Family Foodies

I have a confession to make. The only way that I like to eat turkey is in a sandwich. Otherwise, I skip it. Nope, I don’t even like it in casseroles. I like chicken by itself and in casseroles, but not turkey; which makes me think that it’s something psychological. Who knows.

Though I love to think of creative ways to eat leftovers (sticking them in the microwave and reheating them is not creative, though it’s nothing to be ashamed of), there is only one thing I will ever suggest to do with leftover turkey. (Not that! What did I ever do to make you think I would say something like that?)

How are all the foods going to fit?

Entertain your holiday guests with ease and a little advance preparation to make it memorable and enjoyable. Holiday and occasional entertaining should not be exhausting to pull it all together. Utilizing a buffet style where guests can serve themselves at their leisure are much easier on the host or hostess, giving everyone much more time for socializing and fun.

Pump up the variety with little crock pots.

A nice variety of hot dips, sauces or fondues can be offered without constant interruption to reheat when using small, personal size crock pots. Rival makes a 16 oz. size that is perfect for sauces, dips or even fondues. These little pots can be purchased at brick and mortar stores featuring kitchen specialty items such as Bed Bath and Beyond or ordered online at crockpot.com and other stores. Prices range from about $15 to $20.

Multiple 16 oz. size Little Dipper Slow Cookers can be grouped with the chips, breads, crackers and other accompaniments to delight your guests with variety of choices. The Little Dippers do not take up much room and are great space savers on your buffet table. The stainless steel finish is ideal and will not clash with your other décor. Better yet, Rival claims they are rinse-clean for less work after the party.

Little gadgets can make such a difference. My husband gets involved too. He reads the directions and shows me the best way to use them.

Want to learn more about fondue?  Read all about it:  The Fondue Bible: The 200 Best Recipes

Does gas or electric really make a difference?

When good food made right really matters, there really is a big difference. We started out with a gas range, got a deluxe double oven electric, and then replaced it with gas again. I learned never to solely rely on recipes for time and temperature on either kind.

The oven in the current gas range is enormous, meant for cooking large amounts of food at the same time. One of the best ways to learn more about cooking in your own oven is to test the heat with an oven thermometer. These are sold in kitchen specialty stores and well worth an investment of usually less than $10. Read any instructions given, note the temperature range, and clip it on the rack when you cook. Check it against your temperature setting and note any differences.

Mama’s little kitchen helpers, better known as my secret weapons, make a tremendous difference in my ability to quickly prepare scrumptious meals much more easily.

My personal cache of little kitchen helpers, a/k/a my secret weapons, is kept in the basement closet in a giant plastic tub with lid purchased at Target. Perfect. There is just not enough room in a small kitchen for the whole arsenal. This arrangement works well, I know where all the ammo is kept and never have to rifle through all the drawers or guess where to find the things I need. Bulls-eye!

You just cannot properly prepare foods without your tools of the trade. Sharp knives are an absolute must for cutting and chopping. Why smash your vegetables or rip the meat on a roast when you can cut like a pro?

Get your meals quickly and easily with a little advance planning. A busy life can still find enough time for healthful meals when you have enough basic ingredients in your pantry. When you have extra time, cook ahead and freeze family-sized portions for reheating so you can relax and pamper yourself with some “me” time.

Lunch or dinner can be made simply with a few ingredients and one or two skillets. Get your carbohydrates, fats, proteins and vegetables all served together in a delicious skillet toasted soft flour tortilla omelet. Use the suggested ingredients below, or make up your own flavorful combinations that you know your family will enjoy.

What can you do with left over chicken, rice and gravy from last night’s feast?

Whip up your own version of some delicious homemade chicken fried rice faster than you can order takeout.

Here is what you will need per Serving:

1 cup cooked rice
1/2 cup (or more) chopped cooked chicken
1/3 to 1/2 cup chicken gravy
1/4 teaspoon Wyler’s No Salt Chicken Bouillon
3/4 cup stir fry vegetables: mushrooms, onions, broccoli, celery,
sliced carrots, red or green pepper in small bite size pieces
Butter and/or extra virgin olive oil
1 beaten egg with milk
Soy sauce