Getting Ahead in the Kitchen...

You can get ahead in the kitchen in different ways.  For example, you can get ahead by making an extra meal or two when you can.  This can be done by simply doubling your soup ingredients and saving half for later.  Sometimes you can extend a recipe, even if you don't have enough to double everything.  And when you can make a few meals ahead of time, you can help others, including your own family.  I'd love to give a shout out to all of the caregivers out there, people who are caring for their partners.  Not having to make a meal can make a big difference.  Here's what I have been up to this September, so far:

 Turkey Pot Pie

 with mashed potato topping

 Butternut Squash Lasagna (I haven't tried this one yet as it was for the freezer, but hope to share a recipe once I have tried it).

 Black Bean Soup - this is a tried and true recipe (and very simple). I typically make this in the slow-cooker, but tried it in the instant pot and it worked very well.

 After I pureed the soup and then added corn.

 This soup is great with a few additions:  cheddar cheese, green onions, a dollop of sour cream, and/or crushed taco chips

 Butternut Squash and Coconut Soup

Another way you can get ahead is to look for sales in the weekly grocery flyers.  This is a practice I have done for years.  Sometimes you can find a really good deal and that deal can be what you plan your menu around.  For example, last week Save-On Foods had a buy one get one free sale on their seasoned turkey meat.  You could buy either taco or Italian seasoned.  While the sodium levels were not fabulous, considering what you add to the turkey, it stretches quite well and is not that bad.

 I cooked up three packages of turkey; then added three onions, garlic cloves, and peppers.  I tasted it and adjusted the seasoning, adding cumin and chili powder.

 I divided the portions into 4 and added one can of mixed beans into one of the portions, to be used right away.  The rest were frozen for later use.

 A bag of this is perfect for tacos, taco salad, or for making homemade soup.

Believe it or not, I was going to serve tacos...and actually went to the store to get taco shells, among other things...guess what?  I came home without the taco shells, so we had taco salad.