Time Saving Tips

I was asked if I have some time saving tips? oh, do I! I will always change the recipes that I post to include time saving tips.

Here are some others:

1. I recently started doing something new with chicken. its a great time saver throughout the week. I get two whole chickens and bake them until they are done. Sit them on the counter until they are cooled. Then I shred them. I use everything. White meat, dark meat. Sometimes I divide them if I want only white meat for a particular meal. Having cooked chicken on hand is great for many recipes (including the one in the next tip). Some recipes I use pre-cooked chicken: Chicken Salad Sandwiches; Chicken Tacos; Chicken Enchilada's; Chicken Cakes, Chicken to throw into pasta. and so on....

After I am done with the meat, I put the 2 carcasses in the crock pot fill it with water and set it on low over night. In the AM I have some of the best chicken broth. I pour that into a pitcher and use that through the week in place of water and oil in many recipes.

**NOTE: you can pre-make any type of meat that you like, including regular chicken breasts. The purpose is to save time. If the store is having a sale on beef roast you can pop one in the crock-pot over night and in the morning shred it and put it in the refrigerator. You can make BBQ beef sandwiches, beef tacos, beef enchiladas, add it to chili, stir fry, etc.

2. I always keep a variety of Trader Joe's sauces on hand. They have a great selection. One of my favorites is the Thai green curry. I make a really fast and very tasty super quick meal using this sauce:

I use shredded carrots and chopped green beans. These cook really fast. Simmer the veggies in the Thai green curry sauce until they are cooked and add some of your pre-cooked chicken. Serve over Trader Joe's wild rice pilaf. This is a great left over for the next days lunch.

3. Make enough for lunch tomorrow. I don't care for leftovers, but Dave loves them. I typically make enough dinner for him to take for lunch the next day.

4. Summer Salads. Spring/summer is a great time for non-lettuce salads. I make a several a week and serve them as side dishes and lunch for me. Unlike their lettuce counterparts, they keep well in the refrigerator and typically get better as the flavors blend. Pasta, Bean, Rice and Corn Salads are recipes that I will post often.

6. MEAL PLAN--this saves so much time running back and forth from the grocery store during the week. I meal plan on Sundays and I plan for 6 days of dinners. I spend a couple of hours on Monday at various grocery stores, Costco and the local fruit/veggie stand (The Farmers Wife). I'm little obsessive about finding a good value. My goal is trying to save money, time is secondary but certainly a consideration. A less frugal person (or more rational) can get their shopping done at one store and save time!

5. Don't get overwhelmed by complicated recipes. Most of the time they can easily be scaled down. If you have a complicated recipe that you want to try but are afraid its too time consuming, send it to me and I will make it easy--really its my only talent!

I will continue to post EASY, FAST recipes throughout the week.