Want to know one of my latest tricks as I work to keep life simple (but still healthy) in the kitchen? While I’ve been working to have main dishes prepared ahead of time – when it comes time to serve the meal, we need a salad and/or veggie to go with it. No problem. Steaming veggies or tossing a salad together is super fast and easy.
But here’s what’s even faster: Throw down all of the salad fixings and let everyone make their own salad.
Is it just me, or does it appear that someone really should fill those empty jars of salad dressing?
Here’s what this looks like at dinner time at our house:
1. I had prepared a casserole last week and put it in the freezer.
2. At 4pm, I put the frozen casserole into the oven, turned the oven on to 250°, and let the casserole thaw/bake for two hours.
3. I wipe the sweat off my brow after that laborious twelve seconds of hard work.
4. At 5:50, I realize the casserole will soon be ready, so I decide to get out salad stuff.
5. I ask one boy to wash lettuce, another to wash tomatoes, another to get out salad dressing.
6. The casserole is taken out of the oven, the salad fixings are out, and everyone comes to the kitchen to fix a plate.
7. Each of us takes a scoop of casserole, then grabs some lettuce leaves. We all tear our lettuce onto our plates, grab tomatoes, choose our dressing, then sit down to eat together.
Even very young children can tear their own lettuce for a salad. And what kid doesn’t love being given permission to tear, rip, break, or shred their food? It’s like a salad eating privilege.
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You will love this!
It is obvious that you worked entirely too hard in the kitchen today. I hope you had the boys clean up the dinner mess while you sat in a comfy chair with you feet up! :-)
“It’s like a salad eating privilege. ” Probably the funniest thing I read today.
You should make t-shirts.
Love all these tips :)
I love this! I am often faced with left over lettuce or salad which never keeps…and this would fix that!
I like the name of your foundation!!!
What kind of casserole is it? So it went from frozen to baked in 2 hours?
It’s the Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole from my {Healthy} Make-Ahead Meals and Snacks ebook. It’s become a new favorite! https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/how-to-get-ahead-with-real-food-make-ahead-meals-ecourse-and-ebook-now-available
Oh, and yes, most of my casseroles go into the oven frozen, at low temp, then are ready to eat in two hours. :)
I have to say, I love your written sense of humor. It lands well. :)