JUST SPEAKING OUT "JUST A QUICK MEAL IDEA"

A quick meal that is inexpensive and by way far beats macaroni and cheese and hot dogs and smiles on most faces. With attending college, and working and not having a lot of time I am constantly have to think of meals to cook quickly on a limited budget so I make it fun instead of making it a challenge.

   A crock pot is one of the most helpful things in a kitchen when a person is limited on time, and I do not like food that is not flavorful. Fast food is so unhealthy when it is all the time. I take my crock pot down from the shelf and start it out on low. I take about a half a pound of sausage, or hamburger, for the vegetarians out there, this does not have include any type of meat. I cook the sausage and make sure it is done in a separate skillet, with a half of a small onion and about a quarter of a small green bell pepper and brown these as well. Next I start a tomato sauce not from a jar but from real tomato's and a can of diced Italian sun dried diced tomato's it is all right to use stewed or regular Italian style tomato's place these in the crock pot, with a can of Italian pizza sauce it is not as expensive as the jar, and it adds a great flavor, then use a little garlic clove sliced into the crock pot also. Add a little ground pepper, garlic powder, oregano, Italian seasoning, I add just a pinch of sage, a pinch of basil. Take the meat add it to the crock pot with the sauce and simmer for a couple of hours and season to taste I also add mushrooms and olives. Boil the noodles, a secret do not test the noodles by throwing them against a wall,  the best way to tell is look at both ends if they are done the ends will be white drain and rinse with cool water. I usually make a small garden salad with the dish you can take a piece of toast melt a little butter and a little garlic powder brush it on the toast, you just made a nice dinner easily, inexpensive, and not using a lot of time. 
 

JUST SPEAKING OUT " ABOUT THE ART OF COOKING GOOD FOOD!"

 How many people out there have eaten something at a restaurant and were extremely dissatisfied? I know quite a few myself included. I have had chicken that was not cooked thoroughly, steak almost raw and it was ordered medium well, fish that was suppose to be fresh and still frozen in the middle, crab at a chain that supposedly only cooks that and shortly after eating had to run out the door to get sick. I have a respect for Chef Gordon Ramsey he obviously must of had some bad experiences. The sad part is most people fear complaining due to the repercussion of the consequences by the cook or chef. When this happens it is my money and I complain I do not ask for a refund I just let them know I will not return nor do I eat the food, and ask the cook to eat what has been to served to me, usually they decline. I am often asked by people what is simple easy and tastes good, it actually depends on the individual and their palate. Really how many of you have paid $50.00 to at least a $100.00 dollars trying to impress a date, or quest and been extremely dissatisfied or even to the point off getting ill. I think even a hamburger patty should have flair, and taste. Take hamburger make a couple of patty's place in a skillet on medium, with a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce, a little garlic, hamburger seasoning, and ground pepper I prefer to use the pepper form the grinder to season. A few mushrooms wash them off, slice a small amount of red onion, a little minced garlic clove, about a half a red bell pepper saute with a little butter in a separate skillet, brush the hamburger buns, with a little butter and garlic place in the oven on about 250. degrees only for a minute or two they are toasted take a slice of baby Swiss cheese place over the hamburger patty and melt in the skillet. Slice a little avocado place over the top of hamburger, with sauteed mushrooms, bell pepper and onion. A serving of cottage cheese a sliced hot house tomato with very little light Italian dressing over the slices of tomato, and a meal is served. I really would love to hear how many people are out there and have had the bad restaurant experience!!

 Thought I would share another all time family favorite my partners sister comes over, and ask what are you cooking oh not much just some enchilada's. I, laughed and I said  "yes they are easy to make and you can have a few she did ask me to share " will you please share how you make these so I thought I would share the simplicity. Depending on what type of meat a person decides to use you cook this first. My choice inexpensive chuck steak cooked in a skillet seasoned a little for flavoring. Ingredients that you will need, rice cooked, a small can of jalapenos, optional, the Mexican style can diced tomatoes the red or green can of enchilada sauce I use the large can I make extra and freeze them. A can of either vegetarian style, or salsa style re fried beans, the small corn flour tortillas, and lots of grated Mexican cheese. I use the stock pot mix a little out the can of  enchilada sauce into the pot, then I take the jalapenos add them I do not like to use the really hot ones. Put the can of tomatoes in the pot as well as the re fried beans, I cook up some rice and add this once it is cooked a little secret to rice rinse it off before bringing it to a boil it adds moisture. I diced the steak and add it as well. Then cook the tortillas in a little 0live oil in a non-stick pan turn them so both sides are soft. Take the the cooked enchilada filling and place it into each cooked shell once they have cooled add some cheese roll it. I prefer a cast iron skillet for this also though you can use a glass baking dish arrange place cheese and enchilada sauce over the top and bake for until cheese has melted most everything is already cooked before hand. I slice a lime and put fresh salsa with a little sour cream off to the side the seasoning is just chili powder salt and pepper or you can buy it in a packet form the seasoning isle. I wrap the extra in plastic and tin foil once cooled and store them in the freezer they do not stay there long though.

