Fast and affordable are two words that are always music to my ears, especially where food is involved! But I’m not talking about the stuff with freezer burn; I’m talking about the good stuff your entire family will love because it’s homemade. What about time? If you have about an hour, or even a little less to spare, then you’re set!

We invited Aggie from Aggie’s Kitchen to be this week’s Tips and Tricks Friday special guest! You might know her as the talented blogger who never fails to dish up delicious looking food, but did you know she also has quite a few tips to pass along? She’ll tell us how to use up the leftovers and even how to make our own fast food at home, and we’re not just talking about burgers. For instance, take a look at her Mexican Baked Penne! I guarantee your kiddos will lick their plates clean if you serve that up for dinner tonight!

I’ll be the first to admit that my kids don’t always eat what I cook them. It’s a constant guessing game what they are going to like, but it really doesn’t stop me from trying. They are still young and are developing their tastes so I am really trying to introduce as many new and different foods to them as I can. It’s a work in progress. And if your house is like mine the hour before dinnertime, then I know it’s a challenge to find a lot of time to prepare and put a healthy meal on the table for your family.
I am surviving the balancing act (barely and not always!), and trying to keep things fast and affordable, with these few things always in mind…

Keep a stocked pantry, freezer and spice rack.
As much as I love cooking with fresh ingredients, you have to have a few shortcuts up your sleeve when dealing with a busy household. Keeping your pantry and freezer stocked really helps you on those days where you don’t have time to shop for a certain missing ingredient, or are lacking in ideas for dinner. Some of my favorite meals have come right from the pantry using simple ingredients such as pasta, beans, onions and canned tomatoes. And it really is worth it to stock up your freezer with items such as chicken or lean ground beef or turkey when they go on sale. So many meals can be made just by throwing a few of these items together to make a fast and affordable dinner. You can always alter flavors based on your family’s tastes by experimenting with different dried seasonings and spices.

One family favorite is Mexican Baked Penne. Most everything in this baked pasta dish comes from your pantry and freezer, with the exception of the shredded cheese and bell pepper. Pasta, salsa, ground beef, onions, and black beans are inexpensive staples that I usually have on hand and use often. A meal like Mexican Baked Penne can even be prepared ahead of time and be ready for you to throw in the oven at dinnertime.

Here are a few items that I recommend you have your pantry, freezer and spice rack stocked up with:
Pantry items
assorted canned beans (black, garbanzo, cannellini)
assorted canned tomatoes (crushed, sauce, diced)
bread crumbs (plain, seasoned, panko)
canned artichokes and mushrooms
jarred olives and capers
chicken stock (low sodium)
salsa
assorted pasta shapes
rice and other quick cooking grains such as couscous and barley
onions
garlic
assorted freezer bag sizes for storing leftovers in freezer

Freezer:
lean ground beef and turkey
skinless chicken breasts
boneless, skinless chicken thighs
frozen seafood such as tilapia, salmon and shrimp
assorted frozen vegetables

Spices:
Italian blend
assorted dried herbs such as cilantro, oregano, parsley and basil]
garlic powder
chili powder
cumin
cinnamon
grill seasonings

Recreate your favorite restaurant meals.
A lot of the meals I make are usually inspired by something I ate out at a restaurant. Pizza is probably the easiest and first to come to mind. I’m sure most households, especially ones with kids, hold pizza as a going out to eat favorite like we do. We have become regulars at a local pizzeria over the years but have found that sometimes it’s just easier and more affordable to eat at home. Most grocery stores now carry fresh pizza dough in their bakery and making pizza at home cannot be any easier because of it. Using your pantry items such as canned tomato sauce and spices such as oregano and basil, you can put together a fantastic homemade pizza with everyone’s favorite toppings! My favorite homemade pizza is sausage and peppers… while the rest of my family loves pepperoni.

Favorite restaurant meals such as fajitas…

or buffalo style chicken… come together easily and a lot more affordably when coming from your own kitchen!

Use your leftovers.
You can really be amazed at what you can come up with when playing the “use it up” game in your kitchen. Leftovers can be very boring, so sometimes you really have to think out of the box and get creative. Leftover chicken or beef can transform itself into a completely different meal in itself when accompanied by different ingredients. I’m not always organized to have my leftovers “planned” (like I did with this Slow Cooker Pot Roast), but I do try to use up all my leftovers either in a new meal or packed up in the freezer for another day. I can’t tell you how many nights I am so thankful to have a ziplock bag of already cooked ground beef in the freezer that I can throw into a batch of enchiladas or a pot of soup. One great way to use up your leftovers is to make a “fried rice” or “fried pasta” with any leftover grains and meats that you may have along with vegetables that are in your fridge.

With a little extra planning and creativity, and keeping a few tricks up your sleeve, you will be well on your way to feeding your family fast, delicious and healthy meals…without breaking the bank!

- Aggie from Aggie’s Kitchen