Sometimes you just need to get creative…
Even those of us who regularly make meal plans have to be flexible and adaptable in feeding our family. This week, as usual, I made my meal plan for the week, did the grocery shopping for the necessary ingredients, took a turkey breast out of the freezer to thaw, and then on Tuesday ran out of time that afternoon to make the pasta sauce for dinner. So, while sitting at swimming lessons, I pondered what I could use the defrosted turkey breast for that would be quick to make when everyone is tired and hungry. I searched turkey breast recipes on my phone, but none of my usual suspects (turkey soup, white bean turkey chili, turkey pot pie) sounded appealing. I didn’t want to stop at the store with two tired children, so I had to think of something I could make with what I had at home…think, think, think…I got it! Turkey hash. I had just bought a bag of potatoes, had onions, garlic, and some frozen spinach in the freezer. Kimberly had posted some great hash recipes on the Table365 website so I searched for hash, pulled it up, and voila–dinner!
Cheers, Sharon
How to get creative when you’re out of inspiration, time, money, or ingredients:
- Use what you have (be your own Iron Chef).
- Substitute ingredients. For example, if you don’t have fresh red peppers, use jarred (this is much easier if you have a stocked pantry and freezer).
- Look for new recipes on table365.com and other sites like epicurious.com, or Mark Bittman‘s website; he is the master of substitutions and creative cooking.
- Enhance a dish or meal with ingredients that you usually have on hand: eggs, potatoes, rice, parmesan cheese, or onions can really dress up a dish or meal. Get creative with how to include them in your dish, or use them for a source for inspiration.
- Think outside the regular pairings: serve taco toppings on slices of polenta instead of corn tortillas; serve marinara sauce on baked potatoes instead of pasta; roll ham and cheese slices in whole wheat tortillas for wraps instead of sandwiches; make mini pizzas on pita bread, french bread, or buns.
- Use prepared or pre-made items to round out a meal. Buy pre-cooked meats, deli sides, or washed and chopped vegetables to fill in the gaps.
- Stay simple. A very satisfying meal can be made out of quality simple ingredients, such as: sautéed vegetables with a fried egg on top; salad greens topped with canned tuna or garbanzo beans; hot rice with lentils or other beans.
Here’s a classic Mark Bittman recipe that is fast, easy, and offers 14 alternative ways to prepare it: Mark Bittman’s recipe for Roast Chicken Parts with Olive Oil or Butter.