Spring is officially here! Which usually means a full packed calendar. Performances, play-offs, school projects and graduations to name a few, spring is a busy time for everyone!
One dreaded down fall to these hectic schedules is neglected family mealtimes. Did you know, evidence suggests that children who take part in family meals are less likely to be overweight, eat more healthy foods, have less delinquency, greater academic achievement, improved psychological well-being, and positive family interactions. There are SO many benefits to weekly family meals. Here are a few suggestions to help keep family mealtime a routine practice through these crazy hectic spring and summer nights.
1. Bust out the crock pot. Did you know you can convert nearly every recipe into a crock pot recipe. For more conversions click HERE. 
***OTHER TIPS***
***ADD EXTRA LIQUID WHEN COOKING RICE- if a recipe calls for cooked rice, stir raw rice in with other ingredients; add 1 cup extra liquid per cup of raw rice. Use long grain 'converted' rice for best results in all day cooking.
***WHEN MAKING SOUPS- most soup recipes call for 2-3 quarts water, to adjust to a slow cooker, add the other soup ingredients to the slow cooker; then add liquid to cover the ingredients. Don't fill slow cooker more than 2/3 full. If thinner soup is desired, add more liquid at serving time.
***IF RECIPE CALLS FOR DAIRY PRODUCTS- Add milk or milk-based products during the last 30-60 minutes of cooking time. If milk-based recipes have no other liquid for initial cooking, add 1-2 cups water then within the last 30 minutes of cooking time, stir in milk or cream as called for. (Dairy products such as milk, cream or sour cream tend to break down during extended cooking, so add during the last hour of cooking.) Condensed soups may be substituted for milk, etc, and can cook for longer periods of time. Evaporated milk does not curdle and can be substituted for fresh milk in most recipes.
2. Re-purpose left-overs: If your family is anything like mine, they frown upon the thought of eating left overs. But what they don't know won't hurt them...right?😉 When making an ingredient such as chicken for a dish, double up the portion, and put half in the fridge for the next night. It's much easier to throw a quick dinner together on a hectic evening when your protein is already cooked. You can shred the meat and reheat in a sauce (your family will never know!), or chop up and add to a soup or gravy (also, very undetectable). Another idea would be to add to a salad, or use as a topping for pizza or pasta.Enjoy your busy spring, and happy cooking!🙌
I always shelf my slow-cooker in the summer. And I'm always sad about it. This post is brilliant! Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDelete