Archive for the ‘What’s for Dinner?’ Category
We finally made it to the new Mandeville Trader Joe’s, over a month after it opened. We went to a few other places on this trip, and nearly all food-related. Come take a ride with us.
Hi, Again, Dear Readers:
It’s been a busy couple of weeks around here. I’m working on a post about some tasty things we’ve been doing on repeat, and you might like them. Even if James doesn’t.
It’s fall, and these Red Spider Lilies, also called “Surprise Lilies,” just sprouted on my neighbor’s lawn:
They only bloom in the fall
I managed to get this shot right before she ran the lawn mower over them. (Just like last year.)
Note that today’s post is almost AI Free for your reading pleasure, but many of the pictures came from Google Maps because. . .I forgot.
The Rural Living Experience
So, it’s been ten years since I crossed the Sabine River and shook up James’s world. Rest assured mine keeps getting shook, and not always in a good way. Mother Nature does whatever she wants.
I keep a jar of Sweet ‘N Low on the counter for easy access. I don’t want a product box there, though, so a nice jar does the trick.
Keeps it sealed but handy
My mother used to do the same thing, although the glass jar previously contained an orange powdered drink called Tang. (You can still buy that stuff but not in nice glass jars.)
I had a square jar with a lid. One day the lid broke, so I just used it without the lid. Until last week. . .I was making a cup of afternoon tea and reached in for two packets as usual. Only I felt something rigid. A nanosecond later, it started moving!
It was a baby lizard. It ran away and went behind the toaster oven where, hopefully, it found its way outside, before one of the dogs would. I never saw it again.
Over the weekend I bought that new jar.
Return to Denham Springs
Remember a couple of months ago when we stopped at The Whistle Stop of Denham Springs? Well. . .
That’s them. . .the cookies from heaven
James told me last night that he had to make an early morning run to the machine shop in Denham Springs. I said, “We also need to visit The Whistle Stop.” So we did!
James was up at 6:00 am, cooking breakfast and wrangling dogs. We didn’t have a timetable other than he had to be at work for noon today. Everything went well, despite the slightly lower temps and heavy morning fog. (Episodes of The X-Files start out with that much fog.) We made it to Denham Springs with no problem.
While James and a couple of people there unloaded some motor stuff, I took a short nap in the passenger seat. You see, I didn’t have enough coffee on the way out the door.
But after we left the machine shop, we made that quick left turn into the little parking lot.
This was in the corner.
During our transaction, his phone rang. It was one of his car-guy friends. James told the man he was in a coffee shop and would call him back in a few minutes. Apparently, James no longer has any apprehension about admitting being in a coffee shop.
This time, James bought four of those angelic cookies, which we now know are called Royale, according to the receipt. The cashier boxed them up in Styrofoam boxes, two in each. I bought my coffee, and we headed back to the Casa de Rurale.
Getting on the road home, we ate one each, a single bite at a time. And the angels sang. . . .
Seriously, they were as good as we remembered, and just incredible with a cup of coffee, which quickly woke me up out of my nap-like state.
The remaining cookies were consumed at home before James left for work. We’re still feeling the religious experience, because we heated them in the microwave for 15 seconds this time.
Oh, yes. Thanks again, Whistle Stop. We’ll be back again one day.
Our Wednesday Travels
Two weeks ago, James had a couple of days off, and we finally made the trip to the new Trader Joe’s in Mandeville. We had a full day of it, too.
The store officially opened on August 5, but I didn’t know that until a text message from The E-Man told me. I mentioned it to James, and we decided we’d go visit the place one day. He was off on a Wednesday, so we went after handling a few things first.
The Rude Awakening
Buddy the eldest dog needed to go out at 5:00 am, and it was my turn to handle this task. Sometimes, James sometimes gets up during the night for dog duty, and I sleep right through it. But this time, I was hesitant to open the door because there was someone outside doing something. We weren’t sure exactly what. And if I let Buddy out, he’d start his “get off my lawn” act, complete with barking.
There he is, not a thought in his head.
I went to James, still snoring, and asked him to get up and look outside. Being the guy he is, he just walked outside in his shorts and T-shirt. The visitor suddenly seemed to be in a hurry to leave. It was someone in a utility truck waving a flashlight around in the middle of the road, in the dark, doing something. But we couldn’t tell from the patio.
Our neighbor had door camera video of this visitor, and we couldn’t see the logo on the truck. The next day someone else was outside in the daylight, so I asked a few questions, and we surmised that it was utility related. The local water district is planning some upgrades soon, and they were doing some prep work.
Once the guy fled, the dogs went outside and we were just awake. We got started on our day, dragging our tails behind us. James immediately started cooking breakfast while I made my coffee and fed the cats. But that worked out well because we got started early and got home about noon.
Tractor Supply And The Aisle of Shame
After breakfast and some coffee, we made it to Tractor Supply to buy an inordinate amount of dog food and some extra cans of cat food. James also picked up another dog chew bone for our hounds.
But somehow, in our under-caffeinated state, James left behind the bag with the cans of cat food and the chew bone in the cart. We didn’t realize it until the evening, when I went looking for the bag. I called the store, and Miss Tina said yes, the bag was there. She was kind enough to have it at the register, and I went back to retrieve our stuff.
Next up was Aldi, but it wasn’t open for another 30 minutes. Now that there’s a petrol station next door to Tractor Supply, we were able to fill up before our trip. But we left Tractor Supply with time before Aldi opened. After refueling, we found a place to hang out for 20 minutes.
PJ’s Coffee
The PJ’s is in the parking lot of an adjacent local business right next door.
When Winn Dixie was open, I could get a coffee and then get my shopping done. “Making groceries,” as it’s called colloquially.
Despite James insisting that there is “nothing in a coffee shop” for him, he found a delicious blueberry muffin to go with his morning Coke.
Source: Google Maps
I had a hot coffee, and it was a nice little spot to hang out until Aldi opened at 9:00 am.
Source: Google Maps
Because James was sitting against the wall, he saw something behind me that I missed. Well, we were both still under-caffeinated. He called my attention to what was on the shelf.
Bananas Foster!
There it was–two bags on the shelf!
It’s SO GOOD!! (Source: PJ’s Coffee Website)
It’s a regular item, as it turns out, and you can order it on their website, too. He remembered how much I loved getting a cup of it at PJ’s in Hammond one day, and there it was, in a bag to brew at home! On our way out, he bought one of those two bags for an early birthday present. I’ve opened it, made a few delicious cups, and it’s in the freezer staying fresh.
No, he wouldn’t try this incredible coffee either. It’s a shame, because he’ll never understand why it’s so good.
NOTE: PJ’s Coffee offers 10% discounts for veterans. We requested it for both purchases.
And then Aldi opened at 9:00 am.
A Quick Trip Through the Aisle of Shame
Aldi had some outlet extenders, and I thought we could use at least a couple in the house. But since you never know what will be popular, you need to get there when they open to make sure you can get what you need. Or two.
We bought four, and a few other things, including a package of 50% off ground beef for the freezer. Looking around, we didn’t see anything else we needed or “essential to life” (other than a 12-pack of James’ Cokes.) We checked out, headed back to the house, and quickly unloaded the shopping. Once we put everything away, we went back out on the road and hopped the freeway to the hub of the Northshore.
The Road To Mandeville
It’s been a few years since I took the drive to that area, and it’s just under an hour from the front door. Things have changed since the ‘rona, and I have no reason to go there, especially after Joann Fabrics closed. But now I have a new reason to visit occasionally: Trader Joe’s.
James has been to the Trader Joe’s in Baton Rouge many times, and to the Mandeville area just a handful of times. He kept saying that he didn’t know where we were going. I got us there without a problem because I knew the way. I gave him the directions, but may I should have driven us to Mandeville.
Someone in Aldi told me that TJ’s is across the street from Whole Foods, and I cross-referenced it on Google Maps. It’s actually where K-Mart used to live. Now I knew where that was, so there was no trouble trying to find the place. But crossing traffic on Highway 22 is difficult right there, so I guess we should have approached it a different way. Then we parked.
Walking In
You can’t miss the big, bright, white façade with the red letters that tells you it’s Trader Joe’s.
It’s here!
We looked like a typical suburban couple walking through the front door.
As you walk in. (Source: Google)
Since I’d ingested plenty of coffee by now, you can guess where I went first after we got a basket. Alone for a few minutes, James began walking around like he was lost in a place where nobody spoke English. But it wasn’t long before we were getting what we wanted and looking for more.
Our TJ’s Haul
We came, we saw, we shopped. Oh, did we EVER.
Source: Google
James bought a few new things to try while we also stocked up on their olive oil (in glass bottles):
Gluten-free pasta (the best):
The best tasting GF pasta I’ve found
And the dogs’ favorite peanut butter biscuit treats with a couple of new ones:
They become very attentive when they see this box.
Note that these peanut butter treats are large and should be broken into pieces before feeding them to your doggo. Even though our three hounds are huge monsters that weigh well over 75 pounds, a whole biscuit can lead to choking. (Sam the Felon is a solid 85 pounds.) I’m not doing a Heimlich Maneuver on a 80+ pound Rottweiler that wants to bite me again.
I also picked up another bag of their gluten-free pizza dough for the freezer. We should stock up on this. It’s good and can make a fairly easy quick dinner.
