My weeks tend to run more smoothly and I eat healthier when I spend some time over the weekend batch cooking.
Batch cooking ensures that even when I'm tired there will still be delicious, healthy food made with loving care in my home. I won't have to spend money for a meal outside my home and I can ensure the food we are eating is healthy.
This weekend I made a batch of Southwest Veggie Burgers, which is a recipe created by Whole Foods. I doubled the recipe and ended up with one dozen veggie burgers.
If you're interested, here is a video on how to make the burgers:
I also baked a batch of sweet potatoes for the week, made a batch of brown rice, filled my Instant Pot with homemade soup for the week, and also prepped some salads.
When I make soup I usually just use what vegetables I have in the house. If you would like a "recipe" to follow, here is Dr. Fuhrman's formula for soup chart.
DrFuhrman.com
Here is a photo of the soup I made today. This week was more vegetable than last week's soup, which had more beans.
Now I have plenty of food already cooked to take with me for lunches this week and for some dinners. This will help me as the week progresses by saving me time and money. So far I'm only working one day, but that can always change.
I love having some food prepped. It makes everything run smoother when you don't have to actively think about what to cook for dinner on a given night.
My family really likes the black bean burgers. I tried them in the food processor, but it created a really fine texture that we weren't fond of. Now I just blend the ingredients with a pastry cutter. I add mushrooms if I can find them on sale as they do have a ton of nutrients. I baste mine with a mixture of Barbecue sauce with a dash of Worcestershire sauce while baking or frying in a skillet, gives the burgers a great flavor. The only meat we usually have is chicken, and I make the whole chicken stretch, never using more than a cup of meat in a meal for the five of us, and always using the leftover bones and meat bits to make a great broth for soup.
That is so great, Nichole. You really know how to stretch what little meat you do use. That's a huge money saver right there. Your black bean burgers sound so good. We love Worcestershire sauce here and I use it to favor several dishes I make. And you're right about the mushrooms. Dr. Fuhrman wants people to eat them everyday as they are filled with nutrients.
I just wanted to jump in and say I love the idea of using the pastry blender! I hate cleaning my food processor more than anything; well the blender rates up there, too!
I love batch cooking. When I come home late and tired, it's so nice to take something out of the fridge / freezer. Batch cooking saves time, money and most importantly my sanity. :)
See frugal food enabler! :) Your soup looks so yummy. I love soup. I would eat it every day. I could eat rice, soup and salad every day. I would never get tired of it. I love your pretty soup bowl.
I got my Instant Pot in the mail today, soo excited!! We're having taco salad, but my husband is on the potato diet right now, so I have potatoes cooking in it right now.
You go girl! What great planning.
ReplyDeleteSoup recipe? LOL - you mean there are recipes! I throw in what I have - no 2 times the same.
Have a good week.
Bahahaha, that's usually what I do too, Cheryl. Makes the best soup ever. LOL
DeleteI love having some food prepped. It makes everything run smoother when you don't have to actively think about what to cook for dinner on a given night.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely, Anne.
DeleteMy family really likes the black bean burgers. I tried them in the food processor, but it created a really fine texture that we weren't fond of. Now I just blend the ingredients with a pastry cutter. I add mushrooms if I can find them on sale as they do have a ton of nutrients. I baste mine with a mixture of Barbecue sauce with a dash of Worcestershire sauce while baking or frying in a skillet, gives the burgers a great flavor. The only meat we usually have is chicken, and I make the whole chicken stretch, never using more than a cup of meat in a meal for the five of us, and always using the leftover bones and meat bits to make a great broth for soup.
ReplyDeleteThat is so great, Nichole. You really know how to stretch what little meat you do use. That's a huge money saver right there. Your black bean burgers sound so good. We love Worcestershire sauce here and I use it to favor several dishes I make. And you're right about the mushrooms. Dr. Fuhrman wants people to eat them everyday as they are filled with nutrients.
DeleteI just wanted to jump in and say I love the idea of using the pastry blender! I hate cleaning my food processor more than anything; well the blender rates up there, too!
DeleteI feel the same way about my blender too, lol. And the food processor, the blender is worse though. LOL
DeleteI love batch cooking. When I come home late and tired, it's so nice to take something out of the fridge / freezer.
ReplyDeleteBatch cooking saves time, money and most importantly my sanity. :)
Definitely, Nil. LOL We need to save our sanity. ;)
DeleteIt is always nice to have meals planned ahead.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Kim.
DeleteOur freezer is loaded with batch cooking and has been for years. Your plan works and saves $$$. Also looked at your links. Thanks for adding them.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Anna. :)
DeleteSee frugal food enabler! :) Your soup looks so yummy. I love soup. I would eat it every day. I could eat rice, soup and salad every day. I would never get tired of it. I love your pretty soup bowl.
ReplyDeleteLOL, thank you. My daughter gave me the soup bowl as a Christmas present this past year. It's a Pioneer Woman soup bowl.
DeleteI got my Instant Pot in the mail today, soo excited!! We're having taco salad, but my husband is on the potato diet right now, so I have potatoes cooking in it right now.
ReplyDeleteOh, how neat Nichole! I'm so happy for you. I think you will love it. I love mine. In fact I have two of them now, so I can cook multiple items. :)
DeleteOur soups are never the same twice because our base is never the same twice:
ReplyDeletehttp://donnafreedman.com/boiling-bag/
But they're always good. And in this weather it's wonderful to have a slow cooker full of soup perfuming the house.
I agree, Donna. Always good to have sou0 on hand in this cold weather.
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