Carrie has been out and on her own for a few years now, and our family dinner routine has changed. Doug and I still sit down for an evening meal together, but the weekday food fare is definitely different now that we are empty nesters.
I used to fuss over making a home cooked meal every night, and when time constraints kept that from happening we'd end up grabbing take-out or even going out for dinner. I loved serving a traditional meal on a regular basis - complete with meat/starch/vegetables, and Doug loved being served the same.
Somehow it was hard-wired in my brain that the evening meal was my responsibility. My mom always did it, and that sense of duty was passed down to me. And somehow I realized that even though he enjoys and appreciates it, Doug does not expect me to serve him a fancy evening meal every night. He is perfectly fine with (and sometimes prefers) grilled cheese sandwiches and a bowl of soup for dinner. Or a rotisserie chicken picked up from the grocery store with a side of deli coleslaw. Simple works for both of us.
I can stretch a rotisserie chicken for at least two meals, and one night last week I threw this meal together. I stuck the corn tortillas two-together with a bit of grated cheese melted between them (30 seconds in the microwave), and I only used one chicken breast diced up to make four tacos. Fresh cilantro, sliced avocado and some salsa, served right off the cutting board in finger-food style - perfect evening meal for Douglas and me.
What's your favorite quick and easy evening meal?
♥
13 comments:
We shred what's leftover of our rotisserie chicken and make enchilladas the next day! A little chicken and shredded Monterey jack in a corn tortilla (I steam them so they roll up easier) and then pour a bottle of Trader Joe's verde salsa on top...bake 30 mins. Quick meal that looks like I fussed! With a green salad and if I feel ambitious, Spanish rice....dinner!
I love food that you can assemble yourself, at the table, with your fingers while enjoying good conversation and maybe a glass of wine. Your dinner looks divine :) x
Just my kind of food. Looks delicious. I do something similar but put the tortilla in a dry frying pan, add grated mozzarella and cheddar, shredded chicken and spring onions. Once the cheese melts I add another tortilla on top, flip over until warm. Serve up sliced into pizza style wedges.
We've been eating a bit differently without TTO around. Different favourites have been cropping up, and it's quicker to get round the supermarket too. Hotdogs are always a quick favourite round here
We love soup from the trader joe's type grocery round here. Especially paired with bread and cheese. By the way, I can't believe that the word I need to type in your verification box is "assworm"! I swear - I just took a picture because it so makes my day!
Rinda
Over here we're into warming comfort food now the temperature has dropped. I love trying new recipes so often experiment. Fiona's recipe is a favourite snack food here too!
I would say quesadillas, bean and cheese tacos or scrambled eggs. Those are my go tos on a busy night.
My desk is shaking as I am laughing at Rinda's comment ....
Anyway, I am so entrenched in the full on dinners right now ... TE always says to whip something or other up as it will be easy ... yeah, for him to eat!
I think back with nostalgia to the quick and easy meals Himself and I used to prepare for the two of us once your children left home. Now that my Dad lives with us, he is used to - and can't get along without - the routine he had with my Mum of a two-course meal every evening, sitting down at a properly set table. It's lovely, yes, and I am glad it nourishes him in more ways than one, but sometimes I yearn for a boiled egg and soldiers of (gluten-free) toast on my knee by the fire!
Soup and bread are our favorite in the winter and a salad with bread will do in the summer. Another favorite is what we've always called "picky dinner." We take the left-overs out of the fridge, zap them in the microwave and pick out what we'd like to eat! Lots of time there's enough for one, but not for two, and this solves the problem.
Anything and a Ceaser salad for us "meat an' leaves" we say.
How do you stay so thin with such perfect avocados around?! Looks such a perfect meal to me too - finger food and catching up on the day.
Yum! This looks so good Deb - simple is just what you need sometimes :D
Post a Comment