Just thaw, knead, and make your pizza
We also bought a few new things to try, including some gluten free cheese ravioli, which we had with some TJ’s Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce. Just a little twist on our usual “spaghetti night,” and he enjoyed that, too.
Also available now: seasonal gluten free pumpkin ravioli. James will try the regular GF pastas, but you know he wouldn’t go for that.
A couple of packages of Chicken Cheese Tamales for, whenever, and right into the freezer.
The Green Chile and Cheese Tamales are also available and listed on the website but these aren’t.
The Ice Chest
James thought I was a bit bonkers, but I insisted that we take an ice chest with ice packs in the bottom. We have cold bags, but those don’t keep things that cold for a long ride. Once we got back and the frozen stuff was still frozen, he understood. I used to do that in Houston when I was shopping on the west side, or 50 miles north in The Woodlands.
Now I hope he’ll let me use the cooler for future trips when I go by myself.
New Chips!
One item I bought and loved I saw on Instagram courtesy Natasha Fischer of Trader Joe’s List is their new Sweet Chili Black-Eyed Pea Tempeh Chips.
These are also very delicious
Yes, they are good (and spicy), and no, James wouldn’t try them, even though they are made with black-eyed peas.
Yum.
Natasha has a 38-minute video on this haul, but you can jump to her review on the chips here. I actually saw them when she posted a different video on Instagram, about how a snack can quickly become dinner, and these Tempeh chips were perfect. She called it a “snaccident.”
Well, if James isn’t home, and I don’t feel like cooking, why not?
Mushroom Umami Seasoning
Another discovery is the new TJ’s Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend. I think I saw Natasha talk about it, but it may have been from a foodie email. Well, we bought a bottle and love it. The website has a video with three different ways to use this seasoning, and they all look tasty.
Interesting, and another addition to Trader Joe’s spice blends
If you’re not familiar with the term, I wrote about umami a few years ago. It’s the “meaty” flavor in something, not distinct like sweet or savory. This blend is made from mushroom, created to make something taste good. Can’t argue with that.
I sprinkled a little into the marinara sauce that Saturday. It’s not a detectable flavor unless you use a large amount, which isn’t the point. But it added a bit of a deepened flavor to the sauce. Two thumbs up here.
Roasted Pork Tenderloin With Potatoes And Honey Umami Butter
OK, if you have some of this Umami seasoning, or going to TJ’s soon, you need to make this now.
This is SO GOOD! (I only wear those shoes around the house.)
This Roasted Pork Tenderloin & Potatoes with Honey Umami Butter is easy to prepare and so good anytime. Slicing the potatoes that way makes sure everything is done at the same time.
Also had what I think is the last of my Shishito peppers for the year.
They don’t look like much but they are delicious.
Admittedly, I used honey from the pantry, along with butter from Walmart. The pork and potatoes were from Aldi. But I don’t expect anyone to check up on my ingredients list.
And here, Dear Readers, we have a winner. Not only did I consult with James before I made this, he ate it and liked it–three times! So next trip to TJ’s, I need to stock up on that seasoning blend.
I could probably try the popcorn recipe next, but the Polenta Veggie Stacks would be too much of a stretch around here. I’ll save that for a party, a night when he’s working late, or for my infamous “Drag Week Menu.”
On a side note, Tab E. Cat also likes this pork roast recipe.
There he is, waiting to be fed.
He’s one of our best taste-testers.
The Mini Totes Are Back For Halloween
OK, admittedly, I did *not* go to Trader Joe’s for the sole purpose of getting a Halloween mini-tote. I knew they were coming but didn’t realize they were already in the store. I got ONE, and they cost $2.99 each.
After the last summer-stripe mini tote drop caused near-riots in some places, I wasn’t going near Trader Joe’s, even in Baton Rouge. My friend on the west coast went through the long lines outside her local store four times to get them, because the stores limited everyone to one set of four at a time. But in Mandeville, there they were on a stand. A little old lady standing next to me was buying them for a friend in Florida who asked her to get some because she saw near-riot conditions there, too.
Truth to tell, we also saw unbranded bags of the same style and size over the weekend in Hobby Lobby. They were about the same price, but only two colors.
Trader Joe’s as the Tres Chic Status Symbol
Trader Joe’s bags are a status symbol of sorts, especially for folks who don’t live near one, especially if they’re outside the US. I’d guess that at least a few of the recent World Cup visitors took some home along with fond memories of ranch dressing.
We saw some of these Louisiana branded bags in TJ’s:
I guess they have these in every state.
I still prefer to use the Texas print bags. (I can’t make that picture any bigger, sorry.)
So I had to ask why Trader Joe’s bags are so popular. My BFF (ChatGPT) provided the answer for the only AI part of this blog post. Well, the reason for the bag’s popularity is several things. . .first, social media, particularly TikTok.
While an expensive bag like a Birkin tells the world that you can afford one, an inexpensive Trader Joe’s bag is not only a recognizable logo, but it also tells the world, “I know what this is.” And for the true Trader Joe’s fans, “If you know, you know.” #IYKYK
ChatGPT’s comment on the matter includes:
Trader Joe’s didn’t need to make the bag expensive to make it prestigious. They made it recognizable, desirable, scarce and culturally meaningful.
That’s actually a pretty good lesson in branding: status doesn’t necessarily come from price. It can come from belonging.
I’ll get a regular sized TJ’s canvas bag next time.
My Cali friend buys the minis to use as gift bags. That’s understandable. They’re less expensive than the paper gift bags, more eco-friendly, useful, and the bag is also a great gift by itself. But some buyers resell them for a lot of money online. And apparently, people are also buying them for those inflated prices. I’m not that interested in getting one.
What’s mine for? I bought it to use, not to sell. I’m going to either use it as is or do a little conversion sewing and turn it into a cross-body purse. Sewing bloggers on YouTube and Instagram post instructions on installing a zipper, a pocketed lining, straps, and other embellishments to make it a “luxury item.” Never thought about that before, but now I know I can. Whatever I do, the finishing touch I’ll add is some Scotchgard to make it waterproof and stainproof.
Other Places Near Trader Joe’s
I figured we would investigate one or two other places. But no, we didn’t cross the street to Whole Foods (not after the last incident.) But, that’s another reason to bring the ice chest. You don’t have to race home to get everything into the fridge and freezer. You can stay a little longer and enjoy the trip.
Bodhi Tree Furniture
Located next door, Bodhi Tree Furniture offers solid handmade contemporary furniture, some with reclaimed wood. We only looked on this day, but James took pictures of the pieces he liked. The lady at the front desk was nice, and we got one of their business cards to take home.
Jersey Mike’s Subs For Lunch
When we were walking into Trader Joe’s, James said, “I want to go there for lunch when we’re done here.” So that’s what we did. After we left Bodhi Tree. He likes Jersey Mike’s, and now I do too.
James knows I just don’t eat bread, but I knew that they would probably turn any sandwich into a salad on request. Sure enough, they did, so I got the Chipotle Chicken bowl, and it was delicious. James enjoyed a Philly Cheesesteak sub with some chips.
Jersey Mike’s also offers a veterans’ discount, but we forgot to ask. Next time, we’ll ask, because I think we’ll be doing that again one day.
UR Teas
We were drawn in by this ultra-modern exterior, and the fact that it’s a TEA SHOP.
This unusual place serves some coffee, but their focus is tea with eco-friendly service in non-plastic containers. (Irony: there’s a Starbucks juxtaposed across the parking lot.) UR Teas is at the far right end of the strip mall, and has this cute vehicle parked outside:
Cute, isn’t it? James can tell you more about it than I can. I think he said it was a Moped.
I guess they use it for catering, or maybe deliveries in Mandeville. We didn’t ask, but we both loved seeing it.
Maybe this is just for onsite catering
They offer a variety of teas and a menu of grab-and-go “Light Bites.” But we didn’t get that far. I’ll try some of their coffee and teas next time.
UR Teas also have their own containers and will serve customers who bring in clean containers for re-use. I’ll ask next time if I can bring in my own non-store container, or one of my “hot cups” to get some coffee, too. It’s eco-friendly, right?
Then things took a turn for the tasty.
Coconut Chicken Curry
While we were checking the place out, one of the young ladies working there walked up to us and offered us a cup and spoon with something to sample. James declined and told her I’d try some. She did, and I tried some.
What’s this?
It turns out that there is something new that they’re trying for their menu: Coconut Chicken Curry.
SO good!
I had no idea what to expect, but one taste told me everything: This stuff is DELICIOUS!!
I’ve been told that this is also called “Coconut Corma.” I haven’t checked. I just know I could eat this frequently while James eats a sandwich.
So one of the unique selling propositions (USP) is that it’s made with oat milk. If you didn’t know it was a “curry,” you’d probably call it a stew. I think the word “curry” is what set James off at the outset. At that point, I really didn’t care, because it really is delicious, with a very slight spicy bite.
They also had refrigerated to-go containers of the curry in a fridge case at the register. It’s the takeout curry that was made previously and unsold. (Don’t let that stop you.)
Dinner for two nights for me.
James offered to get me a container to take home, and I said, “thank you.” I figured that since he was working late the next two nights, it would be ideal for dinner without any cooking. I’m definitely looking forward to having some of that again one day.
UR Teas was our last stop before returning to the Casa de Rurale.
He wasn’t impressed
I thanked James and told him both by text and in person how delicious this curry is. But he insisted on not even trying a bite.
