode which cooks them perfectly in just 10 minutes. My other favourite from scratch but quick to prepare meals are self- crusting quiches – eggs, ricotta, a little self raising flour and several dollops of a favourite green onion relish or fruit chutney. (No stopping to wipe eyes when chopping onions required!) A quick grating of cheese over the top and into the oven for 15-20 minutes.
Sounds great! We are already “fill the grill” converts
Are you giving us the recipe on those pot-stickers?
I try to remember to have some healthy instant meals in the freezer because otherwise the temptation to eat out is huge. With four kids that adds up way too fast. Great ideas! Found you from the link up at Time Warp Wife.
Blessings,
Mel
Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God
I always like to keep a supply of “go to” ingredients on hand for days that unexpectadly get out of hand. And when I am making my weekly menus I look ahead to what I know will be busy days and plan for very quick meals , sometimes crock pot meals, and somtimes leftovers from a day when I had time for cooking. Planning is definately key.