JUST SPEAKING OUT " Just a little more about Good Food and a how too, adding just a little more flavor."

   Last night threw  the calorie counting right out the window, and decided on Southern Fried Chicken, Mashed Potato's, and Country Gravy a little corn on the cob and a pitcher of iced tea added a few raspberries. All in all it was still rather inexpensive to make and my family thoroughly enjoys it.
  I of course do not leave the skin on any chicken I cook whether it is fried,baked, barbecued, or stir fried. Taking an old empty plastic bread sack I use about a cup, or two of flour, placing the flour in the sack, I then add the seasonings first about a teaspoon of paprika, a tablespoon of ground black pepper, a tablespoon of garlic salt, and ingredient that gives the chicken its zesty taste, add about a teaspoon chili powder. I rinse, and dry the chicken with patting down with a paper towel I rub a little bit of iodized salt, on the chicken then it is placed into the plastic bag that has been shaken prior as well to mix the spices through the flour. The next step is to place a little butter in a skillet not a lot this is just for flavor. Then about a cup or so of cooking oil or shortening which ever a person prefers to use, heat the oil, and shake the chicken in the bread sack, poke a fork through the chicken before cooking it helps to cook it thoroughly. Place a lid on the chicken cooking it on medium heat not to high or to low this is to keep from burning, or under cooking.
  The mashed potato is relatively easy wash them slice rinse and boil I leave the skin on they do not always have to be peeled. I usually start these before the chicken starts to cook, once the potato are boiled take a hand mixer or smasher add a little bit of butter and milk. Mix the potato to the consistency that is desired. The country gravy leave the dripping's, and about a teaspoon or two of the oil in the pan the chicken has been cooked in, take about 2 teaspoons of corn starch in a separate container mix with milk, stir to make sure their are no lumps. Leave the chicken drippings on low adding in the mixture of cornstarch, and milk slowly in the pan stirring consistently until desired thickness remove from burner season to taste. The ears of corn after shucked, and cleaned, broke in half placed in pan covering in water bring to a boil add about a half a teaspoon or two of sugar to the boiling water it adds flavor. Let boil for about at least 7 minutes maybe longer depending on the size of the ears. The chicken takes about thirty five to forty minutes depending on the size of each piece, you will want to check it often and turn in middle of cooking time.  Try to cook it in a pan with a lid to avoid grease splatters. Then I take the cold brew ice tea bags add cold water some frozen raspberries add in a pitcher and country dinner is cooked. Bake a couple of biscuits another trick to the biscuit's turning out just right is to cook them in my cast iron skillet place with a little butter and honey on table. Next morning biscuits and gravy for breakfast if something quick is needed. 

JUST SPEAKING OUT " ABOUT THE ART OF COOKING GOOD FOOD!"

  When it comes to the art of cooking I consider it one of most enjoyed hobbies that most people I meet seem not to enjoy. I like creating low calorie meals that are healthy and not lacking in taste, and flavor. The many recipes I use are from years of experience and of course a call or two to my mother. Food has increased in price somewhat in the last few years so I think of what is budget friendly as well. My partner loves to try the new dishes I create, as I call them my experimental creations. I am certainly not Rachael Ray or Julia Chiles.
  There is nothing more disappointing than eating a low calorie meal, and paying more for food that has a lack of flavor, or an appeal to each persons palate. One of the experimental dinner favorites is a recipe that includes chicken breast, red potato's zucchini yellow and green. Fairly inexpensive too! I take the chicken breast marinate them in about 4 tablespoons of a red wine vinaigrette, about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, if there is a lack of these two ingredients, use about a half a cup of Italian Salad Dressing and a little bit of cooking oil. Place a fork through the chicken breast this helps to marinade and cook thoroughly.

   I use the old metal roasting pan, it also makes for an easy clean up, place the breast in the pan, add about a cup or two of water.  Take about half of red bell pepper, and half of a yellow bell pepper, slice it length wise add the sliced bell peppers on top of the chicken breast, also adding a about 2 small pieces of garlic clove, minced. Add a little ground pepper, Italian seasoning, and a little season salt, a few sprinkles of parsley, and roast for about an hour and half at 350 degrees with the lid. The red potato's are washed off cut into slices placed into a sauce pan with a little olive oil and a little sliced red onion,  placing the lid over the top letting them cook, and only using about half a teaspoon of Herbs De Provence a little ground black pepper, and a small amount of crushed chives, then saute, or steam until done, Next is to to saute the zucchini wash and cut of the ends, slice them. I like to saute these in a small amount of butter if you you are watching calories, you will want to use the olive oil. I mix the yellow, and green for eye appeal, and flavor with a little bit of pepper, paprika,salt and dinner is cooked. Healthier when the salt, and butter are not used, also it is inexpensive.