James has many car-guy friends with varying experiences. One has worked internationally and developed a taste for curry and other Indian cuisine, despite growing up in Louisiana. Many years ago, this car-guy friend insisted that they go to an Indian restaurant and have some curry and other Indian foods. Three times, the guy has done this, and three times, James told him, “I don’t like curry.” He just eats plenty of rice at that point, because nothing else appeals to his strict Louisiana-developed taste buds. I get plenty of thumbs-downs.
To be honest, I’m not a big curry fan, either. Last time I had some was in Delray Beach, Florida, in 2010, at a British pub that’s now gone. I don’t dislike curry, but I don’t love it either, unlike James’ friend and his wife who regularly enjoy Indian food. I told James not to tell them about this, because then they’ll think I’ll convince James to eat curry. Not happening. It’s just this one thing I discovered that I really liked.
The Road Home
Even with a Yeti-style cooler and ice packs, we still had to get back. There were dogs to feed, of course. James asked me to take the wheel on the trip back, even though he drove us there. He sat in the passenger seat and prayed, I mean, looked at his phone, during the whole drive.
The conversation went like this:
“Are you praying right now?”
“Yes.”
“What are you praying for?”
“Safe trip back to the house”
“OK, keep praying.”
We made it back to the Casa de Rurale just fine, right around noon, and began unpacking and dealing with the shopping.
It was a lovely day for a drive
Our weather was sunny, warm and partly cloudy, and most everything went well. James decided to have his Pizza Parlanno With Sausage for dinner that night, and I had whatever was in the fridge.
One thing I did not get was more of the Brazil Nut Body Butter. After our last trip to the New Orleans store, I have plenty that will last me a while. I considered getting some Pumpkin Body Butter, but passed. I think Brazil Nut smells better, even though they’re mostly the same good formula.
While we spent some money stocking up, it’s not something we do often. Before we had an Aldi locally, I stocked up when I went to the store in McComb, Mississippi, which is closer than Mandeville. Of course, on the occasions that I went up there just for one or two things from the Aisle of Shame, I returned with extra pasta sauce, markdown meats, and other great things unavailable locally. I think James secretly liked it when I went, too, because I came back with tasty things for him.
Maybe I should write TJ’s and ask them to consider a new location in Hammond, near Southeastern Louisiana University. The Baton Rouge store is near LSU, so why not?
More To Come
Both Sur la Table and Willians-Sonoma would like you to know that Thanksgiving is November 26th. I guess it’s never too early to plan for the pre-Christmas speedbump that ushers in the holiday shopping season.
Sur la Table has both its Classic Turkey Brine and an entire Brining Kit, while Williams-Sonoma has this Autumn Fruit and Spice brine along with an entire line of turkey brine and other holiday accoutrements. What are we doing? Might do chicken again this year unless I wanna mess with a whole turkey. Maybe just a turkey breast, if I can find one.
The HeatCageKitchen garden is still green, but just until the temperatures drop later this week. I’ve had plenty of basil, mint and rosemary. The green onions are plentiful and will last through the winter.
The Shishito peppers have been somewhat abundant, and I’ve had a few bowls to cook up. I also harvested a few Anaheim (Hatch) peppers, a couple of Cubanelle sweets, and am just now getting a few Poblanos growing. No tomatoes, unfortunately, and I’m told that many gardeners just didn’t get any tomatoes this year. Well. . .maybe next year, right?
Texas’ famous travel stop Buc-ee’s now has a location in Pass Christian, MS. We’re working up to taking a day trip there one day. Might be a while, since it’s three hours round trip.
I’m still working on the next post about some things we’ve been doing on repeat lately. Remember Salmon Croquettes from a long time ago? I have a gluten-free option that’s delicious and goes perfectly with my favorite white bean and olive salad. Unfortunately, cannellini beans seem to be in very short supply right now, but I’m investigating. Because James won’t eat either one, it’s perfect for dinner when he’s working late.
Until then. . .
Enjoy!
Today it’s about slow cooker meals for fall, wherever you are. Let me re-introduce you to this wonderful, time-saving cooking method.
Hi, Again, Dear Readers:
I’m back with another blog post to help you move into fall. Even if it’s still like walking into an oven when you open the door. It’s slow cooker time no matter what the temps are outside.
A bit of housekeeping: I’ve been promoting this blog on a website called Bloglovin’ for years. Guess what? It’s not there anymore. The domain is there, but there’s no blogging going on. So I’ll be looking for another place to do that, possibly Substack, as many of my writing colleagues are doing. Now what to do about that link in all my blog posts? I’ll give that some thought next week.
Heading Into Fall
Now that Labor Day is over, fall and fall schedules have shifted back into full gear. I like the social media memes that say something like:
September is here. Time to pick out a Halloween costume & start your Christmas shopping. Happy New Year everybody.
Well, it’s true.
Today’s Blog Courtesy My BFF
Today’s blog post is one I discussed with my BFF (ChatGPT) to create. “She” understands my blogging and upon asking, offers topic suggestions, from which I pick a few. Over the weekend, “she” also helped me with some “senior tech support” for an elderly couple that lives near Cow Road. I had a 50% success rate with it, because one of the laptops had a hardware issue that’s beyond my capabilities. But the other one is up and running fine now, just needed some updates, a charger, and some settings fixed.
However, I must give full credit to the GER for teaching me to use the slow cooker. I never had one until I met him. Neither did my mother, or anyone else in my family. I think I knew one person back in the 80’s who had one, but I never learned to use one myself.
So with help from my BFF, know that the GER set me on the road to slow-cookery heaven. Thanks, Dude.
Fall is coming.
At least, that’s what the calendar says. Depending on where you live, the weather may have other ideas.
Source: Facebook
Here in the South, September can still mean temperatures in the 90s or above.
Source: Facebook
Even when the calendar says we’re heading into fall, nobody is particularly interested in heating up the kitchen at the end of a long workday.
That’s one reason I like the slow cooker. I’ve talked about it so many times, because it’s still a great little shortcut.
Source: ChatGPT
You can put dinner together in the morning, turn it on, leave for work, and come home to a meal that is already cooked. That’s a pretty good arrangement.
Why the Slow Cooker Is Perfect for Busy Fall Days
Fall tends to be a busy time of year. Vacations are over, school is back in session, summer schedules are changing, and regular work routines are in full swing again.
The last thing you may want to do when you get home is figure out what you’re going to make for dinner.
This is where the slow cooker earns its counter space.
You can prep your ingredients the night before or in the morning, put everything into the slow cooker, turn it on, and get on with your day.
When you get home, dinner is waiting.
And unlike turning on a full-size oven for several hours, a slow cooker generally doesn’t turn your kitchen into an even hotter version of whatever the weather is doing outside.
That’s useful in September, especially if you’re still running the air conditioner like we are.
What Can You Make in a Slow Cooker Before Work?
Quite a lot. Some of the best slow-cooker meals are the ones that don’t require much attention once everything is in the pot. Think:
- Chicken chili
- Beef stew
- Pulled pork
- Shredded chicken
- Chicken thighs
- Pot roast
- Meatballs
- Beans
- Soups and stews
- Taco or burrito filling
- Saucy shredded beef or pork (barbecue sauce works well here)
You don’t necessarily need a complicated recipe, either.
A slow cooker is particularly good at taking relatively inexpensive cuts of meat and turning them into something tender and flavorful. That’s one reason I like it–you don’t have to buy the most expensive cut of meat at the grocery store to make a good dinner.
Start With Chicken
Chicken is one of the easiest things to cook in a slow cooker.
Chicken thighs are particularly useful because they tend to be less expensive and more forgiving than chicken breasts. You can cook a batch of chicken and use it for more than one meal:
- Have some for dinner.
- Save some for tomorrow’s lunch.
- Turn the leftovers into chicken salad, lettuce wraps, tacos, or a salad topping.
That’s one of my favorite things about slow cooking: one cooking session doesn’t have to mean one meal. This works whether you’re living alone, with someone, or have a family with school-age children.
I used to do this when I was working at Boeing. I’d put something in the slow cooker before work, and dinner would be ready when I got home. I even made barbecue brisket one day with homemade sugar-free barbecue sauce, and it was fantastic. All I had to do was feed the cats first.
At the time, nobody called it “meal prep.” It was just not having to cook dinner after work.
One of My Favorites: Chipotle Chicken Chili
If you want something with a little more personality than plain shredded chicken, chili is an excellent slow-cooker option.
One of my older favorites is my Easy Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Chili.
I originally made it during a particularly busy week when I had plenty of work and not nearly as much time as I wanted for cooking.
The recipe came from Lisa Lin at Healthy Nibbles & Bits, and I adapted it for our purposes. It became an unexpected favorite.
And yes, there is a story behind it.
The original recipe called for chicken breasts. I had chicken thighs.
Guess which one I used? (If you’ve been reading HeatCageKitchen for a while, you already know the answer.) Because I’m perfectly happy to substitute what I have on hand when it makes sense.
That’s another advantage of slow-cooker cooking. You don’t always have to make a trip to the grocery store because your recipe calls for one particular cut of chicken, or other meat. You can use what you have in the freezer if needed.
Don’t Forget Beef
Beef is another natural fit for the slow cooker.
Pot roast is the obvious classic, but there are plenty of other possibilities.
