FF Cooking Club- What’s On The Menu This Week!

Hi everyone! I am excited to write a cooking club this week.  I have taken a small hiatus from cooking since the birth of our twins.  However, I am back on track and cooking dinners again.  Lately, I have taken a bit of a different approach to preparing week night meals.  With the twins and our 2 1/2 year reeking havoc, the name of the game is less than 10 minute dinner preparation, or slow cooker meals.  Slow cooker meals have been amazing and I am finding some awesome recipes.  Like most families, the 5 pm to kid’s bedtime (in our house it’s between 7:30 and 8pm) is MADNESS. Slow cooker meals have been a great way to prepare dinner during the day, or before work, when it is not so crazy, and after all the kids go to sleep you have an awesome home cooked meal to enjoy.  Happy cooking:)

 So What’s On The Menu This Week:

Slow Cooker Lo Mein

• So delicious and simple
• I added more soy sauce to mine at the end
• You can switch out the meat for whatever you prefer- beef or chicken would be great with this
• For healthier option use zucchini noodles instead of pasta

Sheet Pan Asian Stir Fry

• One Pan, place in the over, and tada…….fabulous meal
• I made a side of brown rice with this
• Try cauliflower rice for a great healthy alternative
• Easy and yummy

Cajun Shrimp And Rice

• This recipe followed my preparation in less than 10 minutes rule perfectly
• I made this with a side of rice
• It was delicious and definitely one I will repeat
• My 2 1/2 year old does not like shrimp but he loved the rice
• Adjust the seasonings for less or more spice

One Pan Pesto Chicken And Veggies

• I loved this recipe and it followed my 1 pan rule
• Buy a store prepared pesto so you do not have to make one at home and dirty another dish
• Great flavors and easy to make
• I love sundried tomatoes in any recipe so this was a big hit for me

I loved these recipes and they were so simple to prepare and make.  Since having our twins, Hayden and Leah, our lives has become EXTREMELY busy.  With heading back to work now, it’s crazier than ever.  I want to be spending any free moment I have now with my 3 amazing kids (as I am sure we all do) and not preparing and making elaborate meals.

Here Are My Top Tips For Preparing Home Made Meals Efficiently and Quickly:

• Slow cooker meals– as stated above, these are becoming an awesome way to have a great home made meal cooked by the end of the day
• One Pan/Dish Meals– choose meals that you can chop everything up, lie it out on a pan or casserole and cook it in the oven- 2 step dinner preparation
• Do not pick elaborate, multiple ingredient meals– this just sets up for disaster and frustration.  Save those meals for a fun Saturday night with some wine after the kids go to sleep (it’s pretty sad when a fun Saturday has now become cooking at home….lol)
• Choose oven prepared meals rather than stove top meals– this is a great tip for efficiency and also novice cooks.  It is so much easier to throw everything in the oven, set the timer, and come back to it when it is ready
• For slow cooker meals– prepare and chop everything on a Sunday, place in a large Ziploc bag.  Then during the week you have everything done and you just need to throw it in the slow cooker.

Hope this helps and happy cooking everyone:)