Prep Genrl Weekly prep thread: October 26-November 1, 2025

[WanderLore]

Hallway ceiling is done, and trim. Lordy.
Took one GS to youth group last night. Housework today. Very windy still. Let coal stove go out as we had the window open and still too hot. Just using wall heater and a burner on the stove.
Son went and got two 800lb bales of hay yesterday so we're good for a bit.
Daughters BF had the surgery Tuesday and they are already discharging him this afternoon. Wow.
He's doing good though. She will have some work to do at home for a bit. I'll help too.
Really weary of the wind. Supposed to stop Saturday.
I plan to do a little shop in small town tomorrow, then rest of it next week in bigger town. Have to see how things pan out. One last paperwork errand in bigger town, then done.

 

[WanderLore]

Not sure Judy except all the mess with peoples snap EBT cards, but I don't think they actually load till the 3rd here, which is looking like won't happen.

 

[etdeb]

It's pretty bad when the beef bones that used to be free are now. $1.99 a pound. I saw that the last time I went in the grocery store (Sunday) and could hardly believe it.

Have you seen the cost of ox tails!

 

[Meemur]

Why are people worried about this weekend?

If SNAP benefits are paused due to the gov't shutdown, a number of criminals are planning to loot Walmart, Target, and so on during the weekend, per various videos on social media.

There are now warnings in various places to stay home this weekend (avoid shopping), none of them credible (in my opinion). But you asked what was going on.

Fact: several grocery chains in my area have hired extra security -- mainly off-duty police officers -- to begin first thing on Saturday. So, some in management are taking these threats seriously.

 

[Meemur]

Have you seen the cost of ox tails!

Yep. $8 at HyVee. Nope, not making bone broth in the near future.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We made it back. I bought a lot of extra stuff just in case this SNAP drags on for a while. Walmart was overly crowded, but it is the day before Halloween. We did see lots of shoppers with more than just Halloween candy in their carts. Piled high, too. Everyone seemed friendly enough, even the blacks. Store greeter said that a police presence would be there all weekend and longer if needed. There wasn't one today. Cary loaded our groceries in the SUV while I stood watch. We both were armed.

I've got everything dated, rotated, and put away. I'm tired.

One thing I did notice, since I had to buy some. The pork chops had gone way up in price! I didn't even check the price of the ground beef. I, now, have 3 smoked hams in the freezer, though. I didn't think the price on those would go much lower, and I wanted to go ahead and get them while I was there.

 

[ginnie6]

well I'm done stocking for this. Dh came in early and we went to Sams together. He needed a few things at the rental too so that worked out good. I'm making pork chops, stewed cabbage, and mashed potatoes for supper. Now the only thing I have to do tomorrow is take Rufus to the vet and run by Dollar Tree for some things for the quilt guild Christmas party. I'm going to go ahead and pick them up now in case I'm in Massachusetts when we meet again to work on it.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We had left over spaghetti, tonight. Tomorrow, if nothing comes up, it will be a cooking day for me. More freezer meals (2 of those) and bread baking day (2 loaves). My meat freeze has a large empty space where the bread and freezer meals will go. All the meat is emptying out, nicely, but I'm not ready yet to defrost it. I'm storing all the new meat I buy in the other freezer for the time being of which I'm not buying much these days.

 

[feralferret]

Hit Dollar Tree and Dollar General yesterday. Will shop Walmart and grocery store online tonight for pickup tomorrow evening.

Wife had her procedure (epidural) this morning for her spine pain. They couldn't do the full amount due to her spinal cord canal being abnormally narrow. Apparently it is a congenital condition. She will get another treatment in early December.

Ate lunch at the senior center. Chicken ala king. It was good and had lots of chicken in it. Served on a biscuit with peas and California vegetables. Red velvet cake for dessert. Best of all I didn't have to cook it.