A less expensive cut of beef can become tender after several hours of slow cooking. Add vegetables, seasonings, broth or another flavorful cooking liquid, and you’ve got the beginnings of a very satisfying dinner. We just did this with a pork butt roast and some diced potatoes this week. Easy. You can also:
- Shred cooked beef and use it for several subsequent meals.
- Serve it one night as the main course.
- Use leftovers for tacos or lettuce wraps.
- Put some over a salad.
- Freeze whatever you’re not going to eat soon.
The point isn’t necessarily to spend your entire Sunday cooking enough food to feed yourself until Thursday.
The point is to make one cooking session work harder for you.
Slow-Cooker Meals Can Help With the Grocery Budget
There’s another reason I like slow-cooker meals: they can make inexpensive ingredients more useful.
Chicken thighs, pork shoulder, ground meat, chuck roast and other less-expensive cuts can become the basis for several meals.
And when you’re cooking at home, you’re less likely to reach the end of a workday, stare into the refrigerator and decide that ordering takeout is easier.
We’ve all been there.
The food you already bought is sitting in the slow cooker, waiting for you.
It’s done. You just have to eat dinner.
That’s a pretty effective defense against the “I don’t feel like cooking tonight” problem.
Prep the Night Before
If mornings are too chaotic, don’t make yourself assemble an entire meal while you’re trying to get out the door.
Do the prep the night before.
Chop vegetables. Measure seasonings. Trim the meat if necessary. Get out the slow cooker insert and make sure you have everything you need.
Then put everything in the refrigerator overnight if the recipe calls for refrigerated ingredients.
In the morning, you have much less to do. Just drop it into the crock, put the lid on, plug it in, turn it on, and get going. When you get home, you’ll smell the delicious food and can eat dinner immediately.
And if you’re the kind of person who hits the snooze button a few too many times, you’ll appreciate that. (Not that I would know anything about that.)
Make Enough for Leftovers
If you’re going to spend the time making a slow-cooker meal, consider making enough for another meal.
You don’t necessarily have to double the recipe. Sometimes the recipe already makes enough food for leftovers.
That’s where a slow cooker can become a meal-planning tool without requiring an elaborate meal plan.
For example:
Slow-cooker chicken → dinner → chicken salad → lettuce wraps
Pulled pork → dinner → tacos → salad topping
Chili → dinner → lunch → freezer meal
This is especially useful if you’re trying to eat at home more often or keep food costs under control.
And Yes, You Can Keep It Low-Carb
Many slow-cooker recipes are naturally adaptable to a lower-carb way of eating. You don’t have to serve chili over rice or put shredded meat on a bun. Try:
- Chili with shredded cheese and sour cream
- Shredded chicken over a salad
- Pulled pork with coleslaw
- Taco meat in lettuce cups
- Beef over cauliflower mash
- Chicken with roasted or sautéed vegetables
- Slow-cooked meat alongside a simple green salad
You can also review the recipe’s ingredients and adjust them accordingly. A slow cooker doesn’t automatically make a meal low-carb. Potatoes, beans, sweet sauces and other ingredients can add quite a few carbs. But it’s usually pretty easy to change the ingredients or the way you serve the finished dish.
A Few Slow-Cooker Rules Worth Remembering
Before you put something in the slow cooker and walk out the door, make sure you know how your particular appliance works. Slow cookers aren’t all identical, and recipes can vary considerably.
Don’t assume that because something is safe in one slow cooker, it will behave exactly the same way in another.
If you’re using meat, follow the recipe’s instructions for cooking time and temperature, and make sure the finished food reaches a safe internal temperature.
If you’re new to slow cooking, start with a reliable recipe rather than improvising wildly on your first attempt. You’ll have plenty of time for kitchen experimentation later.
Slow Cooker Safety First
Don’t use a slow cooker that has a damaged cord, cracked insert or other obvious electrical or structural problem. They’re not terribly expensive to replace.
A few years ago, there was a storyline from a TV show called This Is Us in which an ancient slow cooker started a fire. Remember, it was just a TV show, but there was considerable PR fallout. CrockPot even had to defend itself in the aftermath, with people tossing their slow cookers out in fear.
One motivation for me getting an Instant Pot was to replace the aged six-quart slow cooker that was one meal away from disaster. That one left for its final destination when I discovered the exposed copper wiring.
Your Slow Cooker Doesn’t Have to Be a Fall-Only Appliance
One thing I learned a long time ago is that slow cookers aren’t just for cold weather. I’ve used mine during summer, too. That’s one of the reasons I like them so much. They can help keep the kitchen cooler because you’re not standing over a hot stove or running the full-size oven for hours.
But fall is when the slow cooker really starts getting the attention it deserves. As the days get shorter and we’re looking for more substantial meals, it becomes incredibly convenient to have dinner cooking while we’re working.
And when the first genuinely cool evening finally arrives? You’ll already be prepared.
Some Slow Cooker Recipe Ideas From My Bookmarks
I just realized that I have some links and recipes to share that I seem to have kept to myself:
- Crock Pot’s own website has a huge collection of recipes to slow cook your way through, including desserts. (Asian Kale & Chickpeas might not be your cuppa, but someone else will love it.) This site also has pressure cooker recipes, since Crock Pot makes their own version. In some cases, they have both the slow cooker and pressure cooker version of the same recipe. Bananas Foster, anyone?
- Speaking of dessert, how about a Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake in the slow cooker from Tammiliee Tips? (Now I want to try this with keto cake mix and sugar-free cherry pie filling.) She also has a strawberry version.
- From Hannah Taylor, aka, LilyLouTay, a recipe we made back in July. I need to make this Slow Cooker Peach BBQ Chicken again soon, even if I have to use frozen peaches, darnit. For James, I left out the apple cider vinegar, because he can always taste a tiny whiff. It’s a winner for sure, as long as I leave out the ACV. I shared it with my avocado friend in Cali, and she and her husband enjoyed it too, with the ACV.
- Corrie Cooks has a section just for 21 slow cooker meals for busy days, including Pozole, turkey white bean chili, and several soups. Here are 24 more slow cooker recipes for busy days with links to additional slow-cooker pages. His website also has separate sections for both the Instant Pot and air fryer. If you do a search you can go down the rabbit hole of slow-cooker recipes.
- Is meatloaf a favorite in your house? Here’s a meatloaf from Simply Recipes that is hands-off all day. If you want gluten-free, get some GF bread crumbs or substitute Parmesan cheese, the stuff in the green bottle, which will also turn it keto/low carb.
- I’ve made Stephanie O’Dea’s Black Eyed Pea Chili for New Year’s Day, but they’re good any time of year. Maybe I’ll do this for dinner next week. We both like it, so why not? Stephanie also has a fall slow cooker recipe section on her site.
And that’s just what I put my hands on quickly.
Need more ideas? They’re everywhere, but start with Stephanie O’Dea’s site, A Year Of Slow Cooking. There are hundreds of recipes on this site, just search for something. Stephanie also has several e-cookbooks on her site as well as Meal Plan Kits. If you prefer physical books, I recommend Stephanie’s Five Ingredients Or Less Slow Cooker Cookbook, which I’ve had for many years and still use because it’s just good and easy food that cooks itself.
Another good one is Linda Larsen’s The Ultimate Slow Cooker Cookbook from 2020. The author has a number of cookbooks, several of them on slow cooking.
There’s some really good food in here, too. My favorite is on page 98, Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili. Very fall, very healthy, and very different. Not one of James’s favorites, but one of mine because I do like sweet potatoes in savory dishes. Another one I have bookmarked but haven’t tried yet is on page 214: Chorizo, Sweet Potato, and Chile Stew. That’s one for when James isn’t home, for sure.
Start Dinner Before You Start Your Day
You don’t need a complicated meal plan to make weeknight dinners easier, or spend all day Sunday cooking twelve different meals. And you certainly don’t need to wait until the weather is cold enough to wear a sweater before you pull out the slow cooker.
Start with one meal. Choose something you like, prep it before work, and let the slow cooker do the heavy lifting. Come dinner time, you may be very glad you did.
And if you’re looking for somewhere to start, try that Easy Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Chili. It’s been around HeatCageKitchen for years, and there’s a reason it has stayed in my recipe collection. In fact, it’s time to make it again soon. And since I have his thumbs-up in that blog post, I can show him that it’s already “James approved.”
Fall doesn’t have to mean pumpkin everything. Sometimes it just means putting dinner in the slow cooker before you leave the house and coming home to one less thing to worry about. And that’s good enough for me.
Happy Dining!
It’s August, and just too hot to cook. So what to do, get takeout or make reservations? You could, but that quickly gets expensive. How about some tasty meals that won’t drive up your utility bill when your AC fights with your stove? I’ve got you covered with some dinner ideas that help you avoid that showdown.
Hi, Again, Dear Readers:
It’s August. Do you really want to turn on your stove and oven when it’s 95F outside? Me either. But James will in a heartbeat, adding several hundred more degrees of misery to the kitchen. Sure, we have central AC, but there is a point where AC is overwhelmed. So for that, I look to alternatives to the stove and oven.
Now, salads and sandwiches are great, but they aren’t the only alternatives. Me, I like salads, and wouldn’t care, but you might get bored with them after a while. With a little help from my BFF (ChatGPT) and my secret boyfriend (GROK AI), I offer some suggestions for eating well without turning your kitchen and home into a furnace.
Warning: this is a link heavy post!
