Tag: inspiration

Introduction to recipe rotation- with three weeks of recipes.

My Mom is an excellent cook. She is the type of cook that can make anything without looking at a recipe and make it fabulous. Everyone comments on her cooking. She came to the United States from Singapore in the 80’s and met my dad. Her cooking is an amazing fusion of Asian and American. Everything has flavor- blah foods are not her style.

I am not a cook. I tell this to people all the time, but I never take time to explain. My standards for good food are always judged against my Mom’s food. When we go out, its always, “the food is good but…” While, we do have our favorite restaurants and our favorite dishes, are usually quick to judge them. I am a good critic, influenced by years of watching the original “Iron Chef” on food network when I was in elementary school.

I feel like my story is common- everyone has a good cook in their family and some people learned to become good cooks themselves.

“I learned from my Grandma.”

“I learned from my Aunt.”

“I learned from my Dad.”

Well, I didn’t. I simply accepted my Mom’s talents and never took the time to follow, question and learn from her. I am an adequate cook. I know how to chop onions, boil eggs, and follow recipes. In fact, I follow recipes quite well. Recipes are in-tune with my personality- a set of plans that I follow. I am not a rule breaker or culinary trail blazer. I don’t stray from plans or recipes and I don’t add more of this or take away that. This is what makes me, in my mind, an adequate cook. Great cooks are pioneering these recipes and tweaking recipes. I am following them. In the end, the excellent cooks allow us adequate cooks to produce the same delicious meals to serve.

If you are anything like me, you really do not want to read five chapters about inspiration and rules to follow. Who has time for that anyway? So I am going to keep this extremely simple. 6 days of cooking per week. 3 weeks. 

I actually do an 8 week rotation to keep things interesting. You can add on to this plan or you can do your own. Either way, this has saved our family money (no more buying excess amounts of things or eating out) and has saved me time (shop once per week and done).

WEEK 1

1. American: Grilled salmon I, asparagus, steamed rice
2. Mexican: Chicken Enchilada II, mexican black bean salad
3. Miscellaneous: Brown sugar Meatloaf,  au gratin potatoes
4. Casserole or crock pot: Chicken pot pie
5. Italian: Peppered Shrimp alfredo
6. Asian: Asian lettuce wrap

WEEK 2

1. American:  Buffalo chicken wings, spinach dip, bread
2. Mexican:  Marinated flank steak, fajitas, tortilla
3. Miscellaneous: Coconut shrimp, rice, peas
4. Casserole or crock pot: Slow cooker chicken and dumplings
5. Italian: Spaghetti and meatballs
6. Asian: Schezwan shrimp, steamed rice, broccoli

WEEK 3

1. American: Garlic Chicken, honey roasted red potatoes, green beans
2. Mexican: Fish tacos
3. Miscellaneous: Artichoke chicken, fettuccine noodles
4. Casserole or crock pot: Corn casserole, boilermaker tailgate chili
5. Italian: broiled tilapia parmesan, rice
6. Asian: Chicken tikka masala, white rice, naan*Coming soon: purchase the 8 week rotation for only $8

GROCERY LISTS

I shop at Kroger because I love adding all the items to my online lists on the Kroger app. Each week I load the list to my cart and select grocery pick up. The next day, I drive up and they load all the groceries into my car. I have included 3 weeks of grocery lists here, but I have a 8 week rotation with 8 lists. Once I complete those 8 weeks, I start over.

Grocery List Week 1:

• White rice
• Salmon
• 1 lb Asparagus
• 3 bunches green onions
• 1- 4 oz can diced green chilis
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast meat
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cubed
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 6 (12 inch) flour tortillas
• 2 ½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn kernels
• cilantro
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 2 ⅕ pounds ground beef
• 5 white onion
• Saltine crackers
• 4 russet potatoes
• 1 cup frozen green peas
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1/2 cup sliced celery
• 2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts
• 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
• 12 ounces penne pasta
• 1/2 pound portobello mushrooms, diced
• 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 (15 ounce) jar Alfredo sauce
• 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• Butter lettuce
• 2 teaspoons minced pickled ginger
• 1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped

