Relishments

Savoring life in the Berkshires

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Meals in a Pinch

Published on November 14, 2013 By Emily. Updated on November 14, 2013

A couple weeks ago, I posted my first 2 week+ menu plan.  It was (and still is) an experiment in whether I can successfully plan that far ahead and whether it saves some money at the supermarket.  I’ll be writing some fuller thoughts on the new planning system when it’s time to share my next menu.

In the meantime, I share this one truth: Things come up.  No matter how lovely your plan, things are going to appear on the calendar that you didn’t expect.  For example, the organization you volunteer with will give you one week’s notice that they need you to come in on a Wednesday night.  Or you’ll be planning to make pad thai and realize you don’t have rice noodles.  Or you’ll discover that there are no eggs in the house for your frittata and your bible study is set to arrive in less than an hour.  Plans inevitably need to be changed.  (Note: this paragraph is more designed to be a reminder to myself than anything else).

In 2010 I wrote a post called What I Cook When I Can’t Really Cook.  Many of the ideas on that post still ring true, but in that time I’ve discovered some new ideas for easy meals that I wanted to share.  I have a compulsion to cook on a regular basis; we’re not “let’s just order a pizza” people.  These are meals I plan for nights I know are going to be short on time or ones I make when I realize I need to get dinner on the table ASAP.  I hope you find the ideas below as useful as I do.

meal ideas

Frittata

Mama Pea’s Chickpea Noodle Soup, which I’ve been known to modify depending on the vegetables in my fridge/freezer

Tacos

tacos

Julie’s Soba Noodle Soup

Creamy polenta with tomato sauce and white beans/shrimp

Pasta Puttanesca

pasta with puttanesca sauce

Lentil Sloppy Joes, which I’ve never posted a recipe for, but gladly will if there’s interest

Basic Potato Hash with Eggs

hash-and-eggs.jpg

Related Posts

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Filed Under: food Tagged With: advice

« Lunch at Public Eat+Drink
Being Flexible + 11/15-11/26 Menu »

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  1. » Being Flexible + 11/15-11/26 Menu says:
    November 18, 2013 at 9:05 pm

    […] I mentioned last week, my first 2+ week menu plan did not go exactly as…planned.   It started off well, but went off the rails a little on […]

  2. Monday Announcements: 12.2.13 | Healthy Living Blogs says:
    December 2, 2013 at 6:00 am

    […] recommends: Meals in a Pinch from […]

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Welcome to Relishments! Follow along with my adventures in flexitarian eating and cooking in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.

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Emily
It was a cold and cloudy morning, but we made it t It was a cold and cloudy morning, but we made it to our second annual strawberry picking at @mountainviewfarm413, which included E's first tractor ride (she was very excited). We picked about 9 pounds of strawberries and I'm looking forward to eating them! 🍓
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I don't have answers, but I'm trying to take care of myself and my biological and school families. I'm saying "I love you" a lot to my children and my students. I'm closely following and sharing the work of @everytown while contacting my state and federal representatives and the president. I'm going for walks and getting fresh air and trying not to overload on news. I'm sharing good resources in my stories as I see them.
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 @thelazygenius' second book, The Lazy Genius Kitchen, is finally here and I'm so excited! I don't purchase many books, but I pre-ordered this last July because I knew it would be right up my alley and then I pre-ordered a second copy because I knew that I'd want to give one away.

Author Kendra Adachi has been one of my favorite voices in recent years. Her principles (shared through her first book, The Lazy Genius Podcast and her Instagram) have helped me focus my priorities and give myself more grace. 

This book is NOT a cookbook (it has just 2 recipes), it is a kitchen guide - to help you "have what you need, use what you have, and enjoy it like never before". It is beautiful (full color!) and thoughtful.

I'm very excited to send this book to one of you.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment below with one of your greatest kitchen struggles. 
I'll draw a winner at 8 pm on Friday, May 6.
This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or The Lazy Genius, Kendra Adachi.
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#LazyGenius #KendraAdachi #NameWhatMatters #TheLazyGeniusKitchen #TheLazyGeniusWay #BookGiveaway
This morning we took advantage of @massmoca's Berk This morning we took advantage of @massmoca's Berkshire Teacher and Social Worker Appreciation Day free admission. After enjoying the student Art Invitational exhibit, the 4 of us took in several of the other galleries. Mass MoCA always impresses and it was delightful to be able to be out in the world with my kids.
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