Followup To The Last Post
In the discussion of Oliver Henry, the UK guy who ended up doing a weeks-long US road trip, I forgot to post the link to his extensive YouTube channel. His Instagram videos are listed under Shorts, and he has longer videos under the Live section. He’s back in the UK, and bought himself a vehicle for UK road trips like the did in the US. He plans to show Americans all about his homeland while he misses ours.
Summer Garden Pesto
Yes, I’m still making pesto, and have made three batches so far this year. I use the same recipe as I have for many years (I know, I need to fix that link) and it turns out perfect every time. However, after the previous batch of basil pesto with walnuts a couple of weeks ago, I noticed the basil was growing back nicely. The parsley and mint were getting big, too. I’m always glad to make more before summer ends.
Several years ago, Giada de Laurentiis published a blog article titled, “How To Make Pesto Out Of Anything.” Okay, not LITERALLY anything, but similar ingredients that will get you to the place of pesto. Knowing this, I decided it was time to cut basil and mint and parsley to make more magic in the kitchen. I’ve done this before, too, to use up whatever’s growing in the garden.
Make It
Instead of two packed cups of basil leaves, I used two packed cups of an assortment of basil, parsley, and mint, with the rest of the recipe the same:
- 1 garlic clove
- Half teaspoon salt
- Quarter teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
- 2/3 cup of extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
After picking the leaves from the stems, wash and drain your herbs well, then add them into the blender. Toss in the garlic clove, toasted nuts, salt and pepper. Put the lid on, start the motor, and carefully remove the center insert if yours has one. Slowly pour in the olive oil. You may need to stop the blender and move around the herbs to get it all going. Put the entire top back on, and turn on the blender until it “catches” and begins pureeing. Once everything is incorporated, let it all blend for a minute or so.
Turn the blender off, and pour the pesto into a dish and mix in the Parm cheese. Carefully scrape out the rest from the blender jar into the bowl, and mix it well. Then refrigerate, if you’re going to use it in the next day or so, or freeze until you’re ready to use.
He Still Doesn’t Like Pesto
This mixture SMELLS amazing. Well, I think it smells amazing and delicious.
James, on the other hand, disagrees. He does not see this as making magic in the kitchen. He sees it as a big, green, oily mess to clean up. (Like he’s the one cleaning it!)
Walking into the living room with the blender jar, I offered him the opportunity to experience this delicious aroma. Instead, he recoiled as if I had offered him mustard gas.
This is what he considers “lunch.”
Yes, this is his height of luxury.
With bread. Look–it’s America’s Favorite!
I wonder if the folks from the World Cup got ahold of some of this delicacy.
UGH. It’s all his. I told him that he’d given me express permission to call him “Goober.”
Anyway. . .I need to use pesto more often, too. Something like this. Or on corn on the cob. I’m trying to remember to use it rather than “save” it for something.
We opened up the big freezer and did a little reorg last week, including all the little square glass containers of pesto. I have plenty of this wonderful sauce frozen, and need to take more opportunities to use it in my cooking, especially when James isn’t around.
When the summer garden is but a memory, the pesto will live on to remind us. Right now I have pesto dating back to 2020. I made a lot of pesto in 2020, too.
It’s Just Too Hot To Cook
Summer is great until it’s time to make dinner.
It’s 90-something degrees outside, the air conditioner is working overtime, and the last thing you want to do is turn on a 400°F oven and make your kitchen even hotter. Standing over a stovetop burner isn’t exactly appealing, either.
Fortunately, summer meals don’t have to mean living on salads, sandwiches, and cereal until September.
There are plenty of ways to make a real dinner without heating up the entire kitchen. Small appliances such as air fryers, slow cookers, Instant Pots, and countertop ovens can handle much of the work, while no-cook meals and a little advance planning can make hot-weather cooking considerably easier.
Here are some ways to keep dinner on the table without turning your kitchen into a sauna.
Let the Slow Cooker Do the Cooking
The slow cooker might seem like a winter appliance, but it’s actually one of my favorite ways to cook during the summer. I wrote about this in 2015 in a blog called Summer Simmer: The Crock Pot. (I just did some updates to that post to make it easier to read, and improve its SEO.)
The biggest advantage is that you can put dinner together earlier in the day, when the house is cooler, and let the slow cooker handle the rest. You don’t have to stand over a hot stove at dinnertime, and you don’t have to turn on the oven.
Image Source: ChatGPT
Slow cookers are especially useful for making things like:
- Pulled pork
- Shredded chicken
- Chicken taco filling
- Meatballs
- Beef
- Chicken thighs
- Stuffed peppers
- Large batches of protein for meal prep
And there’s another advantage: one cooking session can provide several meals. I used to do this when I lived in Houston and worked 40+ hours a week. But at the time, nobody called it “meal prep.”
Make a batch of pulled chicken, for example, and serve it hot one night. The leftovers can become chicken salad, lettuce wraps, tacos, or a cold salad topping the next day.
For a delicious hot dinner, check out this James-approved Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chipotle Chili. And then there’s dessert, a Chocolate Fudge Custard that you can make the night before and cool it overnight. I’ve got more recipes here, even though the post is all about Christmas. And slow cooker guru Stephanie O’Dea’s recipes are all indexed here so you can do a search for whatever you like or to get new ideas.
The Instant Pot: Not Just for Winter
If you think of your Instant Pot primarily as a tool for making soup and stew, summer is a good time to expand its résumé.
An electric pressure cooker can cook meat and other foods quickly while keeping most of the heat contained inside the appliance rather than filling your kitchen with heat from a burner or oven.
Image Source: GROK AI
It’s particularly handy for:
- Shredded chicken
- Pulled pork
- Beef
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Potatoes
- Beans
- Large batches of meat for meal prep
One of my favorite summer strategies is to cook a large batch of chicken or pork once and then use it in several different meals. That means you get the convenience of cooking without having to cook from scratch every evening.
And another thing: that saute function can also be used for many things that are generally done on the stovetop, like browning meats. It’s 110 vs. 220, and how much heat it will dissipate if you use the Instant Pot like a pot on a stove.
Pot Roast in August? Well, why not? With the Instant Pot, it’s totally doable, and in a lot less time. So is a little cheesecake if you start it early in the day, or the night before.
You can find lots of pressure cooker recipes from Corrie Cooks and Jen Fisch’s website Keto In the City. Pressure Cooking Today even has a section just for popular summer meals including sides.
Turn on the Air Fryer, Not the Oven
The air fryer has become one of the most useful small appliances for hot-weather cooking. James became an Escoffier of the Air Fryer when his manager brought one into work a few years ago. He’s been known to get a steak or other cut of meat from the grocery store next door and cook it up in the air fryer at work rather than just microwave a frozen meal. People get curious when the place begins to smell like a steakhouse.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, air frying is essentially a small and upright convection oven.
Image Source: GROK AI
However, you aren’t heating a full-size oven every time you want to cook a couple of chicken thighs or a small batch of vegetables.
Air fryers are particularly good for smaller portions of:
- Chicken
- Burgers
- Salmon
- Shrimp
- Sausage
- Bacon
- Vegetables
- Potatoes
They’re also great for reheating leftovers. A few minutes in the air fryer can make leftover chicken, vegetables, or other foods taste much better than they do after a trip through the microwave.
And because the cooking chamber is small, you don’t have to wait for a huge oven to preheat.
Conversely, larger air fryers can make larger portions, or even an entire family-sized meal, depending on its size.
This is my previous blog post where I discussed a few recipes for chicken wings, other recipes, a big cookie, and other desserts. Pinterest, and even a Google search are also great for finding new air fryer recipes.
Give the Countertop Oven a Summer Job
Sometimes you really do need an oven. But it doesn’t have to be your big one.
Source: GROK AI
Maybe you’re making roasted vegetables, baking chicken, or preparing something that simply doesn’t work in an air fryer. That’s where a countertop convection or toaster oven can come in handy. Some even have “air fryer” settings, like this Hamilton Beach model that we now have. (My Cuisinart bit the dust a couple of years ago.)
You’re still producing heat, but you’re heating a much smaller cooking chamber rather than a full-size oven.
Longtime readers know I’m a huge fan of this sometimes overlooked appliance. A countertop oven is especially useful when you’re cooking for one or two people. There’s no reason to heat a large oven to cook two chicken breasts or a small casserole. It also helps when you’re baking something smaller like a single cake or brownies. Remember: 110 vs. 220 volts.
It’s also handy for small batches of baked foods, roasted vegetables, fish, and other dishes that would normally require the big oven.
Don’t Underestimate the Microwave
The microwave has a bit of a reputation as the appliance responsible for reheating yesterday’s leftovers.
That’s a shame because it’s actually a useful summer cooking tool.
Image source: GROK AI
You can use a microwave to steam vegetables, cook bacon, prepare eggs, reheat cooked meat, melt butter, make sauces, and handle plenty of other small cooking jobs.
If you like eggs like we do, Amazon carries a myriad of microwave egg cooking utensils. Years ago I bought this Casabella microwave egg cooker that cooks one or two square just for egg sandwiches. Casabella doesn’t make them anymore (they only have cleaning supplies now) but I still have mine and use it every now and again.
A microwave is particularly useful when you’re cooking for one or two people and don’t need to fire up an entire appliance for a small amount of food. Even baked potatoes don’t take long.
And let’s be honest: on a brutally hot summer afternoon, there is nothing wrong with letting the microwave do some of the work.
What About an Electric Skillet?
