It feels a little silly, releasing a meal plan, when we have no clue what the next two weeks of our lives will look like. Will the kids be in school? Will we be quarantined in our homes? Will there be enough toilet paper??? But if you are anything like me, having some sort of a plan in the midst of the commotion, brings a sense of calm. And with the suggestion to stay at home and “social quarantine”, cooking may be your only option. So here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to share a pretty basic meal plan with the idea some of our grocery stores won’t have access to large quantities of fruits and veggies. This is a great resource to get you thinking about non-perishable items you can use as a foundation to create more exciting dishes – with just a few simple ingredients.
I also want to provide a list of some items you can grab now that will keep in the fridge or freezer for an extended period of time.
- Bread – will keep in the freezer for three to six months. Find a buy one get one and always keep an extra on hand.
- Spiral Ham – this is kind of funny because I only grabbed a ham when I realized Costco was out of chicken. But, it’s pretty genius because a spiral ham will keep in the freezer for one to two months or in your fridge for about a week. Use it for sandwiches, in soups – the options are endless. I’m going to cook mine, put half in the fridge for sammies and freeze the rest!
- Chicken Meatballs/Sausages – Find in your grocer, near the hotdogs. Great to incorporate into an easy week night meal with a little marinara over pasta for kids and zoodles for you. Both will keep in your fridge for over a month!
- Canned Biscuits – These suckers will keep in your fridge for about a month. My girls love buttermilk biscuits for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Get creative – use them to make grilled cheese, chicken n’ biscuit sliders or for a breakfast sammie.
- Frozen Kids Food – I know, not everyone believes in feeding their kids frozen junk food but here’s the thing – if our kids are out of school for two plus weeks, we will be responsible for feeding them three plus meals a day. I’m stocking up on frozen individual pizzas, mini burgers and chicken tenders for the moments I find myself melting down. Don’t forget to purchase kid snacks too!
- Jarred Sauces – I’m going to touch on this below but simmer sauces are great to keep in the pantry. Spaghetti sauce, salsa etc.
- Go-To Pantry Items – Tuna, salmon, black beans, diced tomatoes, coconut milk, chick peas, quinoa, boxed couscous flavors, mac n’cheese.
- Frozen Fruits & Veggies – Think cauliflower rice, bell peppers, jasmine rice – lots of great options out there.
Sunday, March 15th // Tuna Salad // Not my usual Sunday supper recipe but a good one to share for these uncertain times. Plus, it’s ridiculously yummy.
Monday, March 16th // Cowboy Chicken // Mostly canned goods used in this simple recipe. Kid Tip – deconstruct this one – sprinkle with Italian seasoning and top with cheese during the last few minutes of baking. Pull out some plain black beans and corn to serve on the side!
Tuesday, March 17th // Salmon Cakes // Using canned salmon for this recipe makes for an easy and inexpensive weeknight option. Ava loves these and asks for them all of the time. Serve with couscous and a veg!
Wednesday, March 18th // Everything Bagel Chicken with Scallion Cream Cheese Sauce // I know, pretty heavy on the chicken this week but you can purchase in bulk and freeze. The sauce on this easy chicken dish will take it from boring to flavorful in less than 3 ingredients.
Thursday, March 19th // Chicken Burgers // I was able to get a three pack of ground chicken from Costco yesterday with the thought of making these ridiculously easy chicken burgers! My girls will gobble these up.
Friday, March 20th // Chicken Tikka Masala // I keep at least one jar of this sauce in my pantry for an easy, last minute dinner. You can take out the peppers if you can’t get your hands on veggies and sub other protein for the chicken – sausage, shrimp, chickpeas – options are endless.
Praying for all of you during this scary time. Stay safe, friends and remember to wash your hands!!!!
This Week You Will Need
White Serving Bowls // Bakeware // Mixing Bowls // Chef Knife
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