These two weeks are fairly busy for us. We have some meetings, a couple of choir practices, and a performance to attend at the Walton Arts Center. However, there should be enough choices here to get you through about two weeks.
Grilled Chicken, Best Broccoli Salad
I would like to say I have a recipe for this chicken, but I don’t. This is literally just putting whatever seasoning you have or you like on the chicken and grilling it. I have been looking for different ways to use veggies, and I came across this recipe from smalltownwoman.com for a different way to use broccoli. My husband really likes broccoli salad, but most of the ones you get at restaurants have cheese in them, and he doesn’t like that, so I was pleased to find this one that did not use cheese. You can also just leave the cheese out of other recipes as well.
Cornish Hen, fries, asparagus/broccoli/mushrooms
At one point we bought some individual cornish hens and my husband smoked them. We then froze them to have at a later date. This is one of those times. We are actually able to share one when we have some additional sides. I just thaw it out and put it in the oven on about 275 degrees F to reheat. Fries cooked in the air fryer are planned as well as some veggies. Just cut up the asparagus, broccoli, and mushrooms and saute them with some butter and your favorite seasoning until they are tender.
Baked Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Red Potatoes, asparagus
At one point we purchased a large box of chicken pieces. We sorted them into portions and froze them. This box had quite a few chicken wings, so I have been looking for different ways to use them. I can’t say that I am a huge wing person, but I have really enjoyed cooking them and having them as my protein for a meal. This recipe is from drdavinahseats.com. The wings are baked in the oven, and they are just seasoned with basic pantry spices. One “trick” in the recipe is baking powder, and it really does make a difference. Just make sure you have plenty of time to prepare these as they take some time to cook.
We really like roasted red potatoes, but I know I am planning on using the oven for the wings, so I found a recipe from thediaryofarealhousewife.com for the potatoes in the air fryer. They really do cook up nice and crisp and the seasonings are just staples that you should already have. Just be sure not to overfill the air fryer.
We like roasted asparagus. I know I can cook it at the same temp as the wings, so this works well. I just trim up some asparagus, put it in a single layer on a baking tray, and put a little olive oil, salt, and pepper on it. It roasts in about 10 to 12 minutes. I really like to use the thinner stalks for this because they roast so quickly and they get nice and tender.
Rotisserie Chicken, Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries
The chicken is exactly as it sounds. I thaw out rotisserie chicken pieces that I have in the freezer and reheat them in the oven at about 275 degrees. You can also get a rotisserie chicken from the store.
The zucchini fries are an attempt to have something healthy but feels like fries. These are definitely not fries but they are a pretty good side dish from chocolatecoveredkatie.com. You can use regular bread crumbs or try some panko.
Grilled sausage, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn on the cob
No recipes for this one. Take your favorite sausage and grill it or pan-fry it. Prepare some homemade mashed potatoes or use instant or prepared ones. We like white gravy, but you use whatever is your favorite. Sometimes I boil the corn and sometimes we do it on the grill. If you are already grilling your sausage, make good use of the grill for the corn as well. If it is fresh, you can even leave it unshucked. I do like to shuck mine, put some butter and seasonings on it, wrap it in foil, and grill until tender.
Tacos, rice and beans
Once again, no recipes here. I buy taco shells and taco seasoning. I like the Taco Bell seasoning the best. Some people make their own. I don’t make my own Mexican rice either. Usually I use the Rice-a-Roni Mexican Rice or the Knorr Spanish Rice. Same with the refried beans. My favorite beans are the Taco Bell brand. Then I just serve with some lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream, salsa, and jalapenos.
Chicken and veggie packets
This is just a “made-up” recipe in order to have a super-easy, no-real-cleaning meal. I use boneless, skinless chicken. Tear off large pieces of foil for each piece of chicken. Spray the middle of each piece with a little bit of cooking spray. Lay your chicken on the foil and season it how you like. Then add any veggies that you like. We use potatoes cut into small cubes, cut-up carrots, sliced onions, fresh sliced mushrooms, and frozen green beans. You use whatever you like or what you have. I don’t recommend any veggies that cook too quickly if you are cooking potatoes and carrots. They will turn to mush before the rest is cooked through. I season mine with seasoning salt and a little pepper. Go wild with your favorites. Fold up the foil around everything and seal it tightly. My husband cooks these on the grill over medium heat, usually for about 20 to 30 minutes. You can also bake them in the oven on 350 degrees F for about 25 to 30 minutes. Just check the potatoes and carrots to make sure they are done.
Smoked chicken legs, Garlic Butter Noodles, cabbage
The chicken legs are some that my husband smoked earlier and we portioned and froze for another meal. I guess I am using a lot of that smoked meat this menu!! The Garlic Butter Noodles from saltandlavender.com are a nice, quick side that uses mostly what you have on hand. These were on the last menu as well. I do recommend grating your own parmesan cheese instead of buying a bag of grated cheese. The bagged kind is treated with some cornstarch to keep it from sticking together and it causes your recipes to get overly sticky. The cabbage recipe is from divascancook.com. I used to not be a very big fan of cooked cabbage, but this recipe is delicious and easy. I like to use a little bacon grease in mine as well for flavor. Or you can put in a piece of bacon or some ham to add that meaty flavor.
Pork loin, Air Fryer Vegetables
Once again, I am not very helpful as far as a recipe for the pork loin. This is also from the large stash of smoked meat that my husband did. Pork loin cooks so easily though. These were some that were already seasoned, so it was literally just applying smoke and heat for the right amount of time, which isn’t very long. You can get one of these and pop it in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes and have a delicious protein.
As I have stated, I have been trying to find some different recipes for vegetables. This one from aheadofthyme.com uses the air fryer. It has several different kinds of vegetables, including mushrooms. I find that the mushrooms make me feel as though I am getting a heartier side dish. I am sure you can substitute whatever veggies you like the best.
Spaghetti, green beans
I know you have seen this “recipe” from me numerous times, but it is a favorite at our house. I try not to plan for it too much, but it is easy, quick, and inexpensive. I start with a pound of ground beef and a chopped onion. I cook those together until the meat is browned and crumbled. Drain completely. I usually even rinse mine with hot water to make sure I get most of the fat off. I put the meat back in the pot and add some seasonings to it. We like ours spicy, so I add salt, pepper, chili powder, dried oregano, dried parsley, dried basil, and a little cayenne pepper. Then I add a jar of spaghetti sauce. I just use the store brand. You use whatever you like. Then I add more of the same spices. I have no measurements for any of these!! I just add them until it is the flavor that we like. I let it simmer for a bit while I cook the spaghetti. Once the spaghetti is cooked, I drain it well and mix it with the sauce in one big pot. Canned green beans are usually the side of choice. I just season them up a little with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Managing the Mundane 