It is a matter of getting organized.

I put the meat on first since I want it cooked thoroughly and it gets more tender with time, in this case 25 minutes.

So, let’s say I put the pork chops in the pan with a little water, spice it with worcheshire sauce, garlic salt and Nature’s Seasoning and cover.

While the pork chops are cooking, I take some Zattaran yellow rice out. I get the water boiling and add the butter.

Then I open a can of green beans, drain and rinse off a couple times while still in the can. Pour into a pan, add water that covers the beans with half an inch more on top. Don’t overfill because the water has to get hot before it starts cooking. I add Nature’s Seasoning or sometimes a slice of bacon for flavoring. My mom cooks her canned green beans for hours and I swear, they taste just like fresh picked green beans.

By this time, the water is boiling for the rice. I add the rice into the water, stir, put on low and cover. Flip the pork chops and then add more spices or BBQ sauce. If you want to run take a shower, make sure you have enough water in the pork chops so they don’t burn.

That took all of five minutes. Everything is going so I set the table. Remember to try the Goodwill dishes–different place settings. It helps to change the look of the meal.

Have you tried the frozen biscuits that are quick frozen individually? Pillsbury makes them but there are a lot of different companies making them. They take about twenty minutes so turn your oven on before you even put the meat on. I wouldn’t put the biscuits in until after I get everything else going.

Another thing, my mom and I love jellied cranberry sauce. I decided a few years ago that it is a shame to just eat it for Thanksgiving and Christmas so I keep a can in the refrigerator at all times. One can lasts for at least two meals for the two of us. We actually eat it instead of something sweet after dinner.

It only takes about five minutes to get that meal cooking. The rice and biscuits both take about 20 minutes to cook so you have time to set the table, throw a load of laundry in the washer, go to the restroom, feed the dogs, pour yourself a glass of wine, etc.

I know it isn’t fun to work all day and then immediately walk into the kitchen to start dinner. And it makes your day even longer if you have to run by the grocery store before you can cook. That’s why it is important to shop smart. Buy meat in larger portions, individually wrap and freeze. Keep rice, mac and cheese and even hamburger helper on hand. I keep sweet potatoes and white russett (ONLY) on hand, too. Then keep canned green beans, frozen corn, frozen broccoli, frozen califlower, frozen brussel sprouts for example. Keep your cupboards full. Frozen vegetables ROCK. I steam them and it only takes minutes. When I don’t want to make a mess, I put a russett potato in the microwave. Poke holes in potato first.

Make grocery lists. If possible, plan two or three meals a head of time making sure you have all the ingredients.

Either while you are eating your dinner or when you are cleaning up, take out something from the freezer for your dinner tomorrow. If for some reason, you don’t end up cooking dinner the next night, the meat will keep for an additional day. So, if you see you don’t have something for dinner that you need for tomorrow’s meal, go to the grocery store that night, not on the way home from work. The grocery stores are not nearly as crowded after dinner as they are right after work so you aren’t the only one who does that.

I have found that since I grocery shop smarter, I really enjoy fixing a nice meal for dinner. There is no hassle because everything I need is at my fingertips.

If you look in my freezer, you will see individually wrapped pork chops, cube steak, hamburger meat, fish, steaks, roast, and chicken. Then I have frozen vegetables, a couple bottles of frozen water for my husband’s lunches, bacon, hot dogs, a frozen DiGirono pizza, perogies, bagels, loaf of bread, frozen biscuits and etc. I guess I treat my kitchen as a restaurant. I keep stocked up.

If you have room in your freezer, always keep a loaf of bread in there. When you take it out, and it thaws, it tastes so fresh. It always annoyed me to have to run to the store to get a loaf of bread or a carton of milk. With the high cost of gas, that loaf of bread just got real expensive.

Well, this is a long post so I will stop now.

My sister, Cindy mentioned she would like more information on getting food on the table fast. My husband loves that I can walk in the door and we can sit down to eat within half an hour.

Part of it is being ready to cook when I walk in the door. I buy food that is fast to fix. I remember to take something out either the night before or in the morning or have back-up quick foods.

I buy ground beef or ground chuck and divide it into one pound portions and freeze in aluminum foil or freezer bags. Frozen hamburger meat is so versatile. You can cook it on the stove with some water for faster cooking and then you can make taco salad, chili, sandwiches (sloppy joes) or even hamburger helper meals. This part of my back-up plan when I forget to take something out for dinner.

