Let's do a recipe Exchange!

The most commonly asked question in Portland is, “What’s for dinner?” Obviously, every night I have an answer for this question, however, a lot of the time, it is the same thing that we ate last week or a couple of weeks before. Because of this, I am thinking of hosting a recipe exchange through this blog. I would surely love new recipe ideas and I know many others that would love them as well.

The way the exchange will work, first you must subscribe or follow this post (or my blog in general, this is up to you. Leave a comment stating that you would like to join the exchange and I will send you a message for your information—(no need to post all your personal info on the internet). I will form groups and exchange information with your group members. Once you have them, you will be responsible for sending out copies of your favorite recipe to each person of your group, and the opposite. So you will end up with x amount of new recipes.

I feel that I want to do this with physical addresses so that we can all send a recipe card with our chosen recipe. I like getting recipe cards—I sort of have a collection of them from other people. I think they are fun.

Limitations- The only limitations to the exchange are that whatever recipe you choose must be something that can be made any time of the year. Please do not choose recipes with seasonal items that cannot be purchased reasonably any time of the year. I cannot buy watermelons in December and I know that East coasters can’t either, so this is an unreasonable recipe. Got it? I think you do.

Let’s have fun with this!

5 Quick and Easy Meals for Busy People

When it comes to quick and easy meals, you want something fast not fast food that is greasy and feels like a ticking time bomb in your stomach. Having a plan of attack for meals that you can make in less than 20 minutes is awesome. Here are the five go-to meals that we are always prepared to make in my home when my little one is hungry and we are rushing to get out the door.

1. Bean Burritos-A bean burrito is a fantastic meal because it can be eaten in the microwave. Heat the beans and tortillas and feel free to add lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, taco sauce, salsa, or whatever other ingredients you like. This simple meal can be made using all your favorite burrito toppings.
2. Pancakes and Eggs-Who ever said that you could not have breakfast for dinner? It is a quick and filling meal and your kids will love it because they, more than likely, do not get to eat it before heading off to school.
3. Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce-There is no need to include the meat unless you absolutely feel it is necessary. Once your noodles are boiled, you simple heat some sauce to top and you have a meal. If you do not like tomato sauce, Alfredo is a great alternative that takes the same amount of time to heat.
4. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup-Heat up a can of tomato soup slap a couple pieces of bread in a pan with some cheese between them and you have a tasty and filling meal. Kid's love it because it is grilled cheese and because there is something to dunk their sandwiches in.
5. Salad-Most all households have a head of lettuce or a bag of salad in the fridge. Throw in some leftover chicken, add a nice dressing and you have a nice, light meal that is perfect for spring or when you do not feel like doing much.

Why Home Menus are Essential

I have found one of the biggest time savers ever is to plan a menu. Since I have a kid that is very selective in his eating, planning a menu helps me to know what sorts of foods he might be interested in trying and what he will eat. When I have a menu, I can also use up the food that is in my pantry and cupboards instead of going to the grocery store to buy everything. (This is the money saving part—using what is already there.) Here are some of the tips that I have found to be most useful in successful menu planning.

•The question, “What’s for dinner,” is the most commonly asked question on the Internet. If everyone knows what is for dinner, not only will you not have to listen to this question, but they can also help by starting dinner themselves.
•If someone wants dinner earlier than you are able to cook it, they can get in the kitchen and help get things started. Not only does this lift the burden from your shoulders but it also allows everyone to get involved in making meals. It is also a great teaching tool for your kids—it helps them to learn what sort of things go well together.
•Using a menu will help you utilize the food you have in your storage cupboards. I also like to plan at least a couple days’ worth of meals from my pantry. This lets me use things that are going to expire and rotate some of my canned goods.
•Plan one meal of leftovers. This cleans out your fridge and freezer and allows everyone to eat what they liked from the week. This will also help you determine what to put on the menu for future weeks.
•Planning a weekly menu will allow you to purchase a week's worth of meals, lessening the need to go to the store, impulse buying, and purchasing items that you already have.
•When you have planned for the week, you will have fewer trips to a neighbor's house for butter or eggs, there will be less burnt food because you were looking for something, and no missing ingredients that you thought you had.
•Meals will be more nutritious because you have time to prepare healthy side dishes instead of going out to the store for a sauce or side that you thought you had and didn’t.