Cooking for a family of five is not an easy task.
Everyone has different tastes, different time schedules and with picky eaters – forget about it!
Trying to save money and eating healthy is more important than ever these days, and shopping on a budget is hard work.
Luckily, in California, fruits and vegetables are reasonably priced and really fresh.
Unfortunately, not everybody enjoys the taste of healthier food and some people refuse to even try new things—especially kids.
If you would like to make a delicious home cooked meal, but also sneak some unheard of healthy ideas into the mix, then this is definitely for you.
A Delicious Chicken Dinner For Up To Five People:
Skinless chicken breast – almost two pounds $3.22
Potatoes- almost two pounds $1.49
Garbanzo beans – one can $0.89
Baby carrots – small bag $1.49
Weber White Wine & Herb Marinade – one packet $0.89
This recipe only cost $7.98 and was quite delicious if I do say so myself.
I shopped at my local Albertsons grocery store. I kept my eye out for sales, used my “preferred card,” and was even tempted to search online for coupons.
Cooking this meal took less than forty minutes, and left my kitchen with minimal mess.
To save time, add the chicken to a one-gallon plastic bag with the marinade the night before.
Step 1: Wash and cut the potatoes and get them into boiling water.
Though I peeled off the skin because of the picky children I was cooking for, most of the nutrients are really in the skin so keep it attached if you can!
Potatoes are a very low-calorie food filled with vitamin C, vitamin B6 and potassium.
Step 2: Remove marinated chicken from baggie and cook your favorite way. For example, you could barbeque, broil or grill it.
I simply placed the raw chicken inside of my stoneware casserole dish and put it in the microwave for 20 minutes on high.
This will result in a very tender chicken breast.
I highly recommend investing in a stoneware casserole dish if you love to cook easy and delicious meals.
Step3: Drain one can of garbanzo beans and pulse in a blender until it reaches the texture of a paste. Set aside one cup.
Garbanzo beans are also referred to as chickpeas and contain high amounts of dietary fiber and protein.
Step 4: Add the carrots to boiling pot of water and let simmer until soft.
Carrots have an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin K.
Try adding a few teaspoons of brown sugar to the water to change the taste for a sweeter palette.
Step 5: Drain the soft potatoes in a colander, and place them into the bowl they are being served in. Begin to mash together with one cup milk and 2/3 cup butter or margarine.
For a creamier texture try adding a few tablespoons of sour cream, but beware of the high saturated fat value now added to the meal.
Step 6: Gradually add in the blended paste of garbanzo beans to taste.
I added the entire cup and had no complaints from my family, but remember, the point is to use the mashed potatoes to mask the taste of the garbanzo beans, so don't over do it for yourself.
Step 7: Serve plates of appropriate portions.
Consider that meat should not be the most abundant item on your plate. Load up on the carrots and any other seasonal vegetables that your heart desires.
Realize that potatoes are healthy, but are considered to be a starch, not a vegetable.
Garbanzo beans were added to the potatoes for important nutrients not normally taken in with a typical dinner.
And most importantly enjoy!
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| these are my two picky eaters enjoying their scrumptious supper |
