If that title doesn't get your attention, I don't know what will. But since you haven't clicked away, I'll share with you some of my criteria for making tasty meals in our house:
1) lean protein
2) some sort of fiber component - usually beans, because they are
3) cheap
One of my favorite ways to do this is to start with a rotisserie chicken from Costco for $4.99 ($4.99?! You can hardly buy a chicken sammich at McDonald's for that much). Here is what you do:
DAY 1) Eat the chicken. It is delicious. (Maybe pair it with some frozen green beans and rosemary bread, also from Costco and sold in 2-loaf packages. Freeze one for later. You'll be glad you did.)
"Eat the wha?" |
Chicken Tortilla Soup
(ready in 15 minutes, I promise)
4 cups chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, smashed
1 can Mexican-style diced tomatoes (Rotel works)
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1 small jalapeno, seeded and diced, which you could leave
out if you are from Minnesota and only like bland foods
(just kidding, Minnesotans! We love your bland foods)
2 cups or so of the scavenged chicken bits
1 can black beans
1/2 c whatever kind of shredded cheese you have in the
fridge
*optional but highly encouraged:
cilantro, avocado, and crushed tortillas
Bring broth, tomatoes, garlic, jalapeno, and spices to a boil in an appropriately sized saucepan. Reduce heat to low and simmer about 5 minutes. Add chicken and beans. Simmer 5 more minutes. Stir in cheese. Taste it and add a little salt. Top with cilantro, avocado, and tortillas.
Husband's* ringing endorsement: "I could eat this every day." BAM.
*He was known to eat dirt as a child, so do with that comment what you will.
DAY 3: CROCK POT TIME. Do not be intimidated. This is also easy. Since you have a sad-looking chicken carcass taking up room in your fridge, put it to work.
Chicken Stock
1 sad-looking chicken carcass
10 cups water (or whatever your crock pot will hold)
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp thyme
1 tsp salt
1 onion, unpeeled and cut in half
1 celery stalk, cut in half
1 carrot, cut in half
4 cloves garlic, unpeeled (just throw them in! easy peasy)
Put everything in the crock pot on low for about 8 hours or so (great to do overnight). Then when it has cooled a bit, strain it, pour 2-cup servings in freezer bags and lie flat on a freezer shelf. DONE.
But enough chicken talk. Today is the FIRST DAY OF SPRING. Let's celebrate by
"Nothing says 'welcome home' like the spring. spring. spring."
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