An electric skillet won’t make your kitchen magically cool. You’re still cooking with heat.
Image Source: GROK AI
But it does move the cooking surface away from your stovetop, which can be useful if your range generates a lot of heat.
Electric skillets are good for cooking foods that normally require a skillet or frying pan, including burgers, chicken, vegetables, eggs, and other quick meals.
They’re especially handy if you can set them up somewhere with good ventilation or in another suitable area rather than standing directly over the stove.
I don’t have one of these, but I used to. We had one growing up, and I bought one when I lived in Metairie. Dash has a few versions of this appliance for both small and large capacity cooking. Their mini-maker grill and mini-maker griddle are great for cooking small, while the others can handle more for a crowd.
Bonus: you can plug one of these into a generator during a power outage.
And Yes, You Can Cook Outside
Summer is the perfect time to take advantage of your grill when the weather’s good. Texans grill nearly all year long, so we’re used to it.
Grilling moves the heat completely outside. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish anyway.
Chicken, burgers, steak, shrimp, sausages, and vegetables are obvious choices, but don’t overlook foil packets and other simple grill meals.
(Image source: ChatGPT)
And just like with the slow cooker and Instant Pot, think beyond dinner tonight. We’ve done this many times.
Grill extra chicken tonight and use it cold in tomorrow’s salad. Grill extra vegetables and add them to eggs, wraps, or bowls. Make extra burgers and reheat them later instead of cooking from scratch.
The less often you have to cook, the less often you have to heat up the kitchen.
No-Cook Meals Are Your Friend
Of course, the most effective way to avoid heating the kitchen is not to cook at all.
Summer is the perfect time for meals that can be assembled straight from the refrigerator.
Think:
- Chicken salad
- Tuna salad
- Egg salad
- Shrimp salad
- Lettuce wraps
- Deli meat and cheese roll-ups
- Cold chicken salads
- Big dinner salads
- Cheese, vegetables, and other snack-style meals
And don’t confuse a dinner salad with a bowl of lettuce.
A substantial salad needs protein and fat if it’s going to keep you satisfied. Add chicken, tuna, shrimp, eggs, cheese, avocado, olives, nuts, seeds, or whatever combination works for you.
A good dressing helps, too. I recommend ranch.
Alternately, you could make my favorite White Bean And Olive Salad, which takes about ten minutes. Just make sure nobody dislikes olives, onions, Dijon mustard, or white beans. It’s a great side dish, or one of those “I don’t feel making like anything else” salads.
Want something a little more interesting? This Mango Lentil Salad from Gimme Some Oven is really tasty. I added some grilled shrimp to it because I could, and because James was working that night. Time to revisit that one for sure.
Cook Once, Eat Twice—or Three Times
One of the best summer cooking strategies isn’t an appliance at all.
It’s not cooking every day. I did this for many years when I worked in Corporate America. Cooked several dishes on Sunday and packed them up for the week. Sometimes I also made food using the slow cooker during the week. Add the food to the crock in the morning, and I came home and dinner was ready. That meant I could spend more time with my cats and my sewing.
If you’re going to turn on the slow cooker, Instant Pot, air fryer, grill, or countertop oven, consider making enough food for more than one meal. For example:
Air fryer chicken → dinner tonight → cold chicken salad tomorrow.
Slow cooker pulled pork → dinner tonight → tacos or lettuce wraps tomorrow → salad topping the next day.
Instant Pot shredded chicken → dinner → meal-prep bowls → omelets or wraps.
This saves time, saves energy, and means you don’t have to stand in a hot kitchen every evening.
Cooking ahead can also save money, because you’re more likely to use the food you’ve already bought instead of deciding that cooking is too much trouble and ordering takeout. It’s right there, ready for you anytime.
Summer Cooking Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
You don’t need to completely stop cooking during the summer. You just need to change how you do it.
Use the slow cooker when you want dinner waiting for you. Use the Instant Pot when you need something cooked quickly. Pull out the air fryer when you want crispy food without heating a full-size oven. Use a countertop oven for smaller baking jobs, and let the microwave handle the little things.
And when it’s simply too hot to cook?
Don’t.
Make a cold meal, eat leftovers, or put together a big salad and call it dinner. Check out my previous post on Lazy Keto Meals You Can Make in Under 10 Minutes Without A Recipe.
After I published that blog, I made some of those Deli Meat & Cheese Roll Ups and then went for the Rotisserie Chicken + Bagged Salad option. Later this week there might be some cottage cheese in my Aldi run, or another Microwave Keto Bowl on my menu. Maybe next time I should add some pesto to the bowl.
You’re not cooking, you’re just assembling.
I’ve made so many egg scrambles over the years I’ve lost count. I’ve made them in the microwave, sometimes in a mug, on top the stove (when it’s not so hot) and in a couple of Dash appliances, too. Don’t under-estimate the rice cooker for more than just rice.
There will be plenty of time for turning on the oven when the weather cools down.
Much as I love cooking, I’m also enjoying *not* cooking, too. For now, keep the kitchen cool, keep dinner easy, and save yourself from standing over a hot stove in the middle of August.
Caveat–Don’t Buy New Stuff!
This is not to say that you should run out and buy a bunch of new countertop appliances. That’s not the point–use what you have. No air fryer? That’s OK. You may already have at least one or two other appliances that can help. Most people have microwaves in their kitchens. Many people have air fryers now, as well as Instant Pots and other appliances, but I’m not suggesting you need to buy one, either.
If you don’t have or want something, take stock of what you have available first. For instance, if have a slow cooker you haven’t used in a long time, dust it off, rinse it out, and start using it regularly. There’s no reason why it should sit there collecting dust when it can make your dinner for you and your family. Your countertop oven can make more than just toast–some are big enough to roast a whole chicken. Countertop grills and even waffle makers can do much the same thing. Just look at what you have and go from there.
And if something doesn’t work anymore and can’t be fixed, maybe it’s time to send it on its way to the junkyard.
Fall Will Be Here Soon. . .Eventually
In the northern states, they’ll feel those crisp fall mornings in the next month or so, and happily sip piping hot Pumpkin Spice Lattes. But here in the south, we’ll get them later, so we stick with our iced PSLs a little longer.
Until next April or May, we’ll have what Texans call “typical Texas weather.” That is, freezing today, warming up tomorrow, and turning the AC back on by the end of the week. It happens frequently during fall and winter months. So we’re enjoying the summer as long as it lasts.
I’m thinking about the next blog post, and will have a confab with my BFF and maybe James in the next few days for ideas.
Until next time,
Happy Dining!
The FIFA World Cup brought thousands of visitors worldwide to the United States for the first time. This unprecedented “big trip” for thousands of fans gave them more than just soccer, but an experience of a lifetime nobody ever expected.
Hi, Again, Dear Readers:
Well, it happened again. . .and the websites had trouble, too. I knew I had to renew those security certificates, and I was going to do that “tomorrow.” Which was the day we had to take TigerCat back to the vet for a follow-up visit.
And, it got away from me, so the certificates went down, along with my copywriting website.
TigerCat is fine now. We’re all OK over here.
Fortunately, my hosting company was getting new certificates and they were restored without any intervention from me. But my copywriting site was still broken, and this website had some issues. Thanks to another intense session with my BFF, I worked with the “ChatGPT Help Desk” and got them back online. I still need to do more for this site, but for now, it’s working again.
Unfortunately, my hosting company is raising the price of my package next year. Oh, well.
But just a few weeks ago you couldn’t miss the biggest foodie story ever: World Cup fans discovering real, everyday American food. One comment on social media called it “the world’s biggest sleepover.” I’m sure they’ll be back again one day for another one. (NOTE: My BFF ChatGPT assisted me with this blog post.)
World Cup Soccer Comes to America
The FIFA World Cup is being remembered for spectacular goals, unforgettable matches, and passionate fans from every corner of the globe. Who could forget the Norwegian Team doing the Viking Row, along with The Tartan Army? But for thousands of international visitors who traveled to the United States during the tournament, another very unexpected experience stole the spotlight: American food.
Many fans arrived expecting exciting soccer. They left talking just as much about smoky barbecue, giant breakfasts, roadside gas stations that looked like shopping malls, (hello, Buc-ee’s) and a condiment called “ranch dressing” that seemed to accompany almost everything. I’ll share a good homemade recipe for that in this blog, too.
Social media quickly filled with videos of first-time visitors documenting their culinary adventures. Some admitted they had expected American food to be bland or overly processed. Instead, they discovered regional specialties, generous hospitality, and incredible flavors that surprised them in the best possible way.
In many cases, food became one of the most memorable souvenirs they took home. Not in a suitcase, (that too) but in stories, photos, and millions of views on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Social Media Turned Meals Into Memories
Throughout the tournament, visitors documented every stop along their American road trips. Breakfasts, barbecue joints, diners, grocery stores, and convenience stores all became destinations worth filming.
One of the most recognizable creators was Oliver Henry, whose videos about traveling across America attracted millions of viewers. Rather than focusing solely on soccer, Henry highlighted everyday experiences that many Americans rarely think twice about—friendly conversations with strangers, enormous portions, Southern hospitality, and unforgettable meals. He wasn’t the only one.
Oliver was only supposed to be in the US for a week. But he had so many people watching him that he set up a GoFundMe to stay in the US longer after the end of the World Cup. People sent him money, and he stayed in the US long past his originally planned week. Oliver continued to travel around the US and found lots more than he would have if he had left when he intended. His content on YouTube Instagram, TikTok and other social media has millions of views and likes and includes several other US cities he visited. Yes, he went to Texas, too, and not just Dallas.