Wife broke the AC plug on the vacuum cleaner last night. I couldn't find my spare plugs because people keep moving my stuff around. It is frustrating that no sooner than I figure out which box something is in the box gets shuffled around. I went to the hardware store to get another plug. They had rearranged that department. The employee that pointed to where they were took a moment to find them himself. I was going to get a couple of spares in addition to the one I needed (two prong polarized). They had exactly one in stock. They had at least a half dozen different styles/colors of the non-polarized in stock and several types of the grounded three prong. I'm glad they at least had the one.

They had some maple peanut brittle on display. I've never seen that before. I bought a box but haven't tried it yet.

Due to my amputated index finger on my right (dominant) hand, I have had to relearn how to shoot my revolver. Stupid me had never shot weak hand when practicing at the range. I bought some snap caps so I could dry fire without risking damage to the revolver. Now I need to get a left handed holster. Somewhere in my stuff in boxes I have a belly band holster that will work right or left handed. I need to dig for that this weekend.

Hopefully things will stay calm here. Small town with low percentage minority demographic. Surprisingly the statistics show that around 17% of households here receive SNAP benefits. My step-son receives a very small amount. He is on disability. He has some stuff set aside for just in case. Not a full blown prepper, but not clueless either.

 

[kyrsyan]

Tired. Today went sideways early. But got doc appointment done. Then picked up groceries. I don't want to be in the stores over the next couple of months regardless.

Son had a good time visiting with friend.

Work was peaceful, for once.

So I'm just taking a break before I tackle dinner.

 

[anna43]

Went to Mendards, Dollar Tree, Walmart and Aldi today. Too tired for HyVee or Fareway. I was able to get most of what I wanted but some items were missing both at Walmart and Aldi i.e. yogurt, English muffins; Walmart eye drops; Aldi pie crust and baking soda (all on shelf had top smashed in and all were leaking). The frozen OJ at Aldi is now $3.09 a can. Glad I have a good supply on-hand and got 3 more today because at that price I'm going to have to give it up. Clerk at Walmart was either an idiot or not caring because he put a box of saltines in with frozen items. I pulled it out and nicely (sort of anyway) asked him to put it with dry items. It ended up with its own bag.

Another shopper at Menards helped me with finding the rug I wanted and later at Dollar Tree she left her keys, and another shopper ran after her to give them back. I told that lady it was nice of her to do that and karma for the lady helping me at Menards. Nice to see such things in today's dog eat dog world.

Just as I was leaving to shop, I got my mail and a letter saying representatives of my Medicare supplement and RX insurance would be in town from the 27th to the 30th. I laid it on the table and then grabbed it back up because TODAY is the 30th. So, as soon as I got home, I had to go take care of that. A bit of a wait seemed much longer because I was ready to drop from shopping. Glad I didn't miss it. On the other hand, I'd left a message with the repair person I called about my oven not working told him I'd be home by 4:00 which of course did not happen. No message on the answering machine so don't know if he called or not. Will call him again tomorrow.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

The house is nice and toasty this morning. It was 38 degrees last night, and high is to be 60. If it gets too warm in here from the wood heat, we'll just open a window. The warm fire will definitely make my bread rise, nicely. I always set it beside the wood heater to rise.

I'm going to be busy most of the day cooking, baking, and doing laundry, so I've got to get up from here and get started.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

The other day, my pc internet service kept going in and out. After I made my post this morning, it went out, again, and I can't get it to reconnect. So, I'm using Cary's pc, until I can get mine in the shop. Cary's works fine. We have wi-fi throughout the house, so I don't know why mine won't connect, unless, it's something in my computer.

Anyway, I have 2 loaves of bread rising for the 2nd time. 1 chicken freezer meal done. One to go, and a load of laundry washed, dried, and put away. I'm taking a lunch break, and will finish the other freezer meal and wash up a mountain of dirty dishes after break, once the bread comes out of the oven. I, also, put on a pot of home canned green beans with bacon to cook low and slow for supper. We like them cooked down real low to where most of the soup is gone.

I was ready for a break.

 

[nomifyle]

Got the groceries put away yesterday by the hardest. We both started feeling bad before we got home. It’s the second in a row that we ate McDonald’s and then got stomach issues. I ordered a lot of freezer meals and managed to get it all put away

I order organic grape tomatoes every pick up and am now putting them straight in the freezer, I don’t get them for salads, I get them for cooking although I’ve not been feeling much like cooking hence the freezer meals.