= 49 total items

Grocery List Week 2

• Bakery Fresh French Bread 2 16 Oz
• Kroger® Italian Style Bread Crumbs 1 15 oz
• Kroger Sweetened Flaked Coconut 1 14 oz
• Campbell’s Cream of Chicken Soup 2 10.75 oz
• Kroger Quartered Artichoke Hearts in Brine 1 14 oz
• Kroger Whole Peeled Tomatoes 2 28 Oz
• Kroger Tomato Paste 1 6 Oz
  p$$t… Long Grain White Rice 1 5 Lb
• Kroger Grated Parmesan Romano Cheese 1 8 Oz
• Kroger Shredded Mozzarella Cheese 1 16 Oz
• Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese Bar 1 8 oz
• Pillsbury Grands! Southern Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits 2 10.2 oz Kroger
• Chopped Spinach 1 12 oz
• Kroger Traditional Favorites Green Peas 1 12 oz
• Mission Soft Taco Flour Tortillas 1 10 ct / 17.5 oz
• Heritage Farm Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat Boneless & Skinless (5-6 1 per Pack) each
• Heritage Farm Chicken Wings Bone In & Skin On (14-17 per Pack) 1 each
• Private Selection Angus Beef Choice Flank Steak Value Pack (2 Steaks 1 per Pack) 1 each
• Raw White Shrimp 21/25 per Pound 2 1 lb (Order by the Pound)
• Kroger Tail Off Peeled & Deveined Large Cooked Shrimp 1 12 oz
• Kroger Spaghetti 16 oz
• Bell Pepper – Green – Large 1 ct
• Onions – White 3 each
• Peppers – Bell – Red 1 each
• Onions – Green 1 1 ct
  Broccoli 1 1 lb

= 33 total items

Grocery List Week 3

• Kroger® Italian Style Bread Crumbs 1 15 oz
• Stonere Original Naan Rounds 1 12.7 oz
• Krusteaz Southern Cornbread Bread and Mix 1 11.5 oz
• Bush’s Best Chili Beans in Mild Sauce 3 16 oz
• Bush’s Best Chili Kidney Beans Spicy Chili Sauce 1 16 oz
• Kroger Beef Bouillon Cubes 1 3.25 oz
• Kroger Cream Style Golden Corn 1 14.75 oz
• Kroger Diced Tomato 2 28 Oz
• Kroger Long Grain White Rice 1 32 Oz
• Kroger Quartered Artichoke Hearts in Brine 1 14 oz
• Kroger Sweet Whole Kernel Golden Corn 1 15.25 oz
• Kroger Tomato Paste 1 6 Oz
• Kroger Tomato Sauce 1 15 oz
• Kroger Real Turkey Bacon Pieces 1 2.8 Oz
• Mezzetta Hot Chili Peppers 1 16 oz
• Chobani Original Plain Non-Fat Greek Yogurt 1 5.3 oz
• Daisy Sour Cream 1 8 Oz
• Kroger 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese 1 8 Oz
• Kroger Heavy Whipping Cream 1 1 pt
• Kroger Traditional Favorites Cut Green Beans 1 12 oz
• Guerrero White Corn Tortillas 18 Count 1 16 Oz
• Jennie-O Hot Italian Turkey Sausage 1 1.2 Lb Pkg.
• Kroger Family Size Boneless & Skinless Tilapia Fillets 1 2 lb
• Kroger Ground Beef 80% Lean 2 1 lb Roll
• Wild Caught Pacific Cod Fillets 1 1 lb (Order by the Pound)
• Heritage Farm Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat Boneless & Skinless (5-6 3 per Pack)
• Barilla Pasta Fettuccine 1 1 lb
• Bell Pepper – Green – Large 1 1 ct
• Celery – Small 1 1 each
• Dole Angel Hair Coleslaw 1 10 oz
• Onions – Yellow 2 each
• Peppers – Bell – Red 1 1 each
• Private Selection Petite Red Potatoes 1 1.5 lb
• Amy’s Organic Medium Chili 1 14.7 Fl Oz

= 41 total items