I buy T-bones or Ribeyes on sale and have them cut into 3/4 inch steaks so they cook faster. I individually wrap them in aluminum foil or in a freezer bag. Don’t freeze them together because they take much longer to thaw.

Pork chops, buy in bulk on sale, wrap individually. You can grill the pork chops with onions, or steam them and and add BBQ sauce or make gravy with them.

The gravy is just a matter of taking a cup or so of cold water, adding a tablespoon of all purpose floor and stirring until totally dissolved. Then add the flour mixture to pork chops when the chops are done and cooking on low. Stir until the gravy mixes well with juices and starts thickening. If it gets too thick, just add some tap water. Add a little worcheshire sauce for flavoring. You can add a package of pork seasoning to make the gravy if you prefer.

Chicken…I buy the frozen chicken breasts that are boneless. They are individually frozen (IQF-Individually Quick Frozen)so that helps. Just throw the package of breasts in the freezer. They are ready when you are. This is another “oops, I forgot to take something out meal”.

Steam and spice the chicken the way you like (BBQ, grilled with lemon pepper, etc).  Be brave, add soy sauce or teriyaki.  lol

Another quick meal is make a salad and then chop up the grilled chicken and throw on top. My favorite salad is served with lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, shredded cheese, boiled egg and chicken with Ranch Dressing.

I also like to keep boiled eggs on hand. Great for salads or a quick egg salad sandwich. Egg salad sandwiches are great for breakfast, too. You can eat it on the run. Better than a donut.

I have already written about making roasts by cooking them overnight and then make french dip sandwiches with the leftovers.

And then who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner occasionally. We only have a big breakfast on weekends so it is great to have bacon, egg, cheese bagels and home-fried potatoes during the week.

Okay, that’s how to do the meat part of the meal quickly.

My husband has hypoglocemia and needs to eat 6 small meals a day to keep his sugar regulated. I was packing his lunch to save money but realized the things I was packing were really not good for him though they were quick and easy to pack…. processed meat sandwiches, chips, pepsis, cookies.

Now, I buy 4 or 5 pounds of ground beef meat and make them into 4 ounce hamburger patties. Place in a frying pan and add Worcheshire Sauce, garlic salt and Nature’s Seasoning to taste. I have a large frying pan and it holds seven patties. I sometimes cook 30 or so patties if the hamburger meat is on sale. After they are cooked thoroughly and cooled for about 5 minutes, I wrap each one individually with aluminum foil. I use one of those plastic shoe box size containers to store them in the freezer.

I have been buying ground beef for $l.49 a pound and I continue to stock up on it when it is on sale so I keep about thirty patties in the freezer at all times. The frozen patty only takes about 2 minutes in the microwave. Calvin usually bakes his potato first (4 minutes) and then puts the vegetable and meat in together for about 2 minutes. So it takes about six minutes but he is busy getting his drink and setting up his eating area during that time.

Sometimes I buy boneless pork chops and cook up about six of them using my steam process so it is fast and tender. Again, cool and wrap in aluminum foil and freeze. You need variety.

I have also found those frozen chicken breasts (on sale for $5.99 a bag – 2 lbs) work really well, too. I usually just cook up about four or six servings at a time.

I buy frozen vegetables like broccoli florets, califlower, and brussel sprouts (his choices). I also buy sweet potatoes and a bag of russet potatoes for baking.

So I pack two bottles of water (one frozen to keep things colder and for a refreshing drink on the way home), two hamburger patties, either a sweet potato or russet potato, and one of the frozen vegetable, and two pieces of fruit (usually peach, apple or banana). Plus, a small plate and silverware. This only works if you have access to a microwave at work.

The people at work are so jealous when he sits down to a hamburger (sometimes I add a bun) with a baked potato and broccoli with a fresh fruit for dessert. They think I am a wonderful wife.

I sometimes pack leftovers, too but skip a day when you pack it. If we have country fried steak on Monday, I pack a piece of it for Wednesday’s lunch.

I don’t know if this will help anyone but it could make your lunches more interesting and healthier. It takes me about 2 minutes to pack his lunch.

2 bottles of water, 2 meats, 2 vegetables, 2 fruits