Week 29, Wednesday, Diet with Dianna

Wednesday has not been my usual day. I didn't go volunteer at church because they were having their office Christmas party. No need to go if no one is going to be there. Instead I spent the day with my youngest grown son, editing his soon to be published science fiction novel. We are nearly finished and getting so excited about the publishing aspect.  


Next, we ate barbecue for lunch and then headed home for a much needed walk. It was misting outside, but I donned a baseball cap and walked anyway! It felt so good to get some exercise. I know my dog was happy. Now, I'm slowly drying out and updating my blog.


REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:
Let's face it, we live in a fast paced, overly scheduled, drive-thru society. Meals on the go are the new family table. So why not prepare your food ahead of time and store them in the freezer. It will save you a lot of wasted time and even more wasted money. The food is so much better tasting you won't have to sit in long, slow line and eat unknown ingredients which are high in calories and fat! Besides, your freezer is so much more convenient and it's a great way to teach your kids how to operate the microwave and fix a quick meal for themselves, should they be on their own for an hour or two after school.


It's been a long day and you don't feel like cooking a huge meal when you get home, plus the kids all have a mountain of homework and the laundry is piled to the underneath side of the countertops. Who has time for a gourmet dinner? Wouldn't a bucket of greasy chicken with powdered potatoes and salty green beans be better? Really????


Why not simply spend a few hours on the weekend or in the evening and cook up a batch of "take-out" meals that will please your palette, love your waistline, and feed your children nutritiously. Plus, you will be sitting at a real table instead of a cramped car. You control the portions and ingredients. Your kids will be healthier, you will be healthier, your marriage partner will be healthier, and your wallet will be thicker!


I have a few helpful ideas and recipes to get you started...one meal at a time. Don't try to fill up your freezer in one day. Just start with one meal a day and work your way up! You'll see that it will add time to your busy schedule and less calories to your waistline.

ON-THE-GO BREAKFAST IDEAS:

Waffles – if you have a waffle iron, just separate the waffles, brush them with melted butter, and let them cool. You don’t have to use maple syrup on the outside, but can use jelly or peanut butter as a topping. If you want the maple flavor, add ¼ cup of the maple syrup into the recipe and reduce the liquid by ¼ cup. 

Wrap each waffle in a paper towel, and place in a zipper style bag. Freeze.

REHEAT: Remove from plastic but keep it wrapped in the paper towel. Heat for 1 minute on med/high power.

Waffle Sandwich:
Using the waffles above, slice each square into half, layer with a scrambled egglet  (omelet style scrambled egg) and bacon or sausage.
Place the egg and bacon/sausage between two quarter waffles;
REHEAT Remove from plastic but keep it wrapped in the paper towel. Heat for 1 minute on high power.

Pancakes w/syrup When preparing the pancake batter, add ¼ cup of maple syrup to the recipe and reduce the liquid by ¼ cup.  Make the pancakes ‘silver dollar’ size. Brush with melted butter, let cool. Place three or four inside a paper towel and then into a plastic zipper bag.REHEAT: Remove from plastic but keep it wrapped in the paper towel. Heat for thirty seconds on high power.

Pancake Sandwich:Follow the instructions for the waffle sandwich but substitute pancakes for the waffles.

Breakfast Biscuits:Bake some buttermilk or southern style biscuits (frozen or from scratch). Let cool. Slice, lengthwise down the middle to make it like a bun. Precook some mini scrambled egglets. Precook some turkey Sausage or turkey bacon. Cheese slices. Stack them together to make a sandwich. Wrap in paper towel, put in zipper bag and freeze.
REHEAT: Remove from plastic but keep it wrapped in the paper towel. Heat for thirty seconds on high power.

French Toast Sticks: Make a batch of French toast using regular style whole wheat bread. Slice the bread into three equal rectangles.
Let cool completely, Wrap three of them in a paper towel, and place in a zipper style bag. Freeze.REHEAT: Remove from plastic but keep it wrapped in the paper towel. Heat for thirty seconds on high power. Dip them in a small plastic container filled with low sugar or sugar free syrup.

Breakfast Burritos: Scramble some eggs with turkey sausage. Use Low carb tortillas and add the cooked eggs/sausage and sprinkle with shredded cheddar or Monterrey Jack cheese. Roll into a burrito and secure with a toothpick or small rubber band. Let cool completely. Place one inside a paper towel and then into a plastic zipper bag.REHEAT: Remove from plastic but keep it wrapped in the paper towel. Heat for thirty seconds on high power.

Oatmeal in a cup!Oatmeal cups to go. Simply measure ½ cup Old Fashioned rolled oats into a zipper style baggie. Add brown sugar or sugar substitute, dried fruit and nuts.  (DO NOT COOK AOR ADD WATER…this is dry and unprepared). Store in cool dry place.Just Add Hot Water: Empty the premeasured flavored oatmeal into a microwave style, travel coffee mug,
Make a pot of hot water with your coffee maker or kettle. Pour in a ⅓ cup of water and give a quick stir. Cover with the lid.
Wait until you get into the car to eat…It will be perfect. Not too thick or thin and the oats will be tender and the fruit rehydrated.