During the week most of us have little time to be in the kitchen preparing gourmet dinners.
Here are a few things to help you save time but still whip up a tasty meal for the family or yourself. We suggest doing this on a Sunday arvo to save time during the week.
1. Poach two chicken breasts in chicken stock. Shred the chicken with your fingers i.e pull apart! And store in the fridge for the week. Use them for sandwiches, wraps or even add to pies for dinner.
2. Grate carrot, slice cucumbers and tomatoes and store in containers to use throughout the week.
3. Boil a couple of eggs! These can be used for a potato salad, caesar salad, any old salad, or mash them up and use for sandwiches.
4. Better yet - make a potato salad to accompany a dinner for the week. You all know how to do that right……? N.B Use Aioli instead of Mayo...soooooo good!
5. Cut up some fruit, and store in the fridge for the week. Fruit salad for lunch boxes, fruit & yoghurt for breakfast or fruit and ice cream for dessert.
6. Cook up some mince, add diced tomatoes and chopped onion. Use it for bolognese, stuffed potatoes, tacos, burritos or a meat pie.
7. Use your overripe bananas (you can store these in the freezer) to make an easy banana bread for lunch boxes, breakfasts, morning or afternoon tea and snacks.
8. Obvious tip may be, boil the kettle and use the water for boiling veggies, rather than waiting for the pot to boil on the stove.
9. Don’t peel your veggies, we use pretty much every scrap of food. No need to peel your carrots or potatoes, it’s all good for you!
10. Don’t hesitate to use the microwave, although we almost never use it for catering, we don’t hesitate to use it to speed up the process of cooking at home. eg. potatoes and veggies - even if you are going to roast them afterwards, just don't forget to season with salt and pepper.
11. Dried herbs and Spices can lift your dish to no end! Always have these in your pantry! Sprinkle some Mixed herbs on your roast veggies, and spices on your meat! You will have a culture inspired dish before you know it.
12. If all else fails and you are stuck one night of the week, whip out a sheet of shortcrust pastry, lay it in a quiche dish, whisk 3-4 eggs, and throw in anything you can find in the fridge. When we say anything…. sundried tomatoes, capsicum, carrots, mushrooms, chives, shallots, fresh tomatoes, ham, salami, salmon, bacon whatever you can find. Obviously not all together! Use your instincts! Top with tasty cheese if you feel like it. Cook in the oven for 20-30 mins on 180’c.
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