1. Use Your Crock Pot!
- These tools are very valuable to help save time in the kitchen and have a hot meal ready at dinner time. One thing I have done for a while is schedule at least one night a week to be a "crock pot" meal. This way I know that when I am planning my meals for the week, I look through all of my crock pot recipes for inspiration for that night's meal. One of my family's favorite crock pot meals is Teriyaki Chicken. It is a super easy recipe!
- 1 pound of chicken (either fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup soy sauce
- minced onion (as much or as little as you would like)
- Place chicken in the crockpot. On the stove heat the sugar, soy sauce, and onion until it comes to a boil. Let it boil for 2-3 minutes then pour over the chicken. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8.
{We serve this chicken with quinoa and steamed broccoli}
2. Make enough one night for leftovers.
- You are already cooking, so why not just make extra for leftovers the next night! Another idea is to make a double batch and freeze for the next week, which brings us to the next tip...
3. Freezer meals!
- These do take prep work before, but if you have some extra time one day, you can throw together two or three meals that you can just pop in the oven on a busy night.
4. Let It Go!!
- Sometimes we have to realize that we can't do it all. So allow yourself the latitude to take a break from cooking one night. It is okay to have sandwhiches for dinner, or leftovers, or even order pizza! We do not have to be super mom!! Your family is not going to remember every meal that you make, but what they will remember is that you are eating it together as a family and enjoying your time together!
I hope these few things have helped you and your perspective this holiday season. Be on the lookout for a few more posts in the coming days!
