Miller County Newsletters
Haley's Comment
Get Dinner on the Table Quick with out Resorting to Take-Out
October 31, 2007
Here it is Halloween, and you still have to get dinner on the table. Whether
you are the one taking the children out, or the one handing out the treats, it
will be a busy evening. You need to get dinner on the table quick and want it to
be more than sandwiches or carry out.
Help is here. There are some general rules you can follow to save time and
your sanity when you need to prepare a meal fast.
1. Fewer ingredients equal less hassle. Choose a recipe which has less than 8
ingredients, excluding general spices and herbs. This way you will spend less
time looking for missing ingredients. Plus, there will be less clean-up when it
is time to put things away.
2. Using canned goods are a great timesaver. Now there are some canned goods
that are not my favorite, and I would much rather cook from scratch, but many
are just as tasty and a great timesaver. For example, opening a can of beans
takes about 10 seconds compared to hours on the stove, if you cook them from
scratch. Use them as a springboard for family meals. Canned chili is great for
using in a chili cheese pie, but may not be your favorite just eaten out of the
can.
3. One-pan recipes mean less cleanup. Why is it that casseroles are so
popular with cooks? There is little cleanup involved. You can prepare everything
in one pan, leaving fewer dishes to wash later. Give yourself a break by using
just one pan to cook the entire dinner.
4. The microwave is your friend. Nearly every home has a microwave, use if
for more than popping popcorn. You can dramatically cut cooking time by using
the microwave instead of the stove or oven. Plus you save on your energy bills
when you eliminate the need to preheat the oven or pans on the stovetop.
5. No-cook recipes save time. Sandwiches have long been the standard no-cook
meal item. Find other recipes that let you skip the stovetop and oven
altogether. Try tossed green salads with grilled chicken breasts, and use the
pre-cooked chicken strips found in the deli, and refrigerated cases section.
They may be a little more expensive upfront, but can save your valuable time.
These usually require less clean-up work too. Fewer dishes to wash, means more
family time to enjoy.
6. Many hands make light work. This old saying is especially true when it
comes to meal preparation. Get everyone involved in meal preparation, and get
dinner on the table in half the time. Younger children are good at setting the
table, while older kids can help pour drinks and assemble salads. Plus as an
added benefit, you are teaching them valuable lifelong skills they can use when
they are out on their own.
With our busy schedules, getting a healthy meal on the table fast is
important. If you would like more information on healthy choices for your
family, contact our office for your copy of MyPyramid which details healthy
choices in each food group. We may be reached at the University of Arkansas
Cooperative Extension Service in Miller County at 400 Laurel, Suite 215 in
Texarkana. Call 870-779-3609, e-mail me at
chaley@uaex.edu, or visit our webpage at
www.uaex.edu/miller.
Quick and Healthy Chicken Pot Pie
1 - pastry for a 9-inch double crust pie
1 - small bag frozen broccoli and carrots
2 - boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and chopped
1 - (10.75 ounce) can fat-free, low-sodium condensed cream of chicken
soup
2/3 cup skim milk
1 cup low-fat shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Steam carrots and broccoli in a covered pot
for 3 minutes, until slightly tender but still firm. In a large bowl, mix
together carrots, broccoli, chicken, soup, milk, cheese, and salt. Spoon mixture
into pastry-lined 9-inch pie pan and cover with top crust. Seal edges and cut
steam vents in top. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, until golden brown.
Tried and True Tip:
Use precooked chicken strips in place of the chicken breast. Also, mix up
ahead of time and freeze or place in refrigerator then all that is needed is
cooking.
We appreciate your feedback!
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