My former neighbor, Mary Young, a relatively new empty nester, remarked regarding how free she feels with her nine kids out of the house. This feeling is common. Joy Smith, author of "The Empty Nest Cookbook," encourages people to take regarding it: "For the period in years you can cook because you want to, not because require to. You have fewer people and palates to please, so cook in ways you've never dared."
1. Try new recipes. A most of empty nesters say they enjoy exploring foods that their children would not eat, according to the July 2005 Pillsbury Empty Nester Online survey.
2. Think smallish. With just the two of you at home, there's little need for family-size packages.
3. Buy perishables with care. To scale back spoilage, buy just a few pieces of fruit and small amounts of vegetables at the perfect opportunity. Choose dairy products and fresh meats with newest expiration date.
4. Maximize nourishing substances. Pick foods that deliver the most nutrition for the bite. For example, broccoli (vitamins A and C), legumes (fiber) and fortified whole grain cereals like Whole Grain Total'. As you get older, you need fewer calories nevertheless the same, or sometimes greater, amounts of key nutrients.
5. Stock on plastic containers. Prepare recipes that serve four or six and divide up the extra into two-serving portions. Label, date and refrigerate or freeze.
6. Swap homemade dishes with a fellow worker. It's a great way to include variety to your menu.
7. Get a new gadget. A vacuum sealer seals out air and preserves the moisture and flavor of shift of stance as dish. "I seal and freeze leftovers in one-meal portions for fresh-tasting dinners anytime," suggests Smith. "Reheat in the microwave or boil in the bag on the stove-top."
This recipe makes four servings, two for now as well as two for tomorrow.
Crunchy Garlic Chicken Breasts
11/3 cups Wholegrain Total' cereal
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup skim milk
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 11/4 lb)
Cooking spray
1. Heat oven to 425'F. Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
2. Crush cereal. In shallow dish, stir together cereal, parsley and paprika. In another shallow dish, stir together milk, chives, salt and garlic supplement. Dip chicken into milk mixture, then coat lightly and evenly with cereal mixture. Place in pan. Spray surface of chicken with cooking touch.
3. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut.
1. Try new recipes. A most of empty nesters say they enjoy exploring foods that their children would not eat, according to the July 2005 Pillsbury Empty Nester Online survey.
2. Think smallish. With just the two of you at home, there's little need for family-size packages.
3. Buy perishables with care. To scale back spoilage, buy just a few pieces of fruit and small amounts of vegetables at the perfect opportunity. Choose dairy products and fresh meats with newest expiration date.
4. Maximize nourishing substances. Pick foods that deliver the most nutrition for the bite. For example, broccoli (vitamins A and C), legumes (fiber) and fortified whole grain cereals like Whole Grain Total'. As you get older, you need fewer calories nevertheless the same, or sometimes greater, amounts of key nutrients.
5. Stock on plastic containers. Prepare recipes that serve four or six and divide up the extra into two-serving portions. Label, date and refrigerate or freeze.
6. Swap homemade dishes with a fellow worker. It's a great way to include variety to your menu.
7. Get a new gadget. A vacuum sealer seals out air and preserves the moisture and flavor of shift of stance as dish. "I seal and freeze leftovers in one-meal portions for fresh-tasting dinners anytime," suggests Smith. "Reheat in the microwave or boil in the bag on the stove-top."
This recipe makes four servings, two for now as well as two for tomorrow.
Crunchy Garlic Chicken Breasts
11/3 cups Wholegrain Total' cereal
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup skim milk
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 11/4 lb)
Cooking spray
1. Heat oven to 425'F. Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
2. Crush cereal. In shallow dish, stir together cereal, parsley and paprika. In another shallow dish, stir together milk, chives, salt and garlic supplement. Dip chicken into milk mixture, then coat lightly and evenly with cereal mixture. Place in pan. Spray surface of chicken with cooking touch.
3. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut.