We have this discussion in our house, whether cooking is difficult because we are singles with a busy schedule, or if it's because we happen to live in a place where groceries are more expensive and less dependable. Either way, ideas can be scarce and I work hard not to succumb to granola bars and crackers for my school lunch.
Maybe you're a single living alone. Maybe you live in a foreign country. Maybe you're a busy mom. Or maybe you've got it all figured out. But here's a few ideas I have used that I've enjoyed. Maybe they can give you inspiration.
I don't know if you eat breakfast. For me it's a must, but it can't be anything to time consuming. This year my staple has been baked oatmeal. I bake a pan ahead of time so it's ready to go in the mornings. If you have a microwave, reheating it is a great option. If you don't, like me, eating it cold can be just as tasty. I've tried to keep my recipes varied, from pumpkin, coconut, or coffee oatmeal. The options seem endless. Then pair it with milk, yogurt, fruit, nuts, or even a fried egg.
Another thing we often have on hand is homemade yogurt. It's great for breakfast or snacks. Our recipe is very simple. 8 cups of water and 2.5 cups of powdered milk. (That's if you have the misfortune of living in a place where milk is expensive) Or you can do 8 cups of milk. Heat in your crockpot on low for 2 hours. Turn off and let set for 3 hours. Add about .5 cup of yogurt starter. Cover with towels and let sit overnight. In the morning, line a colander with a cheesecloth and spoon the yogurt into it. Allow to drain in the fridge for half a day. When it is finished, you have a nice batch of thick yogurt. One of the other missionary ladies shared this with us and we've greatly enjoyed it!
Believe it or not, fruit can be hard to find in Grenada at a good price, other then bananas. Throughout the year different fruit is in season, for example mango, and when it is, we are often given some free or at a low price. But it can be sporadic. During mango season we cut and freeze bags of mango to pull out later. A fruit that is often gifted to us by the locals is papaya, which tastes very similiar to vomit, but if you pair it with some mango and banana, it's edible. Be creative with what's right around you!
Suppers can be hard to be creative with. Many evenings we dont have a lot of time so we tend towards quicker dishes. I would say, though, that our household does well at being purposeful to prepare good suppers even with the limitations. Some things we've enjoyed are stirfries, crockpot meals, or even simple sandwiches like chicken salad or BLTs. Some nights it's best to keep it simple. Having carrot sticks cut up in the fridge is a quick veggie option as well as cheep. If we have a little more time we might try baked chicken or a slightly more time consuming dish. Since hamburger is expensive here, and much to be desired, we eat mostly chicken so cutting that up or even cooking it ahead can save time.
These are just a few food ideas we've used in our household. Cooking on the mission field has it's challenges, but I've enjoyed the opportunity to grow in being resourceful with what is around me.
What have you found helpful?
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