Because I Lack at a Stay-At-Home Mom...

[katie0128]

How do you make your quesadillas?

 

[ChefBeckyD]

How do you make your quesadillas?

I don't have a recipe - but here is basically what I do:

First, I use whatever tortillas or wraps I happen to have - if it is the really large ones, I put the ingredients on one half, and flip the other half over as the top.
If I am using smaller sized tortillas (like the 6-7 inch ones) I use one tortilla as the bottom and one as the top.

I put a thin layer of cheese on the bottom of the tortilla, and then add whatever other ingredients I am using, then another thin layer of cheese, and the top tortilla - I put them in the preheated grill pan, put the grill press on, and then let it sit for just a couple minutes....flip it over and do the same on the other side. If I am making alot of them at one time - I use the double burner griddle and just transfer the press from one to the next - I like to use the press because the weight sorta "melds" the ingredients together.

Some of our favorites are:

BBQ chicken - Jack Cheese, chicken, red onions & crumbled bacon sauteed in some BBQ sauce

Veggie & Cheese - cheddar cheese, tomatoes, several colors of sweet peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic, corn & black beans sauteed in a fajita sauce

Spinach and Mushroom - swiss & feta cheese, layer of fresh baby spinach, sauteed mushrooms and onions

Pizza - a thin layer of pizza sauce, mozz & parm cheese, whatever veggies we want, and some turkey pepperoni

Chicken, Veggie, and Cheese - This is like the Veggie and Cheese only with some chicken added too.

It's basically a dinner I can throw together with what I have in the fridge/freezer.......everyone likes these - and we are getting a balanced meal!

 

[etteluap70PC]

Talking about Quesadillas made me think of something else I like to do especially in summer.
I like to cook up a whole bunch of boneless chicken breasts and have it to use in different things .... Chick salad, stir fry and quesadillas. I usually use a general seasoning when doing a bunch. I like Morton's natures seasoning. I then freze the chicken in meal size servis.
Then If I want Quesadillas I take out the meat, thaw it,chop it up(extra fine for the kids), put it in a skillet with some SW seasoning and maybee a bit of salsa. Simmer it a bit. I use whatever size flour tortillas I have and can get 2 or 3 on my Exec square griddle or grill pan. I put grated cheese on half, some chicken and more cheese then fold tortilla over. Cook till golden and flip. Serve with sour cream.
Sometimes I will also add a layer of refried beans.

If you want to keep it real simple just thaw meat, chop, assemble quesadillas and add SW seasoning at this time. Serve with salsa and sourcream.

 

[etteluap70PC]

I don't have a recipe - but here is basically what I do:

First, I use whatever tortillas or wraps I happen to have - if it is the really large ones, I put the ingredients on one half, and flip the other half over as the top.
If I am using smaller sized tortillas (like the 6-7 inch ones) I use one tortilla as the bottom and one as the top.

I put a thin layer of cheese on the bottom of the tortilla, and then add whatever other ingredients I am using, then another thin layer of cheese, and the top tortilla - I put them in the preheated grill pan, put the grill press on, and then let it sit for just a couple minutes....flip it over and do the same on the other side. If I am making alot of them at one time - I use the double burner griddle and just transfer the press from one to the next - I like to use the press because the weight sorta "melds" the ingredients together.

Some of our favorites are:

BBQ chicken - Jack Cheese, chicken, red onions & crumbled bacon sauteed in some BBQ sauce

Veggie & Cheese - cheddar cheese, tomatoes, several colors of sweet peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic, corn & black beans sauteed in a fajita sauce

Spinach and Mushroom - swiss & feta cheese, layer of fresh baby spinach, sauteed mushrooms and onions

Pizza - a thin layer of pizza sauce, mozz & parm cheese, whatever veggies we want, and some turkey pepperoni

Chicken, Veggie, and Cheese - This is like the Veggie and Cheese only with some chicken added too.

It's basically a dinner I can throw together with what I have in the fridge/freezer.......everyone likes these - and we are getting a balanced meal!

