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Today’s post is from Tessa of Tessa the Domestic Diva. Tessa is another hostess and founder of Allergy Free Wednesdays.
I love Tessa’s selection of healthy, attractive, and special diet friendly recipes (she’s got a beautiful site as well.) We are kindred spirits in the sense that we have seen great things happen in our families as we have moved to more healthful, whole foods diets. I hope you enjoy this post by Tessa as she shares with us some quick, easy, and healthful options for getting dinner on the table—FAST! I’m sure at least one of these will make it onto our table soon! Now….here’s Tessa.
I can’t tell you how many times people around me have lamented how they wish they had more time to cook and put wholesome dinners down for their family every night. Regardless of your time constraints: it IS possible. The key is pre-planning and picking the right recipes that cook quickly or in a crock-pot while you’re away managing your busy day.
Take a moment to organize yourself! You will be saving yourself loads of money AND eating more healthy, wholesome foods than the grab and go fare you find in most grocery stores. Best of all, you get to control what goes into your food. Let me show you how! With a little practice, this process of pre-planning should not take more than 30 minutes (unless you’re like me and adore pouring through recipe sources for pleasure!)
Ready?
- I have a post on how to menu plan to help you learn how to get the ball rolling.
- Check your pantry, fridge, and freezer to take stock of items that need to be used up.
- Pick your recipes. Avoid recipes that have long cooking times or loads of prep work, save these for weekend cooking when you may have more time.
- Make a grocery list. Whatever recipes you pick, make a corresponding grocery list to pick up the things you do not already have on hand. As I mentioned in my above menu-planning post, I keep pre-printed grocery lists on hand for this. I group the foods I need by type and have them on my list in the order I hit them in my favorite store.
Set?
- Grocery shop with your list in hand. STICK TO IT to ensure you are only spending money on items you’ll use. We do this as a family (even with all the “bumps” shopping with kids entails). You may prefer to do it alone. An organized list helps you move through the store efficiently, and I give my older kids jobs to help the process.
Go!
- Enjoy your newfound health and freedom! It feels good to feed your family well, and it is entirely possible and worth it. Less stress is better for your body too…but I didn’t need to tell you that, did I?!
Here are some quick and easy recipes to get you started (for more ideas, please refer to my Quick & Easy label in my recipe index).
Healthy Chili Mac
Serves 4-5
Ingredients
2 teaspoons oil (I use coconut oil)
1 onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, minced (See the Easiest Way to Peel Garlic)
1 pound ground meat of choice
4 tablespoons tomato paste (I LOVE this jarred paste)
1 14.5 ounce can pureed/crushed tomatoes (I used diced, but pureed them w/ my immersion blender first. The puree hides the big chunks of tomatoes that my kids won’t eat. Note from Adrienne: ”Great tip!”)
2 cups beef broth, homemade or store bought (From Adrienne: I’ve used my Homemade Veggie Broth.)
2 teaspoons oregano
1 tablespoon chili powder (or to taste)
2 1/2 cups gluten free noodles (I used Tinkiyada Brown Rice Elbows)
1/2 cup shredded dairy-free shredded cheddar, or favorite cheddar cheese
Optional garnishes: avocado slices, pickled jalapeños, hot sauce, fresh lime, shredded cabbage
Method
1. Preheat a 10-12″ skillet with a tight fitting lid over medium heat.
2. Add the oil.
3. Add the onions and saute until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
4. Crumble the ground meat and add in the garlic, stirring to break the meat up.
5. When browned, add in tomato paste, canned tomatoes, beef broth, oregano, and chili powder. Stir to combine.
6. Mix in the noodles. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cover. Cook until the noodles are al dente, about 7-10 minutes. The noodles will continue to soak up liquid as it sits, so don’t worry if it seems thin at first.
7. Stir in cheddar shreds until melted. Serve with preferred garnishes.
TIP: Add any additional vegetables to this. I bet bell peppers, carrots, spinach, or cabbage would all be good! Here are some more quick and easy meals:
Quick & Easy 2 Ingredient Pulled Pork
Perfect Make Ahead & Freeze: Healthier Meatloaf
Need more quick and easy options for your table?
How about (from this blog):
Easy and Yummy Bean Dip (everyone asks for this recipe)
Indian Lentils (ready in as little as 9 minutes)
What is one of YOUR favorite quick dinners to get on the table? Do you have a trick that helps you stay on top of homemade dinners?
