Shull - Mix-and-Match Meal Planner

Mix-and-Match Meal Planner Copyright 2016 Mix and Match Mama Published by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97402 www.harvesthousepublishers.com 978-0-7369-6611-5 (hardcover) 978-0-7369-6612-2 (eBook) Cover and interior design by Faceout StudioCover photos B. and E. Dudzinscy, Brent Hofacker, Bhakpong, Rustle, Joshua Resnick / Shutterstock Published in association with William K. Jensen Literary Agency, 119 Bampton Court, Eugene, Oregon 97404. All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted.

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CONTENTS Whats for dinner? That famous phrase that can make a womans heart beat just a little faster. Whats for dinner? Whats for dinner? What is for dinner? Hmmm Growing up, my mom put a hot meal on the table each and every night. It was always homemade, it was always delicious, and it was always spur-of-the-moment. My mom is famous for being in the middle of actually cooking our dinner (like ground beef was browning) and yet still not knowing what we were going to be havinga mere 15 minutes later! That is how my mom meal-planned. As she was cooking, she was planning.

Me? I need a very specific meal plan for the week. I need exact recipes, a solid grocery list, a well-stocked pantry, and a plan. I like to prepare everything in advance so that on busy weeknights, I know exactly what to reach for and exactly what to prepare. I need a meal plan. Two years ago on my blog, I introduced Meal-Planning Mondays to my readers and the feedback was very positive. Apparently, everyone wants help meal planning.

From single gals to newlyweds, from busy moms with small kids to retired couples, everyone agreed: Cooking isnt hard; its deciding what to make that can be challenging. Each week, I started giving my readers five simple suppers plus a sweet treat or two for their week. Nothing complicated, nothing time consumingjust good, solid dinner recipes to help busy women get supper on the table. My meal plans change by the season and they never have lengthy ingredient lists, uncommon spices, or take a long time to prepare. Theyre perfect weeknight meals. When my friends and I were new moms, our friend Rachel began serving everyone this delicious Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake. When my friends and I were new moms, our friend Rachel began serving everyone this delicious Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake.

We loved this cake so much that everyone I knew asked for the recipe and began making it for their special events, cozy dinners, potluck suppers, and showers galore. This cake was everywhere. About a year later, I just couldnt make the same cake any more, but I didnt want to make another kind because I knew that the tried-and-true Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake was always easy, always moist, always turned out, and always a crowd pleaserso I decided to mix and match it. I took Rachels basic method and made a butterscotch cake instead. Same fabulous results but with an entirely new flavor and presentation. The next time, I made a lemon version, then a pumpkin version, and then about 10 versions later, Rachel asked me how many I thought I could make, and I said probably 100.

Well, 101 Bundt cakes later I proved to myself that sometimes the best things on the table are just basic recipes with a little twist. I find that most women arent looking for fancy and complicatedwere looking for tried-and-true. I applied this mix-and-match concept to everything I made and voil! Instead of Sloppy Joes, we had Buffalo Turkey Joes. Instead of burgers, we had Pizza Burgers. Instead of tacos, we had Sweet-and-Sour Chicken Tacos, and so on. Everyday suppers are a lot more fun when you start mixing and matching.

And the best part? Theyre still the same basic methods you rely on for your busy weeknightsjust with a twist. Other than my coffeepot, the most-used small appliance in my house is the slow cooker. I used to be one of those people who only pulled my slow cooker out during the fall and winter, but Ive learned the slow cooker is actually a perfect year-round tool. It is such a time saver for busy families! Trust me, with a few of these tips youll be rethinking that old slow cooker too. 1. Buy a slow cooker that is oval, not round.

You need one that will fit longer cuts of meats (like roasts and briskets) and long spaghetti noodles. Round slow cookers just arent as functional. To me, a 6- to 7-quart slow cooker is ideal for dinners. 2. Buy a slow cooker with a high, low, and warm setting. Youll be amazed at how much use you can get out of a slow cooker with all three settings.

Sometimes you have all day to cook, sometimes just a few hours, and sometimes you just need to keep your food warm until serving. 3. For dips and small appetizers, use a small slow cooker. Your slow cooker needs to be at least half full before using it, and a dip wont take up that much space. 4. Slow cooker liners can make cleanup a breeze.

These handy little liners are found on the foil and baggie aisle and are placed inside your slow cooker before you add your food. After youre done eating, just toss the bag in the trash and cleanup is over. Such a simple little step really helps out. 5. Always brown your beef before placing it in the slow cooker (yes, Mom, Im talking to you!). Browning your meat beforehand adds so much more flavor and depth to the entire dish.

It just takes a few minutes because youre not cooking it all the way throughyoure just browning it! Chicken breasts do not require cooking beforehand but any ground meat (beef, chicken or turkey) or large roast or brisket does. 6. Add something fresh to your slow cooker meal when youre done. I always add some fresh herbs, chopped green onions, cheese, or sour cream to the top. Just a little something fresh wakens the dish up and gives the whole slow cooker meal an extra oomph! Whether you have a big family or small, single or not, you should invest in a slow cooker.

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