Yummo! love these! I add extra cheese for the kids. They can be kinda funny about meat sometimes.

 

[etteluap70PC]

I also do a pizza-dilla..... I adapted it from the PC grilled pizza

Grated-mozzarella-Parm-Asiago
Tomatoes (diced)
Fresh basil sliced into thin ribbons(PC itialian seasoning is a good substitute)
olive oil in spritzer
garlic Pressed

mix all together

heat pan
fill flour tortilla
fold in half placeon pan grill till golden then flip

MMMMMMM........... yummmoooo!!!

I have these for lunch alot since no one else in the house will eat tomatoes.

I also like these because tomatoes are soooo good for you. If you have lactose issues use more parm and asiago. Aged cheeses do not have as much lactose as Mozzarella. Basil is just good for you in general. I always grow a few plants.

 

[janetupnorth]

Ok, I'm torn in the middle of these scenarios...I have friends who plan DAILY meals and show that way and save money. I'm good at that sometimes but not others...

Plus, I have a house full of picky eaters (headed by husband who is the worst!) So, I'm to the point of making a meal and you eat what is there or too bad. There is usually one component everyone likes - kids like veggies, husband doesn't...husband loves most meat, kids like more veggies...everyone likes fish except hubby (weekend meal when he's at camp!!!!)

I tend to use my freezer a lot too - that saves a ton. This fall I was able to buy 1/4 cow in Nov...will have to buy 1/2 next year, I'm out of hamburger!!!!

Basically, if I haven't planned and we get home late from work/whatever, it is spaghetti night.

I ALWAYS keep on hand Tomtato sauce, paste, soup and seasoning, spaghetti noodles and hamburger in the freezer. I can whip up a batch of spaghetti pretty quick with that.

We eat burgers a lot in the summer...
Chicken with italian dressing poured over it in the oven with stuffing on the side...

For steak, use 1/2 soy sauce and 1/2 italian seasoning as a marinade...

For salmon, brown sugar, chicken broth, veg. oil, soy sauce, dill, etc. (Search Taste of Home for Lemon Grilled Salmon)...then grill...I LOVE this recipe - makes great leftovers too.

Breakfast foods are quick and easy to make for dinner...pancakes, eggs, french toast (and fairly cheap to make).

When I'm ambitious I'll make lasagna and freeze half...

There is also a LOT you can do with a simple pizza crust...I have a recipe to make the dough and mix it in a bread machine, but then take it out and bake it later...

Trifles are our latest favorite dessert...bake a box cake mix and add stuff...mix and match, can do that really cheap!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Ok, I'm torn in the middle of these scenarios...I have friends who plan DAILY meals and show that way and save money. I'm good at that sometimes but not others...

Plus, I have a house full of picky eaters (headed by husband who is the worst!) So, I'm to the point of making a meal and you eat what is there or too bad. There is usually one component everyone likes This is definitely my philosophy - I REFUSE to be a short order cook!- kids like veggies, husband doesn't...husband loves most meat, kids like more veggies...everyone likes fish except hubby (weekend meal when he's at camp!!!!)

I tend to use my freezer a lot too - that saves a ton. This fall I was able to buy 1/4 cow in Nov...will have to buy 1/2 next year, I'm out of hamburger!!!!

Basically, if I haven't planned and we get home late from work/whatever, it is spaghetti night.

I ALWAYS keep on hand Tomtato sauce, paste, soup and seasoning, spaghetti noodles and hamburger in the freezer. I can whip up a batch of spaghetti pretty quick with that.[/SIZE]Same here! And if you would like - I have a GREAT spaghetti casserole recipe that freezes really well!

We eat burgers a lot in the summer...
Chicken with italian dressing poured over it in the oven with stuffing on the side...This is another one that everone here really likes - I throw the chicken breast in the freezer with the Italian dressing over it, and let it thaw in the marinade - then I can bake or grill! Make the stuffing, and add a veggie or salad - actually a very quick meal!

