Mar 4, 2015 |
I love WinCo. But that’s not news, right? I love that they love me, too.
WinCo Wins – Cooking More for Less
Ask me any day of the week, and I’ll tell you, I’m in love with their Bulk Bins. You can buy as much, or as little, as you need. Are you shopping for one basic recipe, or hosting a large dinner party? They’ve got you covered.
From pastas and starches to snacks and candies, buying in bulk is crazy economical.
My favorite is their long white rice. It’s a staple in my house. At just pennies per pound, I can pick up five pounds of rice for less than half the price of any pre-packaged bag.
Last week began my Empty Nest. I thought cooking for one would be lonely, but instead I find it to be fun and inventive. Each meal preparation offers more leftovers, and I love planning foods that are freezer-friendly. With less groceries to buy, I’ll also be able to experiment more and create new recipes. I’m looking forward to sharing this new adventure with WinCo.
I love being in my kitchen, cooking and baking. But sometimes, I love staying with something familiar and easy. For my first week of eating alone, I cooked once. Once. And ate five times. Not bad for saving a few dollars while eating healthy.
Using my personal Aroma Housewares Rice Cooker, I steamed two salmon filets over white rice and diced green chilies in chicken broth.
Green Chili Chicken and Rice
The first night I ate both salmon, but typically I’d save one for the next night. Once the salmon was gone, I added a can of chicken meat to the rice mix. With each serving, I enjoyed a flour tortilla and a glass of milk. That’s an average of just $1.50 per meal.
Talk about filling and feeling good!
The extra benefit of using my rice cooker, is that once it cools down, I can store the pot in the fridge.
As usual, my relationship with WinCo is a Win-Win situation, and I can’t wait to create new #CookingForOne recipes, and more.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
WinCo Wins
My Real Italian Kitchen: Polenta and Sauce
Stocking up the Pantry
Sep 28, 2014 |
Last Tuesday we celebrated our recent successes, NOLA style. If you missed that post, you can read it here. I had a blast shopping for Mardi Gras decor, mixing up Hurricane mocktails, and feeding my guests with the great food provided by Zatarain’s.
Zatarains’ Care Package
How great was it of them to send me a box full of their rice mixes and seasonings? I chose to make the Brown Rice Jambalaya, Garden Vegetable Rice, and my salmon with the Blackened Seasonings mix.
What I love love love about Zatarain’s:
- They make everything easy. You can prepare foods per package instructions, or embellish with add-ins of your own. Either way, it’s a complete dish.
- Their dishes can be served on the side or as a main course. There’s no wrong way to Zat!
- Let’s be real: It’s authentic New Orleans food. I mean, the shipping label said, New Orleans. Now that just makes This Girl far too food happy.
- The flavors are more than your regular from-the-box fixings. They know how to package the seasonings, spices, and everything else that goes into a good Jambalaya.
- Their products work well on a time schedule. I had four food preparations going at the same time, and didn’t sweat a drop.
Zatarain’s Big Easy Garden Vegetable Brown Rice Mix
This pouch cooked start to finish in ninety seconds. Ninety seconds! I barely had time to grab the serving bowl before it was ready. Just knead the bag first, microwave for a minutes and a half, let stand one minute, then open and serve a hot, delicious mix of brown rice and vegetables. We ate this as a stand-alone side dish, but I’m already salivating for another pouch so I can toss in some andouille sausage and make it a meal.
Before I popped that in the microwave, however, I started the Brown Rice Jambalaya mix. I simply mixed water and the rice mix in my rice cooker. This one took 45 minutes according to package directions. I did not like smelling that goodness without being able to indulge, but it was worth the wait. Twenty minutes before it was ready, I sautéed a pound of garlic and herb shrimp on the stove-top, and when the rice mix was done I combined the two.
Next was the grilled blackened salmon. A light coating of melted butter on each side and a good sprinkling of seasonings was all it took to have a knock-your-socks-off main course. I love blackened anything, so I made sure to double-coat my filet.
