Addie loves the refried beans at the Mexican restaurant here in town. When we go there, she’s always begging everyone for their beans so when she and I went yesterday, I got her an extra side order of beans. I told her we could make them at home. She is skeptical. They may not taste exactly like the beans at the restaurant. I think mine are better but different may not work for her but we’re having them tonight so I needed something to go with the beans.
I found this recipe for Mexican Meat Patties with Corn Salsa. Even using just 1/2 pound of ground pork and 1/2 pound of ground beef, because it’s rolled out very thin, we’re going to only use a small portion of the meat mixture so I’m going to freeze some of it, already made into thin patties, with parchment paper between so all Nicole will have to do is let them almost defrost, brown them, chop up the salsa ingredients and come up with a side dish and she’ll have dinner ready.
I’m going to put the corn (which I’m actually cooking just a little), the cilantro, the red onion, the avocado and I’m adding chopped tomato – put it all in separate bowls so everyone can get just what they want. I’m also using bell pepper instead of serrano pepper but at home I would use jalapeno pepper. Then the lime juice will be separate and we can all add it as we want it.
Because the smallest package of ground pork at the store was 2 pounds, tomorrow I’ll mix the remaining 1-1/2 pounds of pork with 1/2 pound of ground beef left over, add seasonings and make meatballs. We can have spaghetti, red sauce and meatballs and there will be enough of that left to freeze for them to have another meal when I’m gone back to Texas.
It’s hard for someone who doesn’t like to cook to grasp how much easier it is to put meals on the table – which we all need to do – if you just plan ahead and do a bit of cooking head. I’m hoping to help Nicole figure that out but I do understand that’s just not something she enjoys. Her house is always spotless and she’d probably like to teach me how to keep a neat house . . and that’s not ever going to happen!
dezertsuz says
The two-for-one is definitely the way to go. Making a bunch of meals on one day works, too. When I lived alone, I would make stew and eat it all week, because I’m not at all picky about leftovers and don’t get tired of what I like. LOL You can’t do that to your family, though, unless you have no other options. =)
Nelle Coursey says
If she really wants to clean a house she is more than welcome to come to mine! I gave that up a long time ago and it shows!! You know what it is like when you have a husband who wants you right there when he wants you there! I decided the housework can wait and I will be with him as long as I can!
Twyla Starr says
I have been talking to my granddaughter-in-law about preparing two or three roasts at a time and freezing two for later use. Making two or three meatloaves at a time and spaghetti sauce and taco filling.. As I age I am not up to standing in the kitchen all afternoon and especially wit cleanup once not two or three times. Or if the kids are coming it is nice to just thaw out the meat already prepared and add side dishes. It would make meals easier for them when they are camping.
Jackie says
It takes as much effort to make a double batch as it does one. The payoff comes on that evening when you’re dragging yourself home from work and get a great dinner made with so little effort.
Judy Laquidara says
That’s how I look at it.