Simple Meals

Just because our family isn't a very big one, doesn't mean our meals are "easy." It's me plus 3 guys, so we're always hungry, and it's getting to be more and more, with a working man and soon-to-be two teenagers! (It's a wonder there isn't a trench worn in the floor leading to the kitchen!) The fact that we all have our individual likes and dislikes adds to the "challenge." If I stick with basic meat-and-potatoes things, or certain one-dish or skillet things, it works pretty good.


Last night, I was browsing through a cookbook, and saw a simple goulash recipe. I thought that might be a good, simple supper, so I went in and did the best I could with what I had on hand.


I knew Hubby and Younger Son wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole. Hubby doesn't care for goulash, and Younger Son doesn't like tomatoes, onions or green peppers. But I was pretty sure Older Son and I would enjoy it.




I enjoyed me a good bowl of it, it wasn't bad. I know what I would do different next time, but I was working with what I had on hand.



I had put the rest in a big bowl to cool down then set in the fridge. But before it got to the fridge, Older Son came down and took about half of what was left, which was fine! That's what I made it for. THEN I set the rest in the fridge.


This morning, the bowl was not in the fridge. I suspect he came downstairs in the night sometime and ate the rest! But I LIKE it when my guys eat the food I fix!


This morning, I saw on "Pioneer Woman's" blog about Frito Pie. It looked wonderful with her version, but I didn't have everything to make that exactly. Then I thought, well, I'll go in and open a can of Wolf Brand (chili) and put it over tortilla chips with cheese on top, I do that occasionally anyway.


No tortilla chips.


OK, I'll heat up the chili, then I'll eat it with crackers and a dab of relish. (We used to put a little relish in chili at home, it gives a little tang and sweetness to cut the hearty chili flavor.)


No Wolf Brand. I suspect in the last few days, Older Son ate what I had on hand. So I rooted around through the cupboard to see what was there on hand and sounded good for a quick lunch.


Butter beans!



So I heated up a can of those (I'm the only one around here who likes them), with a little salt and pepper and butter added, then spooned them over some buttered bread. Old-fashioned, cheap, filling, and (to me) tasty.


I generally fix one main thing a day - usually for supper after Hubby gets home from work. (The rest of the time it's just various stuff as we're hungry - grilled cheese, fried eggs, etc.) And after he switches back to night schedule, it'll be supper BEFORE he goes to work. Tonight, I plan the "easy" version of chicken-noodle-potato soup. Potato chunks, noodles and canned chicken in seasoned broth. And that's something we'll ALL eat! So I'd better make PLENTY.