Between the pandemic and now the second ice-pocalypse of 2021, we’re all pretty much stuck inside and experiencing A LOT of cabin fever! And coming up with new recipes that keep the family filled has been a struggle.
Okay, so if you’re like me…. going to the grocery store has been a nightmare as well…OMG!!! For the past three days I have went to Randall’s to get necessities for daily use. It’s a shame that I can’t go to the grocery store and just buy groceries like I would do on a weekly basis prior to the Coronavirus. I have a child that has multiple food allergies, so grocery shopping for my family is not the same for the average family. So…. believe me when I tell you…. when I go into the grocery store and I see the shelves bare and empty…makes me upset and sad.
The question at hand the past week has been, what to cook for dinner. Now that we are stuck with each other ALL DAY…lol…it looks like I’m making meals three times a day. But my biggest meal of the day is always dinner. I’ve come ups with 3 great meals that I think your family will love during this Covid-19 social distancing time + extreme winter weather we are experiencing right now. These recipes are crowd pleasers in my house, I’m sure your family will love these as well.
Chicken and Waffles
My family LOVES when I make chicken and waffles!!! I try not to make fried foods for dinner, but when I do, this is on of maybe three that I will cook, and it’s not that often that I will cook this. I figured, hey why not…we’re all cooped up in this house looking at each other, why not cook them something that they love. I also make my own syrup for these waffles…yup that’s what I said!! I make my own syrup!! I started making this maybe 7 to 8 years ago. I did have to buy a waffle maker, don’t worry if you don’t have a waffle maker, just use pancake mix. Below I will share the links to the websites for the recipes for the chicken and waffles and the syrup that I use. Pinterest was a life saver in the early years when my kiddos was babies…. these two recipes are two that I keep going back to!!!
- https://grandbaby-cakes.com/chicken-and-waffles-recipe/
- https://www.creationsbykara.com/buttermilk-caramel-syrup/
Chili Bar with Fixings
I was never that person who was a fan of chili unless it was on a hotdog with cheese and onions. I never grew up in a house where my mom made homemade chili during the winter months, that’s just something that we just didn’t eat. My Bestie Katrina hooked me to the Pioneer Woman’s chili recipe last year. My family does not eat red meat or pork, we’re a fish, turkey and chicken family….so when the recipe called for ground beef, I just substituted the recipe for ground turkey, and it tasted great. I think that this would be a great option for the family until everything settles down with Covid-19, not to mention you can make it fun with options to top your chili off with. When I make this recipe, I have options available such as Fritos, chives, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced avocados, sour cream, and jalapeños. I always make a fresh batch of hot sweet honey cornbread to go with my chili!! Y’all this stuff is so good!! Let me tell you, it’s not complicated to make either, lol!!! I purchase the Zatarain’s Honey Butter Cornbread Mix (purchase 2 boxes), follow the directions on the box. The only thing that I do different is add my own honey to the mix, I don’t measure it……I just squeeze until I feel that I’ve squeezed enough!! Below I will add the links to the Pioneer Woman’s recipe for her chili, Zatarain’s Honey Butter Cornbread Mix, and a recipe for her vegetarian chili as well. Remember if you don’t eat red meat just omit the ground beef and add ground turkey or ground chicken.
- https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/simple-perfect-chili-recipe-2107099
- https://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/veggie-chili/
- https://www.heb.com/product-detail/zatarain-s-honey-butter-cornbread-mix/2109528
Stuffed Baked Potatoes
- During football season when I have at least two high school football games to attend during the week, and then I have to attend my daughters middle school football games or volleyball games because I’m the athletic booster club president…..this recipe is a go getter for me. This recipe is one that is so quick and easy, no one will complain I promise!! I usually try to have different options of meats for the kids to stuff their potatoes with, for example pulled chicken or barbecue pulled chicken, turkey bacon, pork bacon (for my oldest son), chives, shredded cheese, and sour cream. I try to buy the largest (in size) potatoes at H-E-B that I can find, but I have come to find that Sam’s Club and Costco sell’s bagged potatoes that are extremely large. Make sure that you clean your potatoes, scrub them until you see all the dirt come off. I like to cook my potatoes in the instant pot, they cook way faster than in the oven or on the grill (or you can cook them in the oven). If you chose to cook your potatoes in the instant pot try to make sure that you use potatoes that are similar in size, if you can fit 4 to 5 in your pot that’s a great number to start with. Make sure that you pierce your potatoes with a fork multiple times so that they won’t explode. You can cook your russet potatoes in your instant pot safely to these times.
- Small Russet Potatoes 6 to 8 ounces- 12 minutes at high pressure.
- Medium Russet Potatoes 8 to 10 ounces- 15 minutes at high pressure.
- Large Russet Potatoes 10 to 12 ounces -18 minutes at high pressure.
I usually buy H-E-B pulled chicken that’s ready made, this is something that is quick and easy….no time to be in the kitchen all evening when you’ve been in the house for days in and out. Once the potatoes are done take them out of the instant pot, slice them open, stuff them with your meat, and load them high with your toppings and enjoy!!
I hope that these recipes are something that you can enjoy with your loved one’s while being stuck in the house all day. Take this opportunity to spend this time with your loved ones, have family dinners, hold meaningful conversations with each other. Often, we get wrapped up with the business of life that we take for granted family dinners and spending quality time with your family. Let this be a opportunity for us all to bond with our loved ones over food.
