10 Tips to Help Your Kitchen Run Smoother

Quick Chicken Dishes

Feeding a family during the Holiday rush is something we all struggle with.  When it comes to making food preparation easier look for ways to save time in the kitchen.  Here are 10 tips to help make your kitchen run like a restaurant and make the Holiday run smoother.

1. Eliminate smelly Tupperware with newspaper. Don’t ask me why it works, just know that it does.  Crumple up newspaper pack it into smelly Tupperware over night to get rid of bad odors.  Just be sure to wash the Tupperware before you use it after
2. If you are like me and tend to walk away while boiling pasta or potatoes only to find it has boiled over, one simple trick will help. Lay a wooden spoon across the rim of the pot to avoid over-boiling.
3. Wash dirty vegetables in the dish washer when you are in a hurry. Place potatoes on the top rack and run them through a rinse cycle without using any detergent.
4. Use salt to soak up eggs. If you accidentally drop a raw egg, the easiest way to clean it up is to use salt.  Pour table salt on the mess to soak up the egg for easy clean up.
5. As you work around your kitchen, be sure to microwave your sponge occasionally to sanitize and keep your kitchen clean. The best way to clean a sponge and minimize germs is to wash the sponge daily in hot, soapy water and then microwave it wet for two minutes
6. When measuring out sticky ingredients like honey or peanut butter, coat your measuring utensil with butter or cooking spray. Ingredients will slide out easily and will make clean up a breeze.
7. Use a grater for butter. Don’t worry if you forgot to pull butter out to soften.  Grating frozen butter makes it easier to spread and to incorporate into recipes and saves time.  Also…don’t throw away your butter wrappers.  You can use these for their residual butter to grease baking pans.
8. Foil is your friend. Line baking sheets with foil before you roast food for quick clean up.  Also, use foil over foods to prevent over browning and burning.
9. DIY Non-slip bowls. Don’t go out and buy expensive new bowls with rubber bottoms. Simply set the bowl on top of a damp cloth to avoid bowls sliding around while mixing.
10. Not sure if your baking soda is still good? A simple science experiment can help.  Pour ½ cup of vinegar into a bowl or cup and drop a teaspoon of baking soda into the vinegar.  If it fizzes, the sodium bicarbonate is still active, and your baking recipe will rise.

As we approach the Holidays, it is important to have some quick meals at your fingertips.  This time of year, things get hectic, but with quick recipes, you won’t have to sacrifice eating well.  If you are looking for meals that will be kind on your wallet and have people complementing your cooking, look no further than these quick and tasty chicken dishes.

Jesus often sat at the table with people. He told stories, served and loved people while eating with them. Who can you invite into your home for a meal? Pray that God will open the door for you to share His love and truth with them.

Watch for a month of encouragement, great ideas, and recipes for the holidays. Click here to join our 30 Days to the Holidays challenge.

Join The Fresh Table and Shaped by Faith for daily fitness routines and healthy recipes your whole family will love. Our inspired hosts will guide you spiritually, physically, and mentally through the weeks leading up to the holiday season so you can be your healthiest and happiest self!

Chicken Artichoke

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 egg

1/3 cup flour

1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes

1 large chicken breast, butterfly the breast by cutting through the middle creating 2 thin cutlets

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 tsp minced garlic

1 cup marinated artichokes, pour out half of the oil

1/3 cup Kalamata olives sliced into thirds

½ lemon juiced

1 tbsp. capers

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

Parsley to garnish

Directions:

Crack 1 egg onto a plate and beat. Place 1/3 cup flour on a second plate. Take the butterflied chicken breast and dip it into the egg (both sides of chicken should be covered with egg mixture) and then dip chicken into the flour. Turn the stove to med/high. heat and pour olive oil into pan. Once the pan is hot place coated chicken into the pan. Cook until browned on one side and flip. Add the garlic, artichokes, tomatoes, and chicken broth. Cook until breast is browned and almost cooked throughout. Add the lemon juice, olives, and capers. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Plate and garnish with fresh diced parsley.  Serves: 2

Chicken Red Curry

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. organic coconut oil

1 tbsp. minced ginger root

1 tbsp. red curry paste (add more or less to your liking)

1 tbsp. minced garlic cloves, approx. 3 cloves

1 to 1.5 cups onions

1 red pepper, diced

8 ounces snap peas

1 cooked chicken breast, (organic or all natural is best)

1 can coconut milk (13.5 oz)

2 tbsp. chopped basil

2 cups cooked, organic rice

Directions:

Heat coconut oil in a pot. Add garlic and ginger and stir. Add the red curry paste and stir until paste is evenly distributed. Add the peppers and onions and cook until almost soft.  Add snow peas, cooked chicken, and coconut milk. Cook until heated. Pour Curry over rice and top with chopped basil! Serves: 3-4.

Pasta with Chicken and Wilted Greens

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 – 3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup grape tomatoes cut in ½

4 cups organic power greens

2 cups cooked chicken diced

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

parmesan cheese grated

organic penne pasta, cooked

Directions:

Cook pasta according to instructions on box. Heat oil in a pan, add garlic and cook until garlic is just soft. Add the power greens, tomatoes, and chicken. Cook until greens are wilted, and tomatoes are just soft. Season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over cooked pasta and top with grated parmesan.  Serves 2-3

Chicken with Creamy Salsa

Ingredients:

2 Chicken Breasts

1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt

1/3 cup pre-made salsa

1/2 tsp. cumin

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Directions:

Bake, grill or sauté chicken breasts. In a small bowl mix together yogurt, salsa, and cumin. Place 1/4 cup sauce over each chicken breast (you can warm the sauce or serve room temperature). Sprinkle with chopped cilantro.  Serves: 2

Click here to join our 30 Days to the Holidays challenge for a month of encouragement, great ideas, and recipes for the holidays.

Join The Fresh Table and Shaped by Faith for daily fitness routines and healthy recipes your whole family will love. Our inspired hosts will guide you spiritually, physically, and mentally through the weeks leading up to the holiday season so you can be your healthiest and happiest self!