With the abundance of food on the table, we had ourselves a small feast, Zatarain’s style.
NOLA Party, Zatarain’s Style
I served mayonnaise biscuits, another NOLA-based recipe from my friend, Lindsay Reine’s cookbook. A mixture of fruit juices gave my guests a Hurricane Mocktail, and dessert was this Easy King Cake recipe I found online.
Celebrate with King Cake
Are you salivating yet? Then check out the Zatarain’s website. It’s more than just rice product. I can’t wait to get my hands on their root beer concentrate, a frozen pasta dinner, breading mix, some Creole mustard, and even their olives.
There’s a great section to teach you how to speak like a New Orleanian. Words like lagniappe, etouffee, and maque choux.
Zatarain’s. How deliciously simple is that?
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
Five Years and a Party
My Real Italian Kitchen: Polenta and Sauce
My Interview with Ms. New Orleans 2014, Lindsay Reine
I am Defined. And I am a Mystery.
FIVE THINGS FRIDAY: The Big Easy
Jul 22, 2012 |
I’ve heard people say things like “I don’t know how I ever got along without one for so long.” Or, “It’s so easy, so simple, so effortless.” And, “Delicious. Hearty. Healthy.”
Most of the time I chalk it up to hype. Someone, somewhere is exaggerating.
And then I bought my Aroma Houseware’s 6-Cup Rice Cooker.
It’s small. Convenient. And on a day like today when the outside temperature reached over 100 degrees, I didn’t have to turn my oven or stove on to feed my family a healthy, hearty, warm meal.
The rice comes out moist and full every time. I’ve steamed vegetables, chicken, and fish as well. The steam basket is small, allowing for just two servings of either meat or vegetables. But for those times when Dot’s out with her friends, I’m able to make a serving of each for myself.
I love that this versatile cooker lets me cook rice and steam at the same time. Or I can opt to do just one task. I also like that I can make as little as 2 cups of rice or as much as 6 cups. What’s better than fresh rice under a steamed salmon or lemon peppered vegetables? Having more for later!
The cooker/steamer averages a 20 minute wait time. It depends on what you’re preparing. The Cooker has an inner spring that, once the cooking is done, gently pushes the inner pot off the heating coils. It can keep your food warm for up to 12 hours without scorching!
It’s incredibly easy to use, clean, and store. I don’t know how I ever got along without one for so long.
And I want you to have one, too. So much so that I contacted Aroma Housewares and they agreed to sponsor this giveaway. This is a big deal. A really big deal! Because who doesn’t love giveaways? Even if you have a rice cooker, you can always use another one for those smaller servings. Or maybe you know someone getting ready to go away to college or move out on their own. It’s also a big deal, because [super shout out to Chris at Aroma Housewares], this is my very first sponsored giveaway. I couldn’t be happier that it’s for a product I really believe in.
Aroma even let me use their Green Chili Chicken & Rice recipe (it comes both on the product box and in their instruction manual).
Aroma's Green Chili Chicken & Rice
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup rice
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons dried minced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 can (10 oz.) chicken breast
- 1 can (4 oz.) diced green chilies with liquid
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into inner cooking pot.
- Stir until evenly distributed.
- Place the inner cooking pot into the rice cooker.
- Place the lid securely onto the rice cooker.
- Press the COOK switch.
- Allow rice to cook until the rice cooker switches to "Warm".
- Stir and serve immediately.
3.1
http://franklymydearmojo.com/2012/07/22/recipe-giveaway-green-chili-chicken-rice/ (c) 2012 Frankly, My Dear... New Inklings Press
Can’t you just smell the steamy aroma of chilies, chicken and rice? My house smelled so delicious, and the flavor did not disappoint!
We served it up with a corn tortilla and a glass of my berry-infused water. What a refreshing meal!
