Living in a Remodel - It's Not For Sissies! How to Survive a Home Renovation (part four)
We have been talking about living in your home while renovating. And I’m sharing a few things with you that we have found make life a little more bearable while we’re living in a remodel.
Today we’re going to talk about how
YOUR SLOW COOKER AND MICROWAVE ARE YOUR BEST FRIENDS DURING YOUR REMODEL
When you’re in throws of a DIY remodel, you’re tired by the end of the day. I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to do is cook dinner!
This is where your slow cooker will become your best friend.
Now I’m not talking about some slow cooker recipes that take an hour or more in the morning to prepare and put into the pot…
I’m talking about 2-minutes-into-the-pot-and-turn-it-on ideas.
Quick effortless meals that will greet you at dinner time.
All cooked.
And really tasty.
These are meals that we enjoy regularly. Even though we currently have a fully functioning kitchen. Because we haven’t started that project yet…
So extra points for you if you are in the middle of a kitchen remodel!
Italian Sausage in Marinara Sauce
Toss about 6 raw Italian Sausages into your slow cooker (we like Jennie-O Sweet Italian Lean Turkey Sausage). Pour a jar (about 25 oz) of your favorite marinara sauce over them. Cover. Cook on low until done - about 6 hours. Serve over pasta. You can even avoid having to cook the pasta by using a ready-made variety.
Pork Verde Burritos
Toss a raw lean pork tenderloin into your slow cooker. Pour a jar of green verde sauce over it. We like Signature Select Salsa Verde 24 oz. Cover. Cook on low until done - about 6 hours. When cooked, shred the meat. Serve on flour tortillas (rolled into a burrito) , with jack cheese and sour cream.
Chicken Tacos
Toss a large raw chicken breast into your slow cooker. Pour a jar of red salsa over it. Cover. Cook on low until done - about 6 hours. Shred the meat when done. Serve in taco shells with cheese, tomato and avocado.
BBQ Pulled Pork
Toss a raw lean pork tenderloin into your slow cooker. Pour a bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce over it. Cover. Cook on low until done - about 6 hours. Shred the meat when done. Serve on hamburger buns.
Taco Soup
This one takes a little longer because you have to cook the ground turkey and onion first. But it’s so good! Toss into your slow cooker:
1 lb lean ground turkey cooked with 1 chopped onion
2 (16oz) cans chili style pinto beans undrained
1 can (16 oz) black chili beans undrained
1 can (16 oz) whole kernel Mexican style corn undrained
1 can (16oz) chopped tomatoes undrained
1 small jar Pace Picante chunky salsa (mild)
1 can (4oz) chopped green chilies
1 package taco seasoning
Still all together. Cover and cook on low about 6 hours.
Serve in bowls and top with tortilla strips, sour cream, shredded cheese and ripe avocado slices.
Serve any of the above main courses with a side of salad or other favorite veggie and you’re good to go!
Now here is where your microwave will become your best friend:
We all know that it’s great for re-heating food. And we certainly use it a lot for that.
But the thing that makes my microwave my best friend is —
MUG CAKE!
Quick. Easy. Decadence. IN A COFFEE CUP.
Individual size.
Just for me.
When my house is under construction. And I’m tired.
But I need just a little something C H O C O L A T E
So here’s a really good Mug Cake recipe
Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake
Chocolate Mug Cake
Whisk together in a coffee mug:
3 TBSP all purpose flour
3 TBSP sugar
2 TBSP cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
tiny dash of salt
Add:
3 TBSP whole milk
3 TBSP vegetable oil
splash of vanilla
3 TBSP chocolate chips (optional)
Stir with a fork until smooth and microwave for 90 seconds
Cool 2 minutes.
Top with whipped cream or ice cream.
Enjoy!
Due to health issues I need to live a low sugar/low fat lifestyle. And I’m thinking there might also be some of you out there that are following the same lifestyle. So I’m sharing my version of Mug Cake that is low glycemic and lower fat.
Now we can have our cake and eat it too!!
PS It’s so rich, I only eat 1/3 of it at a time…
Low Glycemic/Lower Fat Chocolate Mug Cake
Whisk together in a soup mug or 2 cup ramekin:
1/4 C white whole wheat flour
2 TBSP cocoa powder
1 TBSP coconut sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
Add:
1 TBSP liquid coconut oil
1/4 tsp vanilla
3 TBSP Kithul syrup or Agave
Mix together well with a fork.
Microwave on high for 40 seconds or until a toothpick comes out clean.
When cool, I top it with a ‘frosting’ I make that is about 1TBSP softened low fat cream cheese sweetened with about 1tsp Kithul or Agave and a dash of vanilla.
Enjoy!
If you missed any of the other parts of this series, you can read them here:
(part one) CREATE A SANCTUARY SPACE
(part two) THERE WILL BE DUST
(part three) IMPROVISE STORAGE SOLUTIONS
(part five) TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF