The-Kids-Are-Already-Hungry Dinner Surprise

Just when you finally feel like you’ve regained some semblance of control over the zoo that is your house, you look at the clock and it’s already dinner time.  Here’s what I did earlier this week.  Naturally, you’ll want to modify it to meet your family’s taste and appetite.  I don’t tend to make anything that isn’t flexible by nature:

1)      Boil water with salt in a pot big enough to accommodate the amount of pasta your family usually eats in an evening.  I made a pound.

2)      Heat oil, not too much, in a big, tall-rimmed pan.

3)      Chop up a small onion or half of a big one, two carrots (steam for four minutes in the microwave in a bowl with a little water if they need to be really soft), two small cloves of garlic and, yes I’m serious, a can of French-cut green beans, drained. I chopped up left-over beans from a recent meal.  Anything else you need used up will probably work as well.

4)      Add veggies to the pot and stir around in the oil.  Put on low or medium heat based on how long the next step is likely to take you.

5)      Chop up raw or cooked meat or fish into little slices and add to the vegetables, or defrost frozen meat in the microwave and then chop up and add.  Or unwrap some tofu and chop into chunks to add with a splash of soy sauce, or even crack in four to six eggs to scramble up with the rest.  About a pound.  We used leftover turkey.

6)      Add meat. 

7)      Add pasta (I used whole wheat mini shells) to boiling water and time normally.

8)      Season.  I used basil, oregano, 2 tsp (equivalent of 2 cubes) chicken bouillon, chili powder, a little salt, more pepper and, a new one for me, parsley.  When in doubt, smell a spice before deciding whether or not it will compliment your dish.

9)      Mix it around until the meat is done, the veggies are soft, and the spices are well blended.  If necessary, drain excess fat (but not down the sink).

10)  Have someone set the table.

11)  Drain the pasta.

12)  Serve with pasta sauce and shredded cheese, plus anything else your family love on their pasta.  (I thought about combining the pasta and sauce in with the stir-fry, but decided to let everyone combine or not combine for themselves, and they were happy to do that.)

13)  Enjoy!

For an even faster meal, double the stir-fry portion of the recipe and skip the pasta.  Break out the tortillas for burritos with lettuce, tomato, cheese, salsa, and sour cream. Mmm!  That sounds so good I think I’ll make that tonight!