[The opinions in this review are my own, and not affected by any sponsor, entity or other person. For more information, please see our Disclosure Policy.]
And now we’ve come to the really fun part: The Giveaway!
1. MANDATORY ENTRY: Leave a comment on this post: What do you like to serve with rice? This entry is mandatory. If you don’t answer this question, all other entries are void.
2. ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: You can earn up to four additional entries (for five entries total) by doing each of the following then leaving a comment here telling me you’ve done so. If you already do any of these things, that counts as an entry only if you post it in the comments. (Additional entries will be verified):
a. Follow me on Facebook and share this giveaway.
b. Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway.
c. Follow me on Pinterest and pin this giveaway.
d. Share this giveaway on your own blog and leave the link in the comments below.
BONUS ENTRIES ONLY COUNT IF YOU LEAVE A COMMENT AND I VERIFY.
Here’s the fine print:
- This giveaway is solely through Molly Jo and the blog Frankly, My Dear…. It is sponsored by Aroma Housewares. There are no other corporate sponsors. This giveaway is in no way endorsed by any other person, business or entity.
- Relatives, employees or persons affiliated with Aroma Housewares, New Inklings Press, or Frankly, My Dear… are ineligible.
- Only legal citizens of the United States aged 18 years and older are eligible to win.
- This giveaway begins at 5:30 a.m. PST on Sunday, July 22, 2012 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, July 31, 2012.
- Winner will be selected from all eligible comments on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 through Random.org.
- Winner will be notified by email and will have 120 hours (five full days) from the time email is sent to respond. Should winner not respond in a timely manner, prize will subsequently be re-awarded to another Reader. Not more than three (3) subsequent winners will be picked. After that, prize will be forfeited and no winner will be chosen.
- One prize pack [$20.00 value] consisting of Aroma Housewares 6-Cup Rice Cooker [Product No. ARC-743] will be given. No substitutions or transfers allowed.
- Aroma Housewares, Molly Jo and Frankly, My Dear… are not responsible for any lost or misdirected shipments, or damages that may occur during shipping.
- You may comment as much as you like, but any comment that does not meet the requirements will not be considered for this Giveaway.
- By leaving your comment on this post, you agree to be bound by the rules of this giveaway in their entirety.
As I always like to say, Happy Eating!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jul 1, 2012 |
I love chicken soup. I love chicken soup plain. I love chicken soup with noodles. But mostly, I love chicken soup with rice.
So after I made my chicken stock, I knew exactly what my first recipe was going to be. Starting with the base recipe in yesterday’s post, today I made Chicken Soup With Rice.
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups water
2 cups vegetable solids
2 cups shredded chicken
1 cup rice
I heated the ingredients on medium heat for five minutes.
And the result is 8 cups of a hearty, delicious soup. I froze 4 cups for later, and put 4 cups in the fridge for tomorrow’s lunch. I just need to reheat on the stove or in the microwave and serve with either a salad or bread or both.
There’s plenty… who’s coming to dinner?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Oct 6, 2011 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Now that we’re in October and starting the “Busy Season”, this month’s recipes will center on those quick and easy, good for you meals that my family loves. All are five ingredients or less, making them inexpensive as well.
This first recipe came about years ago when my car was in the shop, I had few groceries in the shop, and a hungry daughter (not to mention self). I had to make do with what I had. It turned out so well, it became a favorite.
What I love about this, is that it’s so basic, you can change it up however you like. Add a little soy sauce and chow mien noodles for an Asian flare. Or spoon it over potatoes for something more homey. Add vegetables to the dish, or on the side. However you serve it, it’s sure to be a winner.
INGREDIENTS:
2 Cans – Cream of Chicken soup, undiluted
1 can (12 oz.) chunk chicken
2 cups white rice
Prepare rice on stove. In separate sauce pan, combine soup and chicken and warm on low until heated through. Once rice is cooked, serve sauce over rice.
It’s that easy, and that delicious! Enjoy.
