Out of all the evenings during the week, I’d have to say that Tuesday is probably my least favorite. I suppose it makes sense; Tuesday has long been my least favorite day of the week as it is.
But it just always feels like a rushed evening; I tend to get home a little later after picking up the boys from daycare, and it’s also Jay’s bowling night, so it’s always a mad dash to try and get something on the dinner table.
Two things I’ve really been trying to work hard on this year are, 1) continuing to offer the same meals to the boys that Jay and I eat (sometimes easier said than done, but the effort is there!), and 2) offer more vegetables as often as possible.
So when it comes to Tuesdays, I need something I can put on the table quick. For the longest time, we were doing a lot of breakfast for dinner (which we still do every couple of weeks because…who doesn’t love brinner??) because it’s quick and easy, but again…I’m still working on getting more of those veggies on the table.
And this meal is one that has 100% been doing the trick.
I hesitate to even call it a “recipe” because it really does not get much simpler than what I’m about to show you. You can throw it all together and have dinner ready and on the table in less than 15-20 minutes. And I swear to you, I am not exaggerating!
Today’s recipe is also the second installment in my series I’m working on with Hannaford, who is so kindly sponsoring today’s post!
Although we’ve only been utilizing the My Hannaford Rewards program for a short time now (because it’s new!), I’ve loved seeing all of the savings and exclusive offers that we’ve been earning (to see a more detailed breakdown of the program, you can also check out my first post here!).
There are always new coupons being added that are “selected just for you,” and I love how the coupons that they offer also include fresh produce, too. Plus, you can even occasionally find coupons for FREE groceries!
When I checked my app before our last full grocery shop (be sure to download the app for yourself!!), I saw I had coupons for for probably 8 different items…for FREE! Here were a few of them…
It was a fun opportunity to try something new; that Luna protein bar was delicious!
Lucas also had fun helping me find each of the items that we’d see in the app while we shopped. It’s certainly made for a fun experience, and I’m continuing to really enjoy our special one-on-one outings while grocery shopping!
So, back to this dinner.
First, I get the water ready for the rice and continue to cook that on the side while I take care of the rest of the meal. I then start with about a pound of chicken tenders, give them a quick season of salt and pepper, and then add them to a hot skillet with a little olive oil. Once they’re browned on one side (about 5-6 minutes) flip ’em over and continue to cook for a few more minutes.
Next, I toss in my bag of mixed frozen vegetables. I also added in some extra, freshly shredded carrots because we all like them over here, but you could obviously add in whichever fresh or frozen vegetables you like! I really like the variety in Hannaford’s Stif-Fry Mixed Vegetables, so that’s our top choice for quick and easy.
Once they’ve cooked for a few minutes, I check to see if the pan needs to be drained at all (since the frozen veggies can produce a little extra liquid). If so, I quickly drain, then add in my sauce (about 1/2 cup, but I usually eyeball).
If it were up to Jay and I, we’d likely pick the stir-fry sauce as our favorite, but the boys seem to enjoy the sweet and sour sauce better (not that I’m surprised), so sometimes we’ll split it and do both, or we’ll just pick one.
Once everything has heated through (about 5 minutes or so), dinner is ready!
And what’s also nice is that it’s easy enough to be able to separate everything out for the boys, because if your kiddos are anything like mine, then different foods cannot be mixed(!).
One of the reasons stir-frys are so nice is because it’s SO easy to be able to swap out different vegetables or proteins to suit what you and your family love most. They’re quick, easy, and usually require no more than one or two pots (if you’re cooking rice on the side). A total winner for those crazy-rushed weeknights!
How about you guys? What are some of your favorite, go-to recipes that can be prepped and on the table in less than 20-30 minutes??
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Hannaford! Thank you for your continued support surrounding sponsored content on STSL! <3
Comments