Making The Basics Ahead Of Time

1. Making The Basics Ahead Of Time

I know the reason I cooked up the meat, chicken, and sausage ahead of time was because I wanted to be able to make dinner while I was recovering from surgery. If you think about it This is also a good way to prepare for the week ahead as well.

It did not take much to do either.

I heated the oven to 350 degrees and flavored the chicken, sausage, and meat to go in the oven.

It took about an hour to fully cook everything but using inexpensive cookie sheets from the Dollar Tree covered with foil makes it a simple easy prep that took about five minutes.I did take an additional couple of minutes and cut up peppers and onions to go with the meat and sausage. 

When I took the food out of the oven I allowed it to cool for at least twenty minutes then began bagging and putting it away for later.Clean up was simple take off the foil, rinse off the cookie sheets, dry and put away.

The nice thing is what every your in the mood for during the week at least the basics are done. All you have to do is add the finishing touches.

Here is an example, I may want chicken piccata.. Your saying come on Coral this takes time to make and is a little high in calories. Nope its not at least the way I make it.

If you think about it all the sauce is chicken stock and lemon juice with capes and parsley added.

So this is what I do.

I take a piece of chicken out of the freezer or refrigerator that I have already cooked. 

I don't bread the chicken that's a big calorie saver right there. 

I heat the chicken in the microwave for a couple minutes meanwhile I heat a quarter cup of chicken broth on the stove add a squirt of lemon juice, a sprinkling of parsley and then my favorite food capers.

I add a 1/4 cup or capers but you add as much or as little as you like.

after the sauce comes to a boil add a teaspoon of butter and blend. There your done.

Now serve with a vegetable or salad your choice.

Thats just an example of what can be made quickly at the end of a busy day. 

It can be what every your in the mood for and with the main ingredients done it makes like simple and cooking dinner quick.

The second part of this easy and fast way of making dinner know what ingredients you like and keep them on hand. I like capers so of course I have them in stock. I also keep my favorite spaghetti sauce, and of course I always have chicken broth on hand. Basically know what you need and you will always have what you need on hand to make the meals you enjoy the most.

I hope this helps with you preparing nutritious and delicious meals you will enjoy.

After all my goal is to have you eat better on a budget and this is one way to do it.