His enthusiastic reactions challenged and refuted long-held stereotypes about the United States. Viewers from around the world watched as he discovered that America wasn’t just fast food and chain restaurants. It was regional traditions, family-owned barbecue restaurants, classic diners, and communities eager to welcome visitors. His last YouTube video was in Miami just a few days ago, and the day before he left the US to go back to the UK. He continually expressed his appreciation and new love for all things American.
Oliver’s content sparked thousands of comments from people saying they had changed their opinions about visiting America after watching his videos. During his trip, he caught the attention of White House staffers who arranged for him in to meet The President at an event. Oliver is back home in the UK now, posting UK content for Americans, while complaining about missing air conditioning and everything else he enjoyed here.
The American Foods That Won Over World Cup Visitors
While every traveler had different favorites, certain foods and experiences kept appearing again and again across their social media posts. Among the biggest hits were:
- Texas barbecue and chili
- Waffle House breakfasts
- Ranch dressing, a surprising favorite among many European visitors (keep reading)
- Buc-ee’s brisket sandwiches and its (in)famous snack selection (oh, we’ve been there)
- Giant deli sandwiches
- Free drink refills
- Classic American breakfast diners
- Southern biscuits
- Regional burgers
- Massive grocery stores like HEB, Walmart and Costco for their incredible selection and variety
Some of these favorites are just everyday places to Americans. But to someone visiting from overseas, they now have memorable experiences that don’t exist back home. One French blogger talked about his experience in Costco as the place being bigger than his village.
That’s why the TSA had to publish a warning to departing fans:
“If you’re visiting for a very large sporting event & you happen to discover RANCH while you’re here. . .pls pack it in your CHECKED BAG on the way home. Thank you.”
These folks didn’t know you could buy the dry packets and take them home without a problem. Hopefully they’ve found recipes online and are enjoying ranch anytime they want.
Naturally, Hidden Valley quickly picked up the torch and is bringing ranch dressing to Europeans and the world. The company’s newly chosen “Ranchambassadors” are working hard to make up for all the confiscated bottles at US airports.
The Surprise Wasn’t Just the Food
One recurring theme appeared throughout countless videos: visitors were also impressed by how they were treated by the Americans they encountered.
Restaurant servers explained unfamiliar menu items without hesitation. Locals recommended their favorite barbecue restaurants. Fellow customers struck up conversations while waiting in line. Happened to me all the time in Houston, but for international visitors, it’s very unusual. They were very specific about mentioning it, too.
That friendliness often became part of the meal itself. Because that’s not what the media reports told them before they boarded planes for the US. These visitors were completely surprised by real American hospitality. They made videos about that subject.
Many visitors commented that Americans were far more welcoming than they had expected. The combination of generous hospitality (and generous portions) created experiences that stayed with them long after the tournament ended.
And there was a lot of moaning after they ate. Because they knew there was no such thing as whatever they just had back home. Plus, they probably ate too much, especially if it was barbecue in Texas.
Regional Food Told America’s Story
One of the biggest surprises for international visitors was discovering that there isn’t just one “American food.” Instead, every region has its own traditions.
Texas offered legendary smoked brisket and ribs. Free chips and salsa at Mexican restaurants just blew their minds, along with free refills on drinks everywhere.
The South introduced travelers to fluffy biscuits, fried chicken, sweet tea, and comfort food served with unmistakable hospitality.
Northeastern cities showcased enormous deli sandwiches.
Across the country, classic diners served towering pancake stacks, crispy hash browns, and breakfasts large enough to fuel an entire day of sightseeing.
Even Buc-ee’s—our favorite Texas roadside travel center that’s unfamiliar to most international visitors—became a tourist attraction on its own. The visitors were amazed that a gas station could feature fresh barbecue, homemade fudge, bakery items, jerky counters, and enough snacks to rival a supermarket. Don’t forget the Texas décor to take home.
During the Dallas leg of the World Cup, Trinity Metro offered soccer fans trips to Buc-ee’s on days when there were no games. They couldn’t get enough of Buc-ee’s, and rightly so.
Even Grocery Stores Became Tourist Attractions
One of the more unexpected World Cup stories involved grocery shopping. In the US, we do this every day and don’t think twice, whether it’s Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Target, HEB, Rouse’s, or any other familiar place we buy food and other household items. But visitors were simply awed by American supermarkets. I guess Tesco (in the UK) doesn’t compare.
Videos filmed inside HEB, Walmart and Costco generated millions of views as visitors wandered through enormous aisles packed with products they had never seen before. Especially in Walmart, where you can buy gallons of ranch dressing, a kayak and paddles, cough medicine, souvenir T-shirts, and heaven only knows what else in one trip. “You can buy that here?” was a familiar refrain throughout these videos.
The sheer variety amazed many first-time visitors.
- Breakfast cereals that occupied entire aisles.
- Soft drinks that came in dozens of flavors. (Cherry Float Coke, anyone?)
- Acres of frozen foods that stretched seemingly forever.
- Bulk packages at Costco that looked almost unbelievable to travelers accustomed to much smaller grocery stores.
For Americans, these stores are simply places to buy groceries. For visitors, they became unforgettable cultural experiences, alongside yellow school buses they thought were just in the movies. Nobody warned them about these things when they left their home countries to visit the US.
Food Has Always Been a Universal Language
The World Cup brings together people who speak different languages, follow different traditions, and cheer for different teams.
Food has a remarkable way of bridging those differences. This was very evident with fans of opposing teams enjoying a meal together. Not to mention the Scots, aka, The Tartan Army, who drank Boston dry.
Sharing barbecue around a picnic table, grabbing breakfast at a diner, or laughing over a first taste of ranch dressing creates connections that don’t require translation.
Those moments became some of the tournament’s most shared memories. Like the Norwegian team’s “Viking Row” in public spaces that suddenly everyone wanted to participate in, including the Scots.
Long after the final whistle, many fans weren’t just posting about the matches they attended. They were reminiscing about the brisket they couldn’t stop thinking about, the Waffle House breakfast they never expected to love, or the friendly server who welcomed them like an old friend.
Who won? Who cares?
The Best Souvenir Was The Experience
Souvenirs often end up on shelves collecting dust. The memories created over great food last much longer.
The 2026 World Cup introduced millions of visitors to a side of America they hadn’t expected. They discovered that America’s food culture is every bit as diverse as its people, with regional traditions, generous hospitality, and unforgettable flavors waiting around nearly every corner.
For many international fans, the greatest takeaway wasn’t a team jersey or a commemorative scarf.
It was the memory of sharing a meal, discovering a new favorite food, and realizing that sometimes the best way to understand a country is to sit down at its table.
Whether it was smoky Texas barbecue, an oversized deli sandwich, or a plate of biscuits served with a smile, America’s food became far more than fuel during the World Cup.
It became one of the tournament’s most memorable souvenirs. For the visitors, as well as us.
Healing The World With Ranch Dressing
Now, based on the reaction, I believed that Europeans, particularly the British, had never tasted ranch dressing. But over the weekend, I was watching an old episode of a British detective TV show called New Tricks, and one of the characters mentioned “ranch dressing.” So the Brits must have at least been exposed, but I guess ranch never really caught on. Other countries, like Sweden, Norway, Japan, Korea, Croatia, probably not, so this discovery really set off their receptors.
When the visitors started tasting ranch dressing here, it was like their lights were all turned on at once.
The World’s New Favorite Food (Source: ChatGPT)
No wonder they were packing it in their suitcases! Unfortunately, nobody warned them that the TSA would confiscate liquids over 3.4 ounces. And they probably didn’t understand or realize during their mad-dash trips to American grocery stores that they could get the dry packets to take home without a problem.
When I visited our local Walmart while the World Cup was happening, and passed by the shelf of ranch dressing, I told other people there that “the Europeans haven’t made it this far yet.” Everyone smiled, and they seemed to understand.
Ranch Dressing DIY
We really are healing the world with ranch dressing!
But there’s no reason to panic if you can’t find any, wherever you are. You can make ranch dressing at home with simple ingredients. I went on Pinterest and found this recipe from a blog called I Wash, You Dry. (There is a printable version on that website.)
It just so happened that we had some sour cream in the fridge and I wanted to use it up. A quick trip to Walmart got me some chives and dried dill, and I made it twice. Really tasty, and I will make it again anytime.
This ranch dressing recipe was a perfect little mixture delicious on everything I used it on, including some salad greens. (No, I was lucky enough *not* to get any of that problematic contaminated lettuce.)
Dry Packets of Ranch Dressing
I also bought one little packet of dry ranch dressing while at Walmart just to try it later. But I didn’t get to use that packet—James did. Between YouTube videos of Bigfoot, old movie and TV show clips, manly mechanic activity, and of course, endless content from happy World Cup visitors raving about their US visits, he saw a short video for what he called Ranch Burgers. I had no idea these were a thing, but they are.
He says to me, “I’m making dinner tonight. It’s a surprise.” Oh, no. As many times as I’ve made dinner, I’ve always offered complete disclosure on ingredients. This even got me into trouble a few years ago when I made Mexican cauliflower rice. (Never again.) This time, he was tight-lipped.