For steak, use 1/2 soy sauce and 1/2 italian seasoning as a marinade...

For salmon, brown sugar, chicken broth, veg. oil, soy sauce, dill, etc. (Search Taste of Home for Lemon Grilled Salmon)...then grill...I LOVE this recipe - makes great leftovers too.

Breakfast foods are quick and easy to make for dinner...pancakes, eggs, french toast I make breafast for dinner a couple times a month - add a fresh fruit smoothie, and again, it's a balanced meal! (and fairly cheap to make).

When I'm ambitious I'll make lasagna and freeze half...

There is also a LOT you can do with a simple pizza crust...I have a recipe to make the dough and mix it in a bread machine, but then take it out and bake it later...

Trifles are our latest favorite dessert...bake a box cake mix and add stuff...mix and match, can do that really cheap!

Janet - our cooking sounds very similar!

 

[baigaj]

Danielle, I like the website, menus4moms.com, you can have weekly menu's emailed to you also the site has an archive. You get the recipes, grocery list and you can also download a blank menu planner, chore list, etc. Best part it's all free. I like to look at past menu's and pick and choose my menu's. Now I just need to write them down. I hope this helps.Amy

 

[etteluap70PC]

From ChefBeckyD "I throw the chicken breast in the freezer with the Italian dressing over it, and let it thaw in the marinade - then I can bake or grill! "

OMGosh!!! LOVE this Idea!!!!!!

 

[janetupnorth]

From ChefBeckyD "I throw the chicken breast in the freezer with the Italian dressing over it, and let it thaw in the marinade - then I can bake or grill! "

OMGosh!!! LOVE this Idea!!!!!!

Yes, but I think she puts the frozen chicken breast in the fridge with the marinade and lets it thaw...I do the same, it is quick, easy and tastes good.

I often move things from the freezer to the fridge before work in the a.m. then it is "kind of" ready when you get home.

 

[Gina M]

I have to say mealtime is tough for us too - although I try and have certain items ready to go - we tend to do chicken a couple of nights a weeks (prepared differently - breasts or drumsticks or a whole chicken) along with veggie or pasta roni and applesauce and bread. We always end up doing breakfast for dinner as well (either french toast or pancakes or eggs or even a bowl of cereal when we just don't feel like cooking - my kids don't mind that at all). We'll do pizza, tacos, meatloaf, spaghetti (an easy standard), fettucini alfredo, tortellini or ravioli - I love making pasta cause it's so quick! We've been trying to be better about eating out - especially after a weeklong vacation where that's all we did. I don't tend to freeze anything cause I don't remember to thaw and feel like it freezer burns for me so I end up buying a few days worth of meat and using what's in the cupboard first.

The worst for us is always running out of milk - we're a family a five who go through about a gallon a day - I swear we need our own personal cow But at least the kids are drinking that and not pop. Luckily my husband has planned dinner for tonight

 

[janetupnorth]

The worst for us is always running out of milk - we're a family a five who go through about a gallon a day - I swear we need our own personal cow But at least the kids are drinking that and not pop. Luckily my husband has planned dinner for tonight

You think that is bad?! My husband and 6 year old girl can go through 8 gallons in 1 week. (3 year old drinks soy and I don't drink it...lactose issue and when I was little lactose free tasted NASTY and soy wasn't out really and very expensive so I grew up not drinking it...) I can tolerate some cheeses so I get some dairy...

I hit the grocery store in town 2-3 times a week just for milk...

 

[Gina M]

Janet,

They must be really thirsty - I love milk myself and drink a lot although I tend to go to our little convenience store (White Hen) up the street instead of hiking it back to the grocery store. I always buy 2 at a time sometimes 3 although I have a small frig. My kids say did you check the dates - I figure why bother we're drinking it so fast!

 

[janetupnorth]

Same here on dates! I usually try to buy 3-4 at a time if I can fit them in the fridge (I even turn them sideways on the shelf) but sometimes I can only fit 2 if I have leftovers in the fridge or a trifle.

