One from column A and one from column B: Mix and Match your way to simple but varied healthy food.

People who see my meals think that I spend a lot of time cooking elaborate meals for myself, when in reality I have developed a system for cooking in bulk, weighing out and freezing potions, then mixing them in different combinations to get some easy and delicious food.

Step 1) Fill your freezer with the following.

First the protein: Note-by freezing everything in half portions it gives more flexibility in food combinations and it fits in disposable 4 ounce portions containers. I cook and weigh out 3 ounce portions of black beans, cranberry beans and chick peas. I cook and weigh out 2 ounce portions of chopped chicken and chopped turkey. lean ground beef, lamb, chicken or beef.

Grain: I cook and weigh out 4 ounce portions of barley and brown rice pasta, and brown rice.

Vegetables: I cook and weigh out portions of the following:
 Baked soup veg,
 http://tiforoafood.blogspot.com/2010/12/super-easy-eggroll-stuffing.html
cooked tomatoes, onion and peppers,
baked onions and peppers.
cooked squash and onions

Now for the fun part:

Lomein: a portion of easy eggroll stuffing, any protein and a portion of brown rice pasta, add some soy sauce and spices, heat with a little bit of water and in 10 minutes from freezer to table you have a wonderful meal.

Hot and Sour Soup: a portion of easy egg roll stuffing, any protein and a portion of barley, soy sauce and a drop of vinegar and cayenne pepper. Heat together with a bit of water for 10 minutes .

Black bean soup: a portion of black beans, a portion of meat or chicken (or a full portion of just beans). a portion of baked soup vegetables, a portion of barley, and spices.  Put it in the crock pot before you leave for work and you come home to a delicious meal.

Cranberry Bean soup: same as above. change the beans and the spices and it tastes like a completely different soup.

Butternut Squash Soup: a portion of butternut squash, a portion of meat or chicken, a portion of barley in the crock pot before work and it makes a great dinner. 

 Butternut Squash Tomato Soup: a half portion of butternut squash,a half portion of cooked tomatoes,  a portion of meat or chicken, a portion of barley in the crock pot before work and it makes a great dinner.

Pasta with Meat: a half portion of cooked tomatoes, a half portion of baked onions, a portion of meat or chicken, and a portion of brown rice pasta, oregano, basil, and garlic, Cook together for 15 minutes and it is ready.

Quick omelets: microwave a portion of cooked vegetables and cook together with eggs.

Fried Rice and Veg: Mix together any combination of veg and protein with a portion of brown rice and soy sauce and garlic and a drop of water and it makes a great main dish in 10 minutes.

Really, the combinations are endless, as long as you start with a well stocked and varied freezer.

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail- A check list for a well stocked home.

Many people lose their abstinence because they did not have the right food in their house.  This is a check list for things that store well, and ideas for ways of combining them.  If you make sure that you always have a variety of preweighed portions ready, you will find it much easier to keep to your plan of eating.  If you cook in bulk, you will find that you will save a lot of time and have a nice variety of food by freezing preweighed portions. :

Pantry:

Cans of vegetables- mushrooms, green beans, bamboo shoots, beets, corn (make sure it does not have sugar), pickles, hearts of palm.  Make sure that some of them have flip tops so that you can take them with you.

Cans of tuna, sardines and salmon.

Cans of unsweetened fruit.

Rice cakes, spelt matza.

Butternut squash, onions and potatoes

Preweighed portions of oil.

Preweigted portions of oatmeal, and instant oatmeal.

Herb Tea

Mustard, spices, soy sauce

Refrigerator:

Eggs

 vacuum sealed bags of salad (if you buy the big ones from costco put it in a plastic container after you open it and it will keep much longer). and other fresh vegetables.

preweighed portions of fresh vegetables, fruit, protein, cooked grain

Freezer:

Preweiged portions of cooked barlely, brown rice pasta, or any other whole grain you like.

Preweighed portions of cooked veg including the following:
http://tiforoafood.blogspot.com/2010/12/super-easy-eggroll-stuffing.html
http://tiforoafood.blogspot.com/2010/06/turkish-eggplant.html

Cooked Beans freeze really well- store them in preweighed portions and mix with some cooked veg and you will have a great soup.

Preweiged portions of chicken and meat.

Chestnut "Stuffing"

Saute together: chopped onions, celery, mushroom and butternut squash till soft, add chestnuts and frozen corn.  Cook for a long time.  It takes on a texture of bread stuffing and is very satisfying. Add salt, pepper, sage and garlic to taste.

Quick Grilled Sweet Potatoes

If you forgot to prepare your potato in advance and you want to eat in a few minutes, this way of preparing a sweet potato is delicious.  I discovered it one day while grilling some Tofu and I had room on the side.

Spray a paper plate with Pam, slice a sweet potato thin and put it on the plate.  Microwave until it is soft.  Place it on a Forman Grill for a few minutes until it gets a bit crisp.

VEGETABLE KUGEL

Here's a recipe that i love. i eat this on friday afternoon when everyone else is eating potato kugel.

Boil or defrost a 16oz. bag og frozen vegetables. I like california mix the best. Drain well. Add a little salt. Sprinkle generously with onion powder. Add 1 tspn. oil and 1 egg. Mix well. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until the top is golden and the sides move away from the pan.