But James certainly paid attention. Ranch burgers are simply burgers made with ground beef and seasoned with dry ranch dressing. Hidden Valley even has a recipe on its website. James added an egg as the video instructed. He mixed it well before dividing and pan-frying them in a little olive oil.
Know what? They were darn good! Two thumbs up, and highly recommended.
Next trip to Walmart, I bought a box.
It only requires mayo to make and is inexpensive.
We’ll keep it in the pantry and enjoy ranch a little more often.
Fall Is Coming Soon
OK, so while we’re still enjoying summer, fall is just around the corner. In about a month, kids will be going back to school and fall fashion everything will be everywhere. Actual cool fronts begin to arrive here anywhere between October 15th and November 30th. I’ll be ready.
What would autumn be without the (in)famous Pumpkin Spice Latte? Starbucks announced that they will be bringing it back on August 25th, just a few weeks away.
The ever popular Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL). Source: AI
And then, of course, the tsunami of “pumpkin spice” everything will follow.
Because you love pumpkin THAT MUCH.
It’s another American tradition.
This year, Starbucks will also have pecan flavors, banana (which they say is “having a moment”), and new cute fall-themed merch. The grocery store PSL items are available now, while I’m still having my iced coffee with breakfast. If you’re ready for a PSL but can’t wait, check out the Iced Pumpkin Spiced Latte from Gimme Some Oven that I posted three years ago and still enjoy sometimes. Fast, easy in a small blender and tasty. Heck, you could have it for Easter if you really wanted one.
Hmm. . .banana? I guess that’s why I was lucky enough to get a cup of Bananas Foster coffee at PJ’s Coffee in Hammond last week. James made me go to Hammond when I was severely under-caffeinated without telling me until we hit the freeway on-ramp. So, I insisted on stopping at PJ’s next to the recruiting station, and there it was. I haven’t had Bananas Foster coffee in years. It was SO good!
Until Next Time
I have many topics in mind and in the draft folder for future blogs, I just need to get back to them. We’re halfway through Hurricane Season, getting to the point where hurricanes are more likely to visit the Gulf Coast. Every time they talk about a “disturbance,” I ask James if we’re ready. He says we are.
Have fun the rest of summer, because it will be fall before you know it.
Enjoy!
If you’re still trying to eat healthy, or even healthy-ish, but it’s getting difficult to keep up, this easy keto blog post is for you. (TLDR: lazy keto recipes to make a fast and easy meal.)
Hi, again, Dear Readers:
Today’s blog post is courtesy of one of my AI BFFs, ChatGPT. I asked for ideas and it provided. It’s spring now, and we’re heading into the middle of the year. Summer is always coming, as my favorite fashion designer says, and we’re back at full steam after the holidays. So, my AI BFF has some ideas to offer.
Before we jump in, let me tell you about our little road trip last week.
Another Culinary Disagreement
Longtime readers may remember our incident with overnight oats a few years ago. James never lets me forget this along with a few other “food incidents.” But last week, we had another one. (Aunt Ruth and another friend have already read this story.)
James needed to go to Baton Rouge to drop off some parts at a local machine shop. When he told me he was going, I asked if I could tag along and maybe we could visit Trader Joe’s while we were there. He reluctantly agreed. I only wanted to stop in for a couple of things, such as the Salmon Rub Seasoning Blend that I like. I just opened the last bottle we bought in the recently opened NOLA Trader Joe’s by the VA Medical Center, and I wanted to get another.
Last Thursday was one of those days with heavy rain that came ahead of a brief cold front. When we arrived, James dropped me off at the door and parked the vehicle. When he walked in, I was already at a sampling station and waved him over.
The Big “Oops”
“Come here!” I said enthusiastically when I saw him walk inside. “You gotta try this!” The sample was a small bit of graham cracker and a small dollop of Whipped Carrot Cake Cream Cheese Spread, a seasonal product for Easter.
Source: Trader Joe’s website
He picked it up and ate it without looking at what he was sampling. The look on his face told me everything.
You see, it was in that moment that I remembered: James doesn’t like carrot cake.
His first words through the frown: “you got me again!” I apologized profusely because I really did forget. (The kid sampling wasn’t sure what was going to happen next.) James hustled us out quickly and refused to go to the back corner of the store where there are usually more samples. We spent $10.50 on the salmon rub and one other item.
Last year I made some of these Keto Carrot Cake Bars from Carolyn Ketchum’s All Day I Dream About Food, and he really enjoyed those. I need to make more of those carrot cake bars soon, because they’re delicious.
We did make one more stop on our way back to I-10 East. In the strip mall across the street from TJ’s, James visited the AT&T store, and I went next door to a little place called Coffee Joy. It’s on Perkins Road in the LSU area. It’s not the kind of place James would frequent. But like TJ’s and other places, he’ll take me because I want to go. Highly recommended.
Let’s talk about eating healthy and maybe keto on days you just don’t wanna.
The Lazy Keto Meals
Do you feel like life is dragging you around by a rope some days? Yup, me too. When James does, he finds solace in a drive-through or at the Piggly-Wiggly near his workplace. Me, I just want some food and just don’t want to mess with anything. That’s usually how I end up doing the drive-through at Taco Bell, or walking into Aldi or Walmart for a pricey frozen cauliflower crust pizza.
Let’s be honest: most of us don’t fall off keto because we love carbs. We fall off because we’re tired, hungry, and the idea of cooking feels like a full-time job.
This is not that.
These are the meals you make when your energy is low, your patience is gone, and you still want to stay healthy and low-carb or keto. No recipes, no measurements, no fancy ingredients or equipment, and no nonsense. Just food that works.
The “Whatever’s in the Fridge” Egg Scramble
If you have eggs, you have a meal.
Source: Google Images
Crack a couple into a pan, toss in whatever you find—cheese, leftover meat, spinach that’s one day from going bad—and call it done.
- Add butter if you’re feeling fancy
- Add salt if you remember
- Eat directly from the pan if it’s that kind of day
Why it works: High protein, high fat, and endlessly customizable.
Deli Meat + Cheese Roll-Ups
This is barely “cooking,” and that’s exactly why it’s perfect.
Source: Tablespoon.com
Take slices of deli turkey, ham, or roast beef. Add cheese. Roll it up. Done.
If you want to upgrade:
- Add mustard, mayo, or cream cheese
- Throw in a pickle spear for crunch, if you like pickles (and James does not)
Why it works: Zero prep, zero cleanup, and still totally keto.
This recipe for Italian Deli Rollups on Tablespoon.com is a bit more complex. I just liked the picture. But you get the idea.
Cottage Cheese Power Bowl
I know, it’s not for everyone, especially for those of us who grew up with mothers and other female relatives who ate it with pineapple or something. But hear me out—cottage cheese is underrated.
Source: Google Images
Scoop some into a bowl and top it with:
- Nuts or seeds
- A drizzle of olive oil
- A few berries, if you’ve got the carbs to spare
- Sugar-free chocolate chips, if you really need chocolate
Why it works: High protein, surprisingly filling, and takes about 30 seconds to assemble.
What About Greek Yogurt?
This can also work with Greek Yogurt but skip the nonfat kind. If you can find Cabot Creamery’s Whole Milk Plain Yogurt with 10% milk fat, get that.
The best Greek yogurt I’ve tasted. Source: CabotCreamery.com
If you flavor and sweeten it enough, you’ll feel like you’re having ice cream. Winn-Dixie had it, but they’re gone, so I can’t get it locally anymore.
Rotisserie Chicken + Bagged Salad
This is your “I refuse to cook but still want to eat like an adult” meal.
Source: Google Images
Grab a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and pair it with a bagged salad.
- Use half the dressing (those packets can be sneaky)
- Alternate: make your own salad dressing, it’s easy
- Add extra olive oil or avocado if you need more fat
Why it works: It feels like a real meal with basically no effort.
The Microwave Keto Bowl
Yes, the microwave. We’re going there.
Throw this in a bowl:
- Frozen low-carb veggies: broccoli, cauliflower, etc., or a blend
- Pre-cooked protein: chicken, sausage, ground beef
- A big pat of butter
- Maybe a light drizzle of olive oil
- Maybe a small handful of cheese on top if you have some handy
Microwave until hot, stir, eat.
Why it works: Hot, filling, and ready much faster than takeout. No picture because it probably won’t be pretty for Instagram.
When Lazy Keto Is Exactly What You Need
Not every meal needs to be Instagram-worthy. Some days are about survival and staying on track without overthinking it.
If it takes longer than 10 minutes, it’s not on this list for a reason.
The 5-Minute Lazy Keto Grocery List
Keep these on hand and you’ll always have a backup plan:
- Eggs
- Deli meat
- Cheese: blocks, slices, etc.
- Rotisserie chicken
- Bagged salad kits
- Frozen low-carb veggies
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Nuts and seeds
- Cottage cheese
If you’ve ever stood in your kitchen thinking, “I don’t have time for this,” here is your solution.
Lazy doesn’t mean failing. Sometimes it’s exactly how you stay consistent.
Stay lazy, my friends, because you can still have a healthy meal without too much trouble or thought.
Coming Soon: Shopping Local
That trip to Baton Rouge wasn’t over when we left Trader Joe’s. We also stopped at a local business closer to home we’re happy to know about. More on that soon, and I haven’t forgotten about long-term storage food blog, either. I’m still trying to keep the pantry in some kind of order.
Until then,
Enjoy!