Hubby just likes to drink a lot of milk...He is down to down 1/2 gallon before bed sometimes...at last 32 oz. usually.

 

[dwyerkim]

You know you can freeze milk as long as it is fresh when you buy it? We do that occasionally when it is on sale and there's space in the freezer, makes it really nice if you're running low but not heading out to the store.

Here's my favorite easy dinner, I think it tastes great:
Southwestern Chowder
1 can diced tomatoes with onion and pepper (or use plain and saute your own)
1 can creamed corn
1 can regular corn
1 can black beans, with the liquid
1 cup chicken or veg. broth

Mix it all together, heat through. Kick it up with some SW seasoning or chili powder, and we like to (if we have it) put sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, and cilantro on top. I almost always keep these ingredients on hand and stock up when the cans are on sale. Serve with cornbread--super easy with the little Jiffy boxes. You could always add chicken or whatever left over meat you have on hand if you want something more filling.

 

[raebates]

I freeze milk all the time. I just rotate the ones in the freezer, which means I bring home fresh milk, put it in the freezer, and get out a frozen one to thaw in the fridge. I know it sounds wacky, but I never run out of milk. And, hey, it's me.

 

[janetupnorth]

I freeze milk all the time. I just rotate the ones in the freezer, which means I bring home fresh milk, put it in the freezer, and get out a frozen one to thaw in the fridge. I know it sounds wacky, but I never run out of milk. And, hey, it's me.

Say it with that llama face by it and it doesn't seem odd at all!

 

[raebates]

Distraction is one of my most amazing powers.

 

[janetupnorth]

Speaking of distraction:

Recently, I was diagnosed with A. A. A. D. D.

Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder

This is how it develops:

I decide to water my garden.

As I turn on the hose, I look over at my car and decide my car needs washing.

As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mailbox earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.

But then I think, s ince I 'm going to be near the mailbox, when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only 1 check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered.

I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my readin g glasses that I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:

----the car isn't washed,
----the bills aren't paid,
----there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter,
----the flowers don't have enough water,
----there is sti ll onl y 1 check in my check book,
----I can't find the remote,
----I can't find my glasses,
----and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.

Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!

GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY.
GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
LAUGHING AT YOURSELF IS THERAPEUTIC.

P.S I just remembered.

I LEFT THE WATER RUNNING IN THE DRIVEWAY!

 

[raebates]

You've been following me, have you?

 

[janetupnorth]

You've been following me, have you?

I have days like that too! The e-mail really hit home! No wonder I get nothing done when the kids are around!

 

[nikked]

On the milk issue, we have a second refridgerator, mainly for the milk. It also gives extra freezer and other fridge space, but mainly, it's for the milk. Our family of 5 milk drinkers (baby Asa is still at the boob) goes through 8-10 gallons a week, and I can't go to the store for just milk...which gets expensive!

 

[chefjeanine]

I don't think anyone has mentioned this site yet. http://www.savingdinner.com/

They have a sample menu that you can download. My husband I aren't using this right now, but we enjoyed it when we did. You get a Menu + Shopping List for a week.

The recipes are fairly simple and we got to try some new foods.

If you're on a budget, they have a menu program to stretch your dollar. They also provide different programs for different food issues (vegetarian, carbo counters, etc.)

These days we just spend a few minutes before we go grocery shopping and write down a list of main dishes we want to have in the following week (taking into consideration if I'll be working or we won't be home). As the week progresses, I decide in the morning (in case something is going into the crockpot or needs to thaw) which thing of the list we'll be having and plan accordingly.

I find that having the "what are we going to have?" question answered makes it 100% times easier to make dinner.

 

[katie0128]

Speaking of distraction:

Recently, I was diagnosed with A. A. A. D. D.

http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gif

I wonder if this qualifies as a medical condition and can get me an FMLA leave from work????

 

[janetupnorth]

http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy0194.gif

I wonder if this qualifies as a medical condition and can get me an FMLA leave from work????

I doubt it, but become an alcoholic and you'll have no problem with the paperwork.