New Mommy Menu

This is a way overdue blog post from last week. With our new nephew being born recently and a very tired Mommy, who is tired of a Daddy's version of quick dinner, (fast food:/) I offered to cook a short week of healthy food to help her out. Nothing real fancy just easy, healthy, quick food so she could spend as much time resting as possible. Most of these menu items have been made in previous blog posts with detailed directions and recipes so here is a recap of what I prepared. Sissie is a huge fan of the "Bean Salad" so that was a must, along with Cauliflower, Broccoli salad and Lemon Orzo. She asked for those things specifically and I made a huge post of Chicken Stew, Gluten Free, which was the topic of my last blog post. Pictured last is the Sour Cream and Onion sauce I used for my "Smothered Pork Chops"(recipe from 3-27-14) on a bed of rice pilaf. Not pictured was a container of mini meatballs in a sweet and savory sauce of carrot, onion and garlic that is usually poured over pasta, minus the meatballs and is called " Genovese." I shopped for all these ingredients and then prepared it on a budget of $35.00, it took a little over 4 hours to make 4-5 days worth of food.  

Basil and Parsley Garbanzo salad with Tomatoes

Lemon, Olive oil and Parsley Orzo

Broccoli and Cauliflower salad

Gluten Free Chicken Stew

(There is also a small "how to" video for the Chicken stew at https://www.facebook.com/COOKINGTTREATS ) 

Sour Cream and Onion smothered Rice Pilaf

*For any questions about a specific recipe you can't find please feel free to contact me for individual instructions! ENJOY!!

Carrot salad

There was so much response to my Facebook post that I decided to give the people what they want! ;)

I bought an already shredded bag of carrots, it's just easier that way, and the 1 lb. bag cost a $1.00! I only used half the bag, a grapefruit from The Hunebee's Mom's house, cilantro and fresh ginger. Making the whole bowl of salad came in at a cost of $2.00, and I think out of that you could get 4 servings.

Ingredients:

1/2 bag of shredded carrots (1 lb.)

1 small pink grapefruit (diced small)

1 tsp. of minced fresh Ginger

1/4 cup cilantro

Dressing:

1/3 cup of olive oil

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. powdered ginger

salt

ENJOY!

Meals Under $5 Healthy, Gluten Free, Fresh!

Here are some of the breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks I've been making over the last 6 months. They all come in at the $5 dollar mark per Jar. Because the "bunch" works so much and have no time for cooking, let alone shopping, I've put this together to show everyone how easy and cheap it can be to stay healthy on a budget. These meals are great for on the go people who eat at work, in their car, or on their way to a busy day!

This is what I used to send KATvonVAPURE before she started her diet. From the left we have plain oat meal with a little added cinnamon. On top is a medley of home made trail mix consisting of walnuts, dried pineapple, cherries, cranberries and banana chips with a drizzle of honey. Next to that is low fat cottage cheese with canned pineapple, cranberries and basil. These two are around $4.00 a jar and enough for one serving of breakfast, AND are both GLUTEN FREE!

These are Low-Carb high protein breakfast jars for The Hunebee, KATvonVAPURE and Kuizzy. Inside is 1/4 cup of fresh avocado, 3 small maple sausage links and one medium boiled egg in half. These FABULOUS Breakfasts-for-the-ride come out to $2.00 a jar!!! YES just $2. They are also GLUTEN FREE and great for energy. I add a little pepper once everything is in place and thats it!

Here is a picture of what my fridge ends up looking like on Mondays. This is a small portion of what I could send for lunches. From the left is 2 jars of chicken salad with green onions, cilantro, cranberries, and Greek Yogurt instead of mayonnaise they cost around $1.75 a jar (smaller jars).  Next is a sandwich in a Jar with sesame Gluten Free crackers, persian cucumbers, and sliced carrots. I used Boar's Head Roast Beef and Roasted Turkey, both GLUTEN FREE, and cost about $3.75/jar. In the small jars is an egg salad, pretty basic with a little salt, fresh cracked pepper, paprika and again Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise which will run you about $.35/jar. Quite a change from the price and health of a "normal" lunch for someone on the go. Fast food, even sit down restaurants charge an arm and a leg for "bad for you" food. 

Here we have Tomatoes two ways. The Top is a Bruschetta that KATvonVAPURE is eating with sesame Gluten Free crackers. Inside is chopped vine tomatoes, onion, garlic, and fresh basil. Add a little sprinkle of sugar and red wine vinegar, let it marinate and eat! And at $3.00 a jar it's even better! The bottom is a salsa that The Hunebee eats on top of her cottage cheese. It's just sliced grape tomatoes, jalapenos, and LOTS of cilantro, a little salt and lime (or lemon). This will come to about $2.00/jar. 

So here, these are 8 meals or snacks that are healthy, cheap, GLUTEN FREE and tasty!!