Mary's Go-To Recipes

Thanks for the creative inspiration Alisa because it's truly all about the easy repeating meals we make.  I appreciate having some variety but always come back to my staple meals and actually base all of my food storage on these 10 meals because I don't want to have to eat boring food in my food storage and I also don't want to think too hard to have a delicious dinner. 

Real Italian Lasagna: I always make 2 and freeze one.  I've submitted the recipe already.  Packed with veggies.
Burritos: Sweet pork in the crockpot, black beans, and cilantro lime rice.
White Chili: This is an easy one for storage because I will even have some canned chicken in storage.
Spaghetti and Meatballs: make your own or costco bag lasts about 6 months
Meatballs and rice: Go with an asian sauce and veggies.
Taco Soup: no brainer...
Not Your Mammas Meatloaf: Make 2 or 3 and have them in the freezer. (recipe already submitted)
3 Cheese Chicken Penne: So easy, so good, so wonderful.  I will submit if it's not already on.
Pork Chops with Balsamic Pear Sauce: My main staple.  I make this 2x's a month because it makes us all so happy.  Will Submit if it's not here...
Minestrone Soup: Throw in whatever you've got.  Either base it on chicken or Sausage, then choose rice or pasta, then add all the veggies you can find and a bay leaf and VIOLA!
Breakfast Burritos: This happens when we've got nothing else and it's always good.  Omelet style eggs/veggies and whip it up quick and dirty.
Pear and Red Onion Pizza: If you're doing a girl thing like book club or VT lunch or a special lunch date with the hubs.. this is it.  The gist of it is: pre-made crust, Cook 1 large red onion in butter and add some sugar until caramelized.  The onion is your "sauce".  Add sliced fresh pear and Gorgonzola or feta cheese.  Cook for 10 min at 400 or until melted.  Remove from oven and top with spring mix greens, sliced tomato, hazelnuts, and drizzle with Blue Cheese Dressing.  YOUR WELCOME!
Thai Coconut Hay Stacks: Cook the chicken in a pan and then add cumin and coconut milk instead of doing haystacks with traditional cream or chicken.  Thai toppings: Sugar snap peas, pineapple, mandarin oranges, raw Chinese noodles, scrambled eggs, etc.

Some of my "go-to" recipes/meals

While these aren't recipes, I thought I'd share some of my go-to meals.  You know, the meals I put together with very little effort, with relative frequency, and generally without needing a recipe.

• Sausage, eggs & rice

• Scramble some eggs, cook some rice, slice kielbasa (beef or turkey) and heat it in a skillet. Serve with syrup and/or soy sauce. It does not get easier, although it does require three pans if you want it all ready at the same time. We eat this at least twice a month.  The beef kielbasa is better, but the turkey has WAY less fat. I buy it on sale (Hillshire farms is our favorite). 
• Tacos/burritos and Mexican rice
• Sweet bean burritos
• Buttermilk waffles
• Teriyaki chicken and rice
• Spaghetti and meatballs
• I have a crazy easy meatball recipe and they freeze terrifically. 12-16 oz of ground meat, 1 egg, 1/3 C Italian bread crumbs. Bake for 20 minutes on 350, turn over and bake for another 15.
• Crock Pot pulled pork
• Katie's veggie mac and cheese
• Huevos rancheros
• Choppe BBQ chicken salad
• Taquitos

I'm sure there are others so I'll come back and add if/when I think about it.  In the spirit of Alyson's call to revamp the blog (and her recent posts), at the very least a few more "go-to" meal ideas would be helpful.  I'm always looking for ideas, regardless of how mundane they might seem.

So, perhaps everyone else should add their ideas, too, hint hint!  :)