Do of you despise grocery shopping like I do? I've done grocery shopping with the kids in the car carts. I've done it by bribing my kids with candy. I've done it after the kids go to bed. No matter how I do it, I HATE it. I hate seeing the register amount go up and up, then leaving feeling like I really didn't leave with much. Am I the only one that feels that way?
I have a tendency to think that if I don't go shopping, then I'm not spending money, so it's a win. In the long run, I know its not because we either:
1)run out of food that my family wants to eat so we go OUT to eat
2) run out of any kind of healthy food and result in eating junk
So it's really a losing battle. I just need to suck it up and go shopping.
Keeping in mind that I had an empty fridge, I took a mental note of what I did have (not much) and looked online for something I could make. The first search came up with Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Muffins. I had ground chicken breast (check). It only took 20 mins in the oven (I'll take it because I was procrastinating). I quickly jotted down the recipe and my baking/cooking buddy immediately asked "Mom, help you?" and up on the counter he went. He helped me measure the spices (great of hand/eye coordination and counting) and scooped the mini meatloaves into the muffin tin (yet another great hand/eye activity).
He loves stealing water from my water stash. It's really the only time he likes drinking water. While I refilled the water bottle, he snapped a few pics.
The finished product. Super simple and delicious. I will be making these again for sure!
Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Muffins
Source: http://www.food.com
2 large
eggs
1 1⁄2
lbs ground chicken
6
tablespoons dried breadcrumbs {I used ground oatmeal}
3⁄4 teaspoon dried basil (or 2 t
chopped fresh basil)
3⁄4 teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 t fresh
thyme)
3⁄4 teaspoon dried oregano (or 2 t
chopped fresh oregano)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1⁄2 small onion, chopped small or
grated
3⁄4 teaspoon table salt
1⁄3 teaspoon black pepper
1 1⁄2
ounces grated parmesan
cheese (about 3/4 cup)
3⁄4 cup pasta sauce
3 ounces low
fat shredded mozzarella
cheese (3/4 cup) { I used freshly grated Parmesan}
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F Spray a muffin
tin with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, beat together egg until
combined. Add everything else except pasta sauce, mozzarella cheese, and
optional herbs. Mix gently to combine; do not over mix or compress the mixture
too firmly.
3. Divide evenly into 12 wells of muffin
tin. Divide pasta sauce evenly over the top of each portion (about 1 tbsp).
Bake 20 minutes.
4. Top each portion with about 1 tbsp
shredded cheese and return to oven until cheese is melted and bubbly, 3-5
minutes.