It's March, which means we're getting to the heart of travel baseball season. Cole is playing with Next Era Baseball 11u and Aaron is playing with the South Tampa Hooks 8u. Since both boys are playing travel this season, I'm often rushing from park to park to catch their games. I'm not into the swing of baseball season yet, but combined the boys will be playing over 30 games in March so I need to get my bum in gear.
My post on what to pack in your cooler has been a top post so I thought I would expand upon it a bit and help out weary parents on what to cook on practice and game nights. It helps to get started for the week by prepping on the weekend. But if you've been at a tournament all day Sunday, going to the grocery store afterwards is torture. I've been known to grocery shop on my lunch break during the week. We have two refrigerators at work and my co-workers don't mind too much that I store my groceries in there for half a day. Or bring a cooler...I always forget to bring one though.
After a long day at work + practice/game I'm not in the mood to cook a three-course meal. My boys and husband come home starving so an easy/quick dinner is a must. My requirements for a week night meal is: it has to be quick to make (30 minutes or less), it has to be something that 3 out of 4 people will like, somewhat healthy and not use too many dishes (I hate doing dishes). Below are the meals that meet those parameters.
1. Chicken Caesar Salad...I know, I know but it's easy with rotisserie chicken, bagged salad and all of the extras I put on it. Croutons, onion straws, a tomato, almonds, cheese and whatever else that I can put on it to make it seem like a restaurant salad.
2. Taco Soup...this is a Callicoat boys favorite. Cooked ground beef, can of diced tomatoes, can of Rotel, can of chili beans, can of black beans, can of corn, another can of beans of your choice (except kidney), packet of ranch dressing and a packet of taco seasoning. Combine in a large pot, add water to make it soupy and let it simmer for 30 minutes. We add sour cream and cheese to the bowls and tortilla chips.
3. BLT's...do I even need a description? Sometimes I add avocado to mine.
4. Shrimp and grits. I know every self-respecting southerner shudders at the thought of using instant grits and please know that I'm with you. But when it's cold out and you're hungry there are just some things you stoop to. When I'm hungry and I want shrimp and grits and its late, we eat instant. I keep bags of frozen shrimp on hand, they thaw and cook quickly. And since we're talking about shrimp, there is no such thing a non-frozen shrimp. They're stored on ice on the shrimp boats, they're just not in a deep freeze.
5. Breakfast for dinner...I'm putting it out there that my husband is not a fan, but the kids and I like it. So it fits the 3 out of 4 rule. I usually make a fried egg and bacon sandwich with a side salad for me, Cole and Larry. Aaron gets pancakes and bacon.
6. Yellow rice and chicken, the quick version. Yellow rice takes 23 minutes to cook. In that time I can brown some chicken breasts and shred them. I throw frozen peas on top of the rice about a minute or two before it's done. I mix it all together and dinner done. This is Aaron's favorite dinner. I try to make some version of it every other week. Cole's not a big fan, so we're 3 out of 4 on this one too.
7. Chicken burgers. Caesar burgers, cheddar burgers,Thai burgers. We love chicken burgers, they're quick and healthy. I serve with side salad and tater tots if I have extra time.
8. Salmon and a salad. It's easy to prepare, cooks quick and everyone likes it.
9. Tacos, yes tacos. It's quick and 3 out of 4 like them. I am not a big fan so I usually make taco salad for and Larry.
10. And if all else fails, cereal for dinner. Although it only rates a 2 out 4 on how many people like this dinner. On these nights LD and I scrounge through the fridge for leftovers.
My post on what to pack in your cooler has been a top post so I thought I would expand upon it a bit and help out weary parents on what to cook on practice and game nights. It helps to get started for the week by prepping on the weekend. But if you've been at a tournament all day Sunday, going to the grocery store afterwards is torture. I've been known to grocery shop on my lunch break during the week. We have two refrigerators at work and my co-workers don't mind too much that I store my groceries in there for half a day. Or bring a cooler...I always forget to bring one though.
After a long day at work + practice/game I'm not in the mood to cook a three-course meal. My boys and husband come home starving so an easy/quick dinner is a must. My requirements for a week night meal is: it has to be quick to make (30 minutes or less), it has to be something that 3 out of 4 people will like, somewhat healthy and not use too many dishes (I hate doing dishes). Below are the meals that meet those parameters.
1. Chicken Caesar Salad...I know, I know but it's easy with rotisserie chicken, bagged salad and all of the extras I put on it. Croutons, onion straws, a tomato, almonds, cheese and whatever else that I can put on it to make it seem like a restaurant salad.
2. Taco Soup...this is a Callicoat boys favorite. Cooked ground beef, can of diced tomatoes, can of Rotel, can of chili beans, can of black beans, can of corn, another can of beans of your choice (except kidney), packet of ranch dressing and a packet of taco seasoning. Combine in a large pot, add water to make it soupy and let it simmer for 30 minutes. We add sour cream and cheese to the bowls and tortilla chips.
3. BLT's...do I even need a description? Sometimes I add avocado to mine.
4. Shrimp and grits. I know every self-respecting southerner shudders at the thought of using instant grits and please know that I'm with you. But when it's cold out and you're hungry there are just some things you stoop to. When I'm hungry and I want shrimp and grits and its late, we eat instant. I keep bags of frozen shrimp on hand, they thaw and cook quickly. And since we're talking about shrimp, there is no such thing a non-frozen shrimp. They're stored on ice on the shrimp boats, they're just not in a deep freeze.
5. Breakfast for dinner...I'm putting it out there that my husband is not a fan, but the kids and I like it. So it fits the 3 out of 4 rule. I usually make a fried egg and bacon sandwich with a side salad for me, Cole and Larry. Aaron gets pancakes and bacon.
6. Yellow rice and chicken, the quick version. Yellow rice takes 23 minutes to cook. In that time I can brown some chicken breasts and shred them. I throw frozen peas on top of the rice about a minute or two before it's done. I mix it all together and dinner done. This is Aaron's favorite dinner. I try to make some version of it every other week. Cole's not a big fan, so we're 3 out of 4 on this one too.
7. Chicken burgers. Caesar burgers, cheddar burgers,Thai burgers. We love chicken burgers, they're quick and healthy. I serve with side salad and tater tots if I have extra time.
8. Salmon and a salad. It's easy to prepare, cooks quick and everyone likes it.
9. Tacos, yes tacos. It's quick and 3 out of 4 like them. I am not a big fan so I usually make taco salad for and Larry.
10. And if all else fails, cereal for dinner. Although it only rates a 2 out 4 on how many people like this dinner. On these nights LD and I scrounge through the fridge for leftovers.
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