Blog.EmealsForYou

The kids stopped in yesterday with their kids, Avery is almost 3 and Alexis is just 5 weeks. After a trip to the playground in the heat it was time to figure out lunch. I guess i could have called this, “Too Hot to Cook but Not to Thaw”. As we talked about in Meal Planning - Winning the Trifecta it pays to cook batches of food and freeze them for later use. I microwaved a frozen container of pulled pork, made a quick coleslaw, added pickles and chips and everyone was happy. Side note here… I usually like my coleslaw directly on top of the sandwich, unlike my photo above.

P.S. For dessert we had carrot cake, also frozen in individual packets and thawed as needed. The carrot cake is the Featured Recipe this week at www.emealsforyou.com.

Pulled Pork

Rub dry rub (recipe follows) all over pork roast. Place in oven-proof pan and cook in oven at 275 degrees for 4-5 hours or until meat pulls easily off the bone. Remove from pan and shred meat with two forks. discard the bone. Pour water, vinegar and ketchup into pan and stir to remove all fond (the brown bits) and juices. Pour over meat and stir.

Note: You may choose to serve pork with additional store-brand barbeque sauce.

(from www.emealsforyou.com Meal Plans/Theme Meal/Veggie - 14 Across…Healthy)

Black Bean Burritos

Warning, this post gets close to being a Rant. Beyond the cost savings of planning and cooking meals for your family there is the “healthier food” aspect to consider. Take for instance the Black Bean Burrito shown at the bottom left side of this post. Even if you don’t like or think you don’t like black beans you have to give me it looks pretty appetizing. This is especially true when you compare it to the “Taco Hell” burrito above the made-at-home burrito. Is this, the one on the top, what you want your family eating a couple of days a week? Think of all the time you will save on “wash day” not having to get the grease stains out of the kids’ shirts, ’cause you know it is impossible to eat a greasy taco in the car without a little spillage.

I knew the “Taco Hell” burrito was going to be bad for me; knew it like you know it is going to rain just after washing your car. What I didn’t expect was just how bad. Here are the numbers: The bean burrito has 350 calories but more importantly 1190mg of Sodium, just under half your daily recommended amount. If you step up to the plate to the Grilled Stuft Burrito- Chicken, as I did; then you are looking at 640 calories with 2160 mg Sodium; add a diet coke and you are over the limit.

The made-at-home bean burrito comes in at 192 calories with only 293 mg of Sodium.

Planning and cooking at home allows you to take charge of what you are eating. You can control the ingredients; want less salt, just read the label on the beans and buy the no or low sodium brand. Want low fat, get the low or non-fat sour cream. Don’t like white flour buy the whole wheat tortillas. See, it is about just re-directing your hand in the grocery store to foods that are better for you; and if it is better for you, you will feel better about feeding it to your family.

(from www.emealsforyou.com Meal Plans/Theme Meal Plans/Play Ball)

Italian Hot Dog

Chicago-style Hot Dog

Indulge me. I can’t help myself. BASEBALL is back; well the first game of the season was played this morning in Japan at least, Oakland at Boston. Not that I am a fan of either of these teams; but if they are playing then my beloved Cubbies can’t be far behind. Cubs fans are unique; each year we wake up in the spring and think, “This is the year” only to see our dreams disappear in the fall.In honor of baseball my choice for Recipe of the Week is the hot dog, but not just your ordinary hot dog, special hot dogs from three areas of the country. I present for your dining pleasure: The Italian Hot Dog, The Chili Dog and the Chicago-style Hot Dog. Each of these representing a variation on the steamed, boiled or grilled dog of our youth. Why not step up to the plate, as it were, and give the guys something to really sink their teeth into. Who knows; you may just hit a home run.

Before the “hate mail” starts let me say that I know last week I preached about reducing sodium intake and now I am advocating hot dogs. Again, everything in moderation. The lowest sodium content I found in hot dogs was Hebrew National Fat Reduced Hot Dogs. (380mg) Also, if you check with some of your local butchers I am sure you can order low sodium hot dogs and sausages made to your specs. Lastly, if you want some sites that sell low or no-salt condiments send me an email and I will forward the sites.

Italian Hot Dog