5 Meals to Make This Week #7
Week seven! Just give in! . . . To laziness
I’m going into full-blown lazy mode this week. Between having my mom and grandma stay with me while Chris was out out town, then heading straight to VidCon this weekend . . . I’m tuckered out, y’all! So here’s five super-duper, easy-peasy meals to make this week!
Pro Prep Tip: When you know you have a busy week ahead, take 15 minutes on the weekend to poach some chicken breasts. Plain, boring shredded chicken turns into delicious BBQ chicken sandwiches in just a few minutes. (Of course you could buy a rotisserie chicken, too, but this is a lot cheaper.) I also take a few minutes to wash and dry a head of lettuce; wrap it in a clean towel, then inside a plastic bag and refrigerate. You’ll have clean, crisp lettuce ready to make a quick side salad when you need it.
To poach boneless/skinless chicken breasts that weigh about 1/2 pound each: Put in a pot of water (add some salt, garlic, bay leaves and/or bouillon if you like) and cover. Bring to boil over high heat. Once the water boils, count to 30 then turn the heat off. Let the breasts sit in the hot water, covered, for 15 minutes. Check that they are done with a knife. They should be perfectly cooked through but not overcooked and tough. IF your breasts are very large or have the skin/bones, count to 60 and let them sit in the water for 20 minutes.
The Meal Plan
Weekends are perfecto for grilling and these kebabs are perfecto for lazy grilling, because they have all them meat and veg in one! Not into lamb? Use beef and these easy-AF kebabs (or skewers?) with pineapple and peppers are still delicious as hell. While you have the grill out, make the most of the early corn with elotes (grilled corn on the cob)!
Breakfast-for-dinner is usually a winner. This “chips and salsa casserole” is one of my favorites. I gave you a recipe to make the salsa, but for a lazy-ass meatless-Monday, use your favorite store-bought salsa. Tortilla chips, salsa, cheese, topped with a fried egg and served with beans if you want. (Oh boy, there’s also one of my favorite songs in this video!)
I made my own BBQ sauce for these shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches but you can totally buy a jar instead. Heat the shredded chicken (that you already poached over the weekend!) with some bbq sauce while you put together a light coleslaw and slice some onions and buns. Use that clean, crisp lettuce in the fridge to make a simple salad with tomatoes and cucumbers and Italian dressing. Buy your fave or start making your own with this Italian dressing recipe. It keeps in the fridge a few weeks.
You heard that right. Chili with beans. (Check this vegan chili recipe, if that’s more your jam.) Chili isn’t what most people think of when the weather is getting warm, but chili is good any time of year! It’s also great for busy, lazy weeks because once you get it all in the pot, it’s pretty much hands-off until dinner time. Chili also makes fantastic leftovers for lunch. Add a simple side salad like you did last night and turn it into Frito Pie for more fun at dinner.
Baked Salmon with Coconut Zoodles
Baking salmon — really any fish — is the best method for lazy people because it’s fast and easy and doesn’t smell up your house like frying. This baked salmon takes just 10-15 minutes, which is almost the exact amount of time it takes to pull together a cool salad with soba noodles, zucchini and coconut milk. Perfection. The salad keeps well in the fridge two days, so don’t be afraid to make extra for lunch the next day.
Use the rest of the coconut milk to make Mango Coconut smoothies for breakfast in the morning.
Snack! Spiced Candied Nuts
Make your own sweet, spicy nut mix for a fancy-seeming snack through the week. These are pretty lazy and require just an occasional stir in the oven while they cook for an hour or so. Do them at the same time you’re poaching your chicken and washing your lettuce. 😉 They also make a nice gift if you’re the giving sort.
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I was once invited in a Mexican home and the housewife brought some bread with a beanpaste on top. It was so good, I still remember this one. Do you have Mexican friends who know some similar recipe? I searched the YouTube channels, but couldn’t find any.
Try searching for molletes — it’s a bread sliced open, filled with refried beans and cheese and then broiled until melted. Let me know if that is what you remember.