Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Speedy Summer Meals A Must!

Summer seems to be that time of the year that everyone has so much to do.  Whether you are doing yard work, gardening, playing, vacationing, kids sports, whatever - there are times that we just aren't in the mood to plan and cook a big meal.
You may even have the occasion that unplanned company stops by, and you need to throw something together fast.
I have a few tips on what to keep on hand and AVOID the trap of spending money on going out to eat.


BREADS
  • Have biscuit/baking mix on hand - store bought or homemade
  • Flour tortillas - so many uses
  • Seasoned bread crumbs
  • Pizza dough mix or frozen pizza dough (you can make ahead of time)
  • Perhaps a can or two of refrigerated biscuits/crescent rolls
  • Various types of crackers
BREAKFAST
  • Have yogurt on hand - good for many uses
  • Frozen bagels, waffles, pancakes, English muffins, etc.  (all can be homemade and frozen for quick meal choices)
  • Pre-cooked bacon/sausage
  • Quick oats - have many uses
  • Cereal - has many uses
FOR DESSERTS
  • Keep brownie/cookie/cake mixes on hand - (can be homemade mixes) for a quick fix
  • Chips
  • Instant pudding and Jello
  • Graham cracker pie crust
  • A few canned pie fillings (can be home canned)
  • Marshmallows
  • Preserves/Jams
  • Cream Cheese
FLAVOR BOOSTERS
  • Bouillon's - different flavors
  • A few packs of dry gravy/soup mixes (can be homemade)
  • Bottled grated parmesan cheese
  • Italian dressing - has many uses including marinating
  • Lemon juice
  • Garlic in a jar
  • Salad dressings
  • Shredded cheeses - (always have some in the freezer)
  • Dehydrated onions
FRUIT - VEGGIES
  • Canned beans - can be home canned
  • Canned fruits -    "         "         "
  • Canned veggies   "        "         "
  • Canned tomatoes          "          "
  • Dried fruit
  • Frozen juice concentrates
  • Canned mushrooms/hot peppers
  • Frozen peppers/onions
MEAT
  • Canned tuna or chicken
  • Cooked frozen chicken, ground beef, sausage
  • Cooked frozen shrimp
  • Sliced ham/turkey - always keep some on hand from when cooking a ham or turkey - sliced
  • Frozen beef patties and/or hotdogs
PASTA
  • Assorted dry pasta
  • No boil lasagna needles
SAUCES - SOUPS
  • BBQ sauce or a quick recipe for homemade
  • Canned chicken and beef broth
  • A few cream of soups (or dry homemade mix)
  • A couple gravy in a jar
  • Tomato sauce
  • Tomato paste
  • Spaghetti and/or pizza sauce (can be home canned)
  • Salsa                                             "       "         "
  • Basic condiments - ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish
SIDES
  • Frozen veggie blends
  • Seasoned rice mixes - store bought or home mixed
  • Instant stuffing mix
  • Seasoned pasta mixes
SNACKS
  • Popcorn
  • Tortilla chips - or make your own
  • Trail mix
  • Mixed nuts
  • Cookie/cake mixes

I am not speaking of this being the ONLY things you have in the pantry.  We all know we need that 
'deep' or long term pantry for hard times and the future. 
These are just a few items that we should all have on have that will allow us to throw a quick and tasty meal together in no time.  
Ready made essentials are just a blessing at times - and they are perfectly OK to have!!!!  Not everything has to be from scratch!!

Anything that we can do to minimize the want/need to eat out saves us some change for our piggy banks.  It is just nice to know that no matter how tired you are you can have a decent meal in minutes.

Toss an item from one area with one or two from another and WAHLAH you have a quick meal!!!

Here's to summer and speedy meals!

12 comments:

  1. Agree and especially when it's too hot to cook!

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    1. Yes, and there are so many ingredients listed that would allow you to make a good meal with little or no cooking. Cold salads and such.
      Things that can be prepared ahead and ready to eat!

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  2. It's good to be prepared. All good ideas.

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    1. Thank you. Yes mam, we all need to be prepared for anything!

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  3. Some of these items I won't keep on hand (mostly snacks) because I have a bad habit of grabbing the quickest thing. I try to keep lots of fresh veg because I can quickly make a salad (with canned meat for protein), plus this is the time of year when it is available.

    Great list for what one might want to keep on hand.

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    1. I totally understand. I buy snacks and then eat them pretty quick. I do try to 'hide' them sometimes - I figure out of sight out of mind! Not working all that great!!! LOL
      Popcorn is the one thing I keep that I don't gravitate too.

      Yes fresh veggies are always the best and great for quick salads - which can often be a dinner.

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  4. Thanks for the pantry list! I can't seem to think of anything that I want to cook anymore. I do better thinking of fall/winter meals, but summer not so much and I am getting tired of salads. ;)

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    1. You're welcome. I totally understand. Salads are good, maybe sandwiches - tuna salad, egg salad, ham salad. BLT. Breakfast. Cold soup. Burgers or hotdogs. Grilled veggies. Just a few ideas!

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  5. I love the easy meals of summer. Last night we had ham that I had in the freezer with fried eggs and toast. Oh, and we love our burgers on the grill. For the 4th I made brownies from a mix with chocolate and butterscotch chips and sweetened condensed milk poured over the top. They were delicious!

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    1. Thanks for the testimony. It is nice to have someone else show that summer meals can be easy and quick. Love that you did semi-homemade on the brownies - it is so easy!
      It all sounds yummy!

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