I’m checking in with you, how are you doing? Are you remembering to set the table? At least every so often? Are you laughing, talking & sharing at the table or around a meal? If so, good job! If not, well there is no time like the present. This week take at least one night and set the table, or invite friends over, have a tea party with your kids, serve hotdogs on china, etc. Do something that makes the table inviting. You don’t have to jump in all at once, baby steps are ok.
I hope you will remember to keep the dinner table as a safe place. Encourage conversation, get to know each other. It is an investment that will pay off for years to come!
This week’s Reviews:
The Process: For a full explanation visit this page
1. Sit down, relax and plan 4-5 meals (or pick some meals from here, that’s what this is here for. I’ll pick so you don’t have to)
2. Make a grocery list and stick to it!!!! This saves time and money
3. Do the shopping-aim for one trip (My British friends will need to make several trips)
4. Bring Back Dinner and enjoy. Remember that there is such an opportunity to build friendships and family when gathered around a meal. Even if you mess it all up. So, just relax, experiment, and have fun. Don’t forget to include your friends.
The Meals:
Time: 40 Minutes to 1 Hour
Ease: Intermediate
Review: This is a comfort dish! It is pretty easy to make, filling and delicious. If you don’t make homemade mashed potatoes I would encourage you to try. It makes all the difference. By reducing the sauce this dish is a little healther than making a traditional gravy, but packed full of flavor.
Tips: If you are watching your fat try using chicken or turkey sausage.
Time: 1 – 1/2 Hours
Ease: Simple to Intermediate
Review: Emeril’s BBQ Shrimp is so full of flavor. If you are thinking traditional BBQ this isn’t quite that. It is a BBQ sauce, but with a shrimp stock added, which adds to the complexity of flavors. Make sure to have a lot of bread on hand to sop up all of that yummy sauce. In Emeril’s restaurant he serves this with rosemary biscuits, but I thought a nice loaf of french bread worked too.
Meatless Monday
Time: 15 Minutes
Ease: Simple
Review: If you like quesadillas this is a brilliant way to still enjoy them, but cut down on the fat without feeling robbed. Though it uses just 1/2 cup of cheese it still tastes and feels like a quesadilla. As a matter of fact, my cheese loving husband didn’t even notice the difference! Plus if you need a quick, but good meal this is the dish – ready in 15 minutes!
Time: 20 Minutes
Ease: Simple
Review: This sandwich is A-mazing! It is surprising how just adding cheese and an egg to a BLT makes it so much more rich and delicious. This is the perfect midnight sandwich. On some of our sandwiches we overcooked the fried egg a little, it is best if the yolk drips ooey, yellow goodness down your chin when you bite it!
Have and great week and enjoy!
Photos by lwburbach. Feel free to use photos, but please link back to this blog.- Thank you.