Bulk Cooking - Potatoes

 So today we are really going to look at can you make potatoes in bulk. You would think the answer would be absolutely not. However, it can be. Again, the key question here is "Why would you want to." If you have absolutely no time, this is a great way to make meals ahead of time and they are really delicious. But if you can make them fresh probably you would.

Today we are going to talk about roasted potatoes. I have a post about mashed potatoes and how to use up leftovers at Thanksgiving time so be sure to keep an eye out for that. So roasted potatoes are simple. I just add oil to them and put spices on them and roast them in the oven. Of course, this makes a great side dish to a meal. But there are anyways to use them up after the fact.

So when I have leftover potatoes (usually I do this when I have roasted pork - with carrots), I dice it up as small as I can, and I add in some meat. Again I usually dice up pork with it, but you can use any ground meat you have (ground sausage, ground beef, corned beef) and make a hash out of it.

So here is a look at the Hash. Again I usually do this with leftovers so there wasn't much to have as a meal. But it makes a great meal with toast or a quick side of breakfast or any other meal. This is a salad with a pork chop!

My last idea for potatoes is an omelet. This may be a little simple (you can throw almost anything in an omelet) but it is very delicious and filling. We shared a recipe for a breakfast sandwich that also included potatoes, but a simple omelet can be made with potatoes also. This is very filling also so, it is a great alternative to meat.

Buying Smart - Eggs

 It is obviously no secret that eggs can be prepared in a bunch of different ways. So having eggs around the house especially on a budget is always a great idea. Naturally, when thinking of eggs, you think breakfast. And that's because most people have eggs in the morning. But as a recent TV commercial will tell you eggs are for any time, not just breakfast. And even "breakfast" isn't just for breakfast. A lot of people choose to do bacon and eggs for supper at times when cooking a big meal is just too much work.

Again, beyond all that eggs are for any time. They make great sandwiches, egg salad, a simple fried egg sandwich, or a breakfast sandwich like the recipe we are going to share next week for our Freebie Friday post. They also make great snacks, either pickled or deviled, they can make mayo, and salad dressing, and quiches. They are also a great addition to dishes like fried rice or a simple salad.

Eggs are a great source of protein so they can substitute any meat in any dish. And really make a simple side a whole meal.

Buying Smart - Rotisserie Chicken

 This month we are focusing on meal planning. There are a lot of tips when it comes to meal planning and one of them is to buy smart. Rotisserie Chicken is a great buy when meal planning and prepping. I find a way to use the whole chicken every time and it goes pretty well and pretty quick. I start by deskinning the chicken as best I can. And then I pull it apart. Not only do I remove it from the bone but I pull it into strips right away while I am there. I have three different piles, meat (you can divide these further into white and dark meat if you want), skin, and bones (I also include any fat bits that will not be eaten).

*** Keep in mind you don't have to buy Rotisserie chicken you can make a whole chicken yourself if you want to!**

The skins I keep for salads. I crisp them up in a frying pan and crumble them over salad kind of like bacon bits. Or you can add them to a sandwich to give them a little crunch!

The bones I use in a stock. So you can do just a simple stock with the bones and water. Let it boil for as long as you can. You will see the broth change to a beautiful colour, that's when you know it is ready. You will probably have to add some flavoring like salt, pepper, Bouillon even. But that's a personal preference. You can also add the peels from carrots, ends from other vegetables like onions, celery, garlic, things like that. Once it is done boiling you want to strain it really well making sure to get all the bones and anything else out of the liquid. Then it is ready to go. This would make a great soup, gravy, sauce, etc.

Now for the actual chicken. There are so many amazing chicken recipes out there you can make, Chicken Curry, Chicken Cordon Bleu, those are great if you like them and really want to go all out. But when meal planning for your average week, think simple. A nice Chicken Noodle Soup (using the broth and some chicken), Chicken Sandwiches (Club Sandwiches, Chicken Wraps), or a salad even with just some chicken in it. Those things are quick and easy to do, and all you have to do is reheat the chicken. Other great options are Chicken Fettachini, or Chicken and Pesto. It's simply using premade sauces and adding it to pasta, reheating the chicken, and serving.