I know the title is kinda stupid, but for lack of a better one...we'll just go with it. It's that dreaded end of the month time here at the ol' homestead, where groceries and money are getting thin (too bad it doesn't work on me, you know the getting thin part). At any rate, I hate when this happens. I stand in front the fridge and cupboards for hours thinking about what I can pull out and throw together for dinner. No matter how much planning ahead and menu planning I come up with I always fall short around this time.
Last night as I was staring at the cupboards and pantry shelves, I saw about 20 cans of tuna and 10 cans of chicken and 10 more cans of salmon. I also saw a can of chicken gravy and some instant mashed potatoes (Rich likes to stock up on stuff, if you didn't already know that and he likes keeping those potato buds for when Amanda makes dinner on nights that I'm working). I also remembered that I had some refrigerator biscuits in the fridge and I also had some Bisquick (that I could use to make biscuits, if I needed to). So there it was Chicken and Biscuits with Mashed Potatoes and Peas for dinner. I had enough for leftovers too.
See, I used to always look at this time and dread it, because I hated trying to come up with something at the last minute. It drove me nuts. But last night, something inside just clicked and I thought "I can do this. I can pull something together with what I already have and not have to spend alot at the store to make it." All I needed was some more gravy. It might not have been the big dinners that I like to make at times, but it was somewhat creative and cheap. It was fun challenging myself to use what I already had in the pantry and I was pretty darn proud of myself.
I also used a recipe that a friend had given me for dessert. I had everything I needed to make it as well, except for the bananas, so another cheap and yummy thing to make. This dessert came out really well and the kids loved it. It was super easy to make too...Gotta love that!
Black Bottom Banana Bars
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar (I used 3/4 c.)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
3 med. ripe bananas
1-1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. cocoa
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in bananas. Combine flour, b. powder, b. soda, and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well.
Divide batter in half. Add cocoa to half; spread into greased 9x13. Spoon remaining batter on top and swirl with a knife.
Bake at 350* for 25 mins. or toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.
Pure Yummy Deliciousness....I'm telling you. Tasted like banana bread (with chocolate), but it had a cake-like texture. A must try dessert!
LOL! I actually like the title! The dinner does look like a winner. And how about that dessert!! Looks fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteThat is funny, I had a night like that tonight!!!
ReplyDeleteWe didn't end up with anything nearly as nice as your dinner though.
Could you tell me what biscuits are though, I am from the UK and we don't have them and I always wondered what they are made of.
Biscuits in the UK are like cookies and I can't imagine those with mash, chicken and gravy!!!
LOL Lisa, I can't imagine cookies with gravy either. Biscuits here are made with flour and shortening and they are more like a bun type thing, only better.
ReplyDeleteHere's a quick recipe for your basic biscuit....
2 cups flour
1 TBS baking powder
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp of salt
1/2 cup of shortening or butter
2/3 cup of milk
In a bowl stir together flour, b powder, sugar, cream of tartar and salt. Cut in shortening or butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and add milk all at once and stir till dough clings together.
On a lightly floured surface, knead dough gently for 10-12 strokes. Roll or pat dough to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with a 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter, dipping into flour between cuts to prevent it from sticking.
Transfer bicuits to a baking sheet. Bake at 450* for 10-12 mins or till golden.
*If you don't have a biscuit cutter, you can probably use a glass or bowl or something with a circle shape, know what I mean?
Have fun trying this recipe...then you can have chicken and biscuits and gravy too, without the cookies ;)
Thanks for that, I will give that a go.
ReplyDeleteIn the UK we have Yorkshire Puddings with that type of meal and you can find the recipe here
http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/party-food/accompaniment/yorkshire-pudding.html
I must admit though I buy mine frozen!
I don't know if you have them in the US, if you try them you'll have to let me know :)
I love it when a good meal comes together just like that.. makes me feel like some sort of awesome cook or something :)
ReplyDeleteHey! I recognize those banana bars! ;)
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love when you can pull something delicious out of thin air???
Oh those Banana Bars look to die for. Will be trying that soon!
ReplyDeleteWe have the same issue here. The last week the menu's go out the door, the food has seemed to disappear faster then I can account for, and I'm turning my kitchen into Antarctica because I stand with the fridge doors open trying to rattle my head for something to eat.
Stopping by from SITS
Wow, that looks like a great recipe! My 10 year old son would love it. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteHappy week and best wishes,
Natasha.