What to Cook (Mar 30 – Apr 3): Adaptable Pantry Dinners
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What to Cook (Mar 23-27): Adaptable Pantry Dinners
Adaptable Pantry Dinners: If you have a pantry stocked with beans, rice, tuna, and such, we’re putting those ingredients to good use with these adaptable pantry dinners.
One of the ways I cope with difficult times, is to cook my way through it. Whether I “feel” like it or not.
The family must eat. And I find that as I immerse myself in providing for their needs, I’m also fulfilling mine.
It’s strange how serving others can help heal difficult days.
Baking sweet treats help too. And I’ve been doing a LOT of that lately.
While food supply shortages in certain cities continue to difficult, we’re scheduling a second week of pantry friendly dinners.
Adaptable pantry dinners.
I’m writing next week’s menu with the idea that these recipe ingredients are easily swapped for something you may already have on hand. So be creative!
RELATED: How to Stock Your Pantry
I’d love to hear how you’re doing — and what tips and recipes you’ve found that work well in these unique times.
Have a great week everyone!
RELATED: More 31Daily Dinner Ideas >>
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What to Eat This Week: Adaptable Pantry Dinners
Monday: Brothy Pasta with Chickpeas
Tuesday: Chicken Burrito Bowls
Wednesday: Curry Lentil Soup
Thursday: Easy Fried Rice
Friday: Pasta with Tuna
Treat: Depression Era Chocolate Cake
What to Cook (Mar 30 - Apr 3): Adaptable Pantry Dinners
Adaptable Pantry Dinners: With a pantry stocked with beans, rice, tuna, and such, we're putting those ingredients to good use with these adaptable pantry dinners.
Monday: Brothy Pasta with Chickpeas
This classic Roman dish is perfectly adaptable to what you have in your pantry and even freezer. Swap out the pasta for what you have on hand and add in any vegetables you have in your refrigerator or freezer. Swap fresh herbs for dried -- and dinner is done! Maybe add some homebaked bread?
Tuesday: Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls
Swap out whatever meat you have. I like to have boneless skinless thighs in the freezer, so I'll use those. No pressure cooker? Simply double the chicken broth to 2 cups and cook until the rice and chicken are both done.
"This Instant Pot Burrito Bowl is a 20-minute, one-pot dinner that is incredibly delicious. Mexican spices blend to cook tender, pull apart chicken with black beans, corn, and rice... in one irresistible bowl."
Wednesday: Instant Pot Curry Lentil Soup
Vegetarian Instant Pot Curry Lentil Soup is a hearty, vegetable-packed soup, infused with warm curry flavors. Made quick and simple in the Instant Pot." Make a double batch of rice and save half for tomorrow's Easy Fried Rice!
Thursday: Easy Fried Rice
Another meal idea that's supercustomizable, use this easy fried rice recipe as a starting point, and improvise as you go along.
Friday: Pasta With Tuna
Another mix and match pantry dinner recipe. I'm omitting the anchovies, swapping fresh herbs for dry, and making fresh bread crumbs.
"There are about a gazillion ways to cook pasta using other pantry staples — things like garlic, bread crumbs, pecorino, capers, olives and especially, canned fish.
This recipe, pasta with tuna, anchovies and capers, showered with lots of green herbs and scallions, is one of my family’s household favorites. I like it with a long, thin, twirlable pasta — spaghetti, linguine or bucatini — but you can use whatever pasta you have on hand."
Treat: Depression Cake
This Chocolate Depression Cake comes from that time. Just one bite and you’d never realize that there are no eggs, or milk. It’s moist, with a rich chocolate flavor.
The original recipe didn’t have frosting, and it doesn’t need it. You can just dust a little powdered sugar on top. Me, I like frosting, and we’re not in a depression, so why do without it?
More Weekly Dinner Plans
Check out all our weekly dinner meal plans here……