BoniChak Posted February 2014
What's for dinner?
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As I mentioned in an earlier post, I like to cook for the freezer and also buy prepared foods so I don’t have to “cook” every day, but we still have nutritious homemade food.
I also keep a “menu” in my computer showing the various meals that are available. I note how many of each I have, and mark them off as they are eaten so I know exactly what I have and what I need.
I post the list on the front of the fridge… We call it Diane’s Diner Menu and Pat loves it because I hand him the list and he gets to pick out what he wants!
Vegetable Beef Soup
In a very large pot, brown ground beef beef (about 2 pounds) with frozen onions and peppers (about 2-3 cups), drain, then add:
2 large cans of Campbells tomato soup & 2 soup cans of water
2 large cans of diced tomatoes (I like the Italian flavored ones)
Vegetables of your choice (I like: red kidney beans (4 cans); hominy (3 cans); and a package of frozen gumbo mix vegetables)
Add whatever seasonings you like (I use dry minced garlic, Lowry’s seasoning salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Cook for only about 10-15 minutes (the vegetables will cook more after they are reheated, so you don’t want to overcook).
Put in individual containers and freeze.
To reheat, can thaw on the counter, or zap in the microwave.
Great with Ritz Crackers.
(BTW, I really don’t like boiled okra, so I always scoop those out as I’m reheating and give them to Pat… he loves them.)
Hints
I wouldn’t suggest using potatoes in the soup because they are too mushy when frozen and reheated.
You can also use leftover vegetables you have on hand, but cut cooking time since you don’t want to overcook
Yield varies depending on size of container, but I get enough for about 14 individual meals!
@nfpsbarb - welcome. There is good support here, Your supper sounds great. Sounds like you are coping well with caregiving. Your wife is fortunate to have you.
Supper here these days is a half sandwich or a leaf of romaine wrapped around some protein. R coming back from holiday with his dd and grandsons so I'll have to get in gear soon.
Welcome. This forum is a good place to find advice and understanding for caregivers. Most of us here have long histories of caregiving for loved ones, or we did it as employment (some still do). You'll get some good support and imput here. Yes, there are a few blowhards with little to no experience at actually being hands-on caregivers who will speak like experts, but the more you log on here, the easier it will be to scroll past those.
I think that dinner of yours sounds pretty good.
Talking of fried egg sandwiches, I have been thinking of the time when I fancied one and left the living room, where everyone was watching TV, to go to the kitchen to make myself one.
"Mum, whatcha doing?" asked my oldest son.
"Going to make myself a fried egg sandwich," says I.
"Make me one too?" says he in pleading tones, looking winsome.
"OK", says I.
Then there came a chorus of "Me too, me too, me too", from the other kids and "Me three", from my husband which indicated, in family talk, that he wanted more than one sandwich.
Finally, a small mountain of fried egg sandwiches later, I sat down to enjoy mine. I am alone here tonight. I might risk making myself one.
Got some frozen salmon in an order, by mistake as I much prefer fresh, but I thought I would try it. Hot out of the oven I was not impressed, but cold it's fine. Kitty thinks so too.
It was toast,
a peanut butter sandwich,
a tomato and lettuce sandwich,
a fried egg sandwich,
and last,
it was grilled cheese sandwiches.
Found my husband's grilled cheese sandwich hidden in the back of the freezer the next day. Lol.
It's not in Walmart locally.
Here's the AI overview from the net.
"You can eat chocolate hummus as a dip for fruits, pretzels, and sweet crackers; as a spread on toast, bagels, pancakes, or waffles; as a topping for ice cream or yogurt; or even by the spoonful. It also works well as a healthy alternative for brownies, as a filling for crepes, or in a sandwich with banana and cinnamon."
I found it listed at Walmart and Metro too Evamar, I'm not sure about any of the other Loblaws adjacent stores.
I'm into puddings these days and trying to make a flaxseed pudding, chocolate preferably, that is low carb and reasonable calories. The milk jellos sort of do it but you can't make a chocolate one that I know of.
It is hummus because it has chickpeas, could be actually good with chocolate.
For strawberries, cookies, crackers, it seems to be sold only at Superstore.
I love doing cryptograms, one I solved this morning,
“When life gives you lemons throw them away and insist on chocolate”
Fontaine Sante dark chocolate hummus? Where do you find it?
The oven roasted chicken breast was very easy. Brining sounds fancy but you just put a small handful of salt in a couple of cups of hot water to dissolve it and then immerse the chicken in that for 15 mins up to overnight. Take the chicken out, pat it dry, and place in a roasting pan and season, cook at 375 till done - about 1/2 hr. Always check with your meat thermometer that it reaches 165F. Doing it in the oven means you don't have to stand over the stove and watch it. Mind you, poaching is good for that too, but you can cook a large batch at once in the oven.
Anyone else like Fontaine Sante dark chocolate hummus? Really hits the chocolate craving spot sometimes.
I bought too much milk so I have been making milk jellos. Coconut and almond milk work very well and don't curdle. I especially like the lemon and orange, but the others are OK too.
Some people still buy sandwich bread pre-sliced in a soft plastic bag from some factory bakery that specializes in long shelf lives on most major supermarket shelves. I grew up eating that.
Thinking of Weber's white bread, then they had "wheat".
My point was that it is not healthy, but sometimes those of us trying to eat healthy can go off the wagon, so to speak.
Cwillie, A quesadilla made in the microwave - not the way a "real" quesadilla is made.
Using a microwave could also be a crime.
I call it survival, and don't do it very often.
Golden, Now I will need to look up "Poaching" chicken breasts. Never did that and need a new way to cook them on the stove-top. Always my go-to way of cooking most everything because it is easy.
Chocolate always helps, especially huge amounts.
Like extra nervousness and feeling queasy .
My dh isn't right either but he hasn't been since his stroke but I still think his comprehension and hearing are even worse lately.
Maybe it's because of all the chaos going on,idk.....but
Eating some chocolate will help,I hope.
We had breakfast for dinner tonight~
Yes Golden I too wonder about light fake wheat bread?
cw - I am sure lots of people use microwaves for quesadillas.
Tonight I am taking a new approach to my family pack of chicken breasts. I am brining them, then seasoning and baking them. I usually poach them on the stove top. This seems like less work and more flavour and that's always good. I'll freeze some of them for later.
melted inside, microwaved.
1/2 of the cheese fell on the floor.
Saved calories.
Earlier for lunch, a fantastic homemade potato soup, add cream of mushroom soup, can of evaporated milk, chicken broth, water, two baking potatoes pre-cooked, orange pepper, lots of purple onion, celery, and simmer as long as you can wait.
It is a very strange time we are having, something's not right. How about you?
We are having an extreme heat advisory. All there is left to do is eat.
On light fake wheat bread. soft.
Add a bit of real butter, makes it easier to swallow.
Lunch.