It's BBQ night :)
Yesterday I went and bought a months worth of groceries (aside from the occasional veggie and milk products), and was shocked to see the $300 bill. However, we were out of everything from flour to toliet paper! So I'm think that's not really that bad, considering the pantry, snack cupboard, fridge, and freezers (both) are stocked full. I've got over 25 recipes planned out for dinners, along with breads, desserts, and drinks. So now comes the time to cook it all.
Its been alot easier having a list on the front of the fridge, where I can skim through it and see what I want to make, then take the meat out to defrost, or start the slow cooker.
Then making lunches, for Izzy and Nick, come during dinner clean up, which saves money since Nick doesn't need to run to the snack machines, and Izzy doesn't have to buy lunch unless its something she really wants.
So tonight I decided to make my own "rice-a-roni". I hate thinking what might be in that little seasoning packet and how much salt is in there. So I made mine salt free, from a recipe I got out of a make your own spices cookbook. Then I barbequed up some chicken pineapple kabobs that were nice and light on a hot night like tonight.
Rose Manor Rice Seasoning
2 T. dried parsley
2 T. dried basil
2 T. chicken boullin granules
2 t. onion powder
3/4 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. dried thyme
Adjustments/Suggestions: I would use a little less basil (it was pretty strong), but you can always try it the first time and make your own changes.
Seasoned Rice Pilaf with Rose Manor Rice Seasoning
3 1/2 T. Rose Manor Rice Seasoning
1 1/2 c. uncooked long grain rice
10 pieces of spaghetti, broken into 1/2" pieces
2 1/2 c. water
1 T. butter
Brown rice and spagetti in butter, add seasoning and then water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Adjustments/Suggestions: This makes ALOT. We have a family of 3, and my husband is a 2 helping sort of guy and this still would be too much. So I'd half it unless you want to use it later in another dish or have lots of leftovers. I also used 2 T. of butter...yeah not so healthy but almost neccessary. I also used noodles they had in little packs in the hispanic foods section for 33 cents each. They were prefect. But I'm sure think spaghetti noodles work too.
Chicken Pineapple Kabobs
4 chicken breasts
1/2 c. soy sauce (low sodium is best)
2 T. sesame oil
1 can of pineapple chunks
Cut chicken into pieces. Put in plastic baggie and add soy sauce and sesame oil. Toss and put in the fridge for 20 minutes. Put chicken and pineapple on skewers and cook on the BBQ.
Adjustments/Suggestions: These were yummy and easy, and I also topped with sesame seeds right before pulling them off the BBQ.