Your Chili Mac sounds delicious! I love your tips on getting organized. I follow similar steps as well and it does save money, time, and especially frustration since I’m usually shopping with little kids. Thanks so much for sharing with the Hearth and Soul!
Elsa recently posted..Hearth and Soul with Elsa Cooks 4/24
You’re certainly welcome Elsa!
Great tips for serving your family healthy food. I find the pay off is worth the little bit of extra effort involved in cooking healthy food from scratch and when I cook fast and easy meals like you’ve shared I can do it in less time than it takes to heat a boxed pizza in the oven.
Alea recently posted..How to Make Lemonade
too true Alea! The irony right? I try and explain to that to my husband when he wants to eat out…I can have the food on the table quicker than the time it would take to go to a restaurant or wait for delivery!
Mmm, this sounds yummy. My daughter has celiac disease and we all eat Tinyada pasta. It’s good, huh?! Thanks for posting this recipe. I pinned it on pinterest!
Western Warmth recently posted..Crockpot Meatloaf
Great guest post Tessa! You know I love all your recipes!! Always winners in our house.
Hugs,
–Amber
Amber recently posted..Allergy-Friendly Wednesdays Week 14: April 25, 2012
Just made this for dinner, so good, huge hit! I didn’t have elbow shapes so I broke up the last of 2 boxes of spaghetti noodles and called it chili spaghetti. Thanks for posting it!
You’re welcome! I plan to make it myself soon as well!
Glad you liked it, Lea, a family hit here too! And a mommy hit for being easy!
I switched to eating mostly Paleo for myself this week while still cooking regular real food for my family. I wanted to get the wheat out of my diet to see if that would help with my nasal congestion. It’s working! The nasal congestion is better, and I have more energy. I’m chronicling my changes at my new local food/cooking blog: frugallocalkitchen.com/blog/
I like that you mentioned the meals that are freezer-friendly. In these busy times of baseball and soccer, while I love cooking, I can’t always cook a full meal. Though, I do need to make a little extra time for the short-cuts to help me save time in the long run.
Barb recently posted..packing a green lunch for daytrip
Your Chili Mac looks awesome. Hope you have a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Miz Helen recently posted..Whats For Dinner Next Week 4-29-12
This chili sound so yummy. I love the tips for creating menus. I don’t do it as often but every so often, I focus in cooking using what’s on the pantry without buying anything else until I use it all, and have come up with some great recipes!
Maria recently posted..THE HEALTHY WEEKEND TREAT: PINEAPPLE PAPAYA KEFIR SMOOTHIE
I cook that way too. Luckily I had the ingredients for this one in my pantry the other night. Changed it up a little but it was good!
Totally Perfect!!! I’d love to have you share at my party…it JUST opened!!!
http://www.itsoverflowing.com/2012/04/overflowing-with-creativity-19.html
XO, Aimee
Thanks….I hope to be by this coming week!
Great recipe there – sounds healthy and tasty!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Jill recently posted..Car Organiser tutorial
Yummie! I just found your blog on Foodie Friday. I’ll host my own party every month called My Sweet Party and I would love you to join. Please visit my blog for mor info.
http://meandmysweets.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/my-sweet-party-chocolate-cake-love.html
Have a nice day!
Johanna
Excellent post, Tessa, with some wonderful hints and tips and links to some very delicious recipes! I really like your Healthy Chili Mac too!
The Chili Mac sounds good, I’m going to put it on my list to try this week.
Recipe looks really yummy and easy! We will have to give this a try soon! I bet it freezes well also!
Mrs. iHB recently posted..Mrs. iHB: Saving Money in the Kitchen – Chicken
Love all your recipes Tessa!! This is a great round-up. So helpful!
kristy recently posted..Whole30: Days 15-21
Im cooking it this minute! Had to test some and it was delicious but my tinkyada fusili needs lots more liquid and longer cooking! So far I’ve had to add 30oz of creamy tomato soup and 2 more cups beef broth. ,
Hmm…wonder why??
Perhaps I was to cook the pasta before putting it in the chili?
This is a Brown Rice Fusili and it expanded outrageously big! I’ll try a different pasta next time. Flavor was better before adding the liquid. I also probably should have added more chili powder.
No, but I think that’s a healthier option.
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