Dh lit the wood stove this morning for the first time this season, feels cozy. It’s getting in the 40’s at night. The thermostat is at to come on before it gets too cold

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Got the groceries put away yesterday by the hardest. We both started feeling bad before we got home. It’s the second in a row that we ate McDonald’s and then got stomach issues. I ordered a lot of freezer meals and managed to get it all put away

I order organic grape tomatoes every pick up and am now putting them straight in the freezer, I don’t get them for salads, I get them for cooking although I’ve not been feeling much like cooking hence the freezer meals.

Dh lit the wood stove this morning for the first time this season, feels cozy. It’s getting in the 40’s at night. The thermostat is at to come on before it gets too cold

I buy a lot of those organic grape tomatoes every time I grocery shop, too. I don't cook with them, but I do like snacking on them and use them in my salads. I grabbed a handful for my lunch, today.

 

[WanderLore]

Easy cheap chips, just the basic.
Oil, sauce pan, cheapest flour or corn flat tortilla shells.
Heat oil to medium hot. Cut shells to any shape. Toss in, fry for 30 seconds, throw in bowl with paper towel.
We had a bunch of old salsas to use up.
This is basics. Not adding stuff like make your own salsa, add bacon, peppers etc.
They are very good. Makes a very large bowl.

I always grab a couple packs of shells from Dollar tree when I do my big shop first of month.

 

[nomifyle]

I buy a lot of those organic grape tomatoes every time I grocery shop, too. I don't cook with them, but I do like snacking on them and use them in my salads. I grabbed a handful for my lunch, today.

I chop them up along with some red onion and saute them in olive oil from Scisily and use it as a base to add to. I've stopped eating uncooked tomatoes, lol I can't remember why.

 

[nomifyle]

A few months back I ordered a glass air fryer from amazon. when it came DH asked me what it was and he asked if I was going to use it and I said hopefully. I still haven't used it yet, but hope springs eternal.

Like this but not this one https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Microwave-Dishwasher-Containers-FN101GY/dp/B0DDDD8WD6/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2RX80EHZ64W1&sprefix=glass+air,aps,831&sr=8-9

I need to get better before I try to use it.

 

[anna43]

Got sheets washed, folded and put away. Got out another set but haven't put them on yet. Don't know if I mentioned it before but a friend told me to use exam gloves to help pull up my support stockings, anyway I thought about using them to pull on fitted sheets and it worked. I have no pinch due to arthritis in basal joints so abuse my fingers when grabbing and pulling so anything that eases that is good.

When I shopped yesterday, I bought pork loin and today I cut it into chops and vacuum sealed two to a package. Ended up with six packages which equals 12 servings of meat for me. The half loin was $8.26 at Aldi.

When I took the pork to the freezer, I dug out the turkey breast and put it on top where I can get at it for Thanksgiving. Found the cool whip and realized I should have bought several more. Also, brought up a vacuum sealed package of cranberries to make some relish next week. Baby steps towards Thanksgiving so perhaps I can manage not to get overwhelmed with preparations. I don't do enough cooking for guests to be comfortable with it without excessive planning and organizing.

Repairman came and fixed my oven this morning. Required a replacement part so I assume the bill will not be pleasant which on top of the faucet replacement and fall furnace check means bills will be big. I'd been planning to call a handyman to replace the backdoor to the garage but guess that will need to be postponed for yet another year.

Speaking of bills, I got a letter in the mail that my health supplemental policy premiums will increase on 12/1/25 and that's after an increase in July. So, from $174 on 12/1/24 to $205.53 7/1/25 to $211.64 12/1/25. I still don't think it's fair to raise premiums in the middle of the year on a contract but guess they can as long as they jump through the state insurance hoops. Now I need to call the rep I talked to just yesterday and give her the new information to see if this is still the best policy for me. And just to make my day I got my household and auto insurance information for premiums due the week after Christmas -- Household -- 12/24 $1,338 to 12/25 $1,862. Auto is okay $334 1/1/25, 7/1/25 $334 to $341 1/1/26. How much of that do you think our big (ha) SS cost of living raise will pay after Medicare increase. I'm not sure I won't be going backwards with just the Medicare increase!!

I complain a lot but do manage or at least have so far managed to live on SS without accessing my savings. I know how fortunate I am to have savings available because so many do not. New Year's Day I typically spend several hours closing the prior year's budget ledger and using those figures to prepare the new year's budget. I think this year I've done good but the 12/31/25 figures will let me know if I'm right! I need to close out October today and pay first of the month bills.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I've got everything done that I set out to do, today. A perfect loaf of bread for supper. Cary was well pleased. I even had a slice. The other loaf goes in the freezer for later. One chicken dish and one ground beef dish in the freezer, too. Cary helped me wash up all the dishes, afterwards. We just finished up washing up the supper dishes, too. It's been a long day on my feet. They are letting me know it. Nothing else planned for today. My recliner and glass of wine are calling to me, but it's a bit early for that.

Tomorrow is house cleaning day. Home fellowship this Sunday. I haven't spent much time cleaning all week, so it does really need doing.

I hope festivities don't get started, tomorrow!

 

[moldy]

Finished up work by 3 today. Got a few little things done around home, and mac and cheese made for lunch tomorrow. I've found I really like making it in the instapot - quick and easy! I need to prep for classes restarting this week, and making Tday dinner for an early celebration over grandbaby's birthday. It's hard to believe she's already a year old.

Got some nice photos of oldest DD from her work (they dressed up like Scooby Doo and the gang). She is about 150 days sober. I am so proud of her!

 

[feralferret]

Temperature got down to 33 degrees last night. Warmed up pretty fast once the sun was up. High was 67.

Walmart had the Keystone ground beef cans on sale for $9.22 each so I got a couple of cans. Walmart had everything I wanted in stock for a change. Price Cutter only had two boxes of the Recipe Secrets Vegetable Soup Mix. I had ordered four. At least they carry it. Walmart does not. The potato crop must have been good. The ten pound bags of Idaho potatoes were on sale real cheap.

My wife is planning on making vegetable beef soup next week. I'm looking forward to that. Hopefully she will not get carried away with the onions and cabbage so that it will settle well with my crazy digestive system.

Daughter is having another bad round of kidney stones thanks to her lupus. Wife's spine treatment doesn't seem to have helped much if any. Maybe it just takes a couple of days. I hope so. She can hardly stand or walk at all and is becoming depressed about it.

Looking forward to a restful Sabbath.

 

[moldy]

Going thru some stuff to decide what to do with it. I end up with the weirdest things from the estates I get. Lots of cleaning products this last time around. The woman must have been terrified of COVID - lots of hand sanitizer (works great as a fire starter), cleaning products, and tests. there was a box of paper stuff, that I told the guy I get stuff from that I would like - recipes and such. He just is happy to not have to deal with it. So far, lots of recipes, postcards, and family photos. And a WWII ration book and a baby book from 1926! Sometimes there is some really cool stuff!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

It's seems, so far, that Cary got my computer issue fixed. He ran a diagnostic systems check, and nothing showed up. He rebooted my system, and that seems to have fixed it. So thankful for that.

Just some house cleaning, today. High of 63, but tomorrow's high is only 55 with frost tomorrow night. Sunny skies.

Everyone, be careful out there!

 

[Meemur]

Chilly morning here, low 40s and light showers. Even so, I donned rain gear and took a walk on the paved trail. I'm trying to exceed my step goals in November and December because January and February are difficult months to get in steps.

I'm staying home for the rest of the day. I've got cleaning and baking to do, and I'll work in the garage if it gets a little warmer.

 

[patriotgal]

Furnace repairman is here. Woo-hoo!
Making grocery pickups and dropping an ebay sale at post office.
We went through more stuff in garage yesterday. Starting to see light at end of tunnel.
Printing out a couple cheat sheets for job. Going full time as of Monday. So glad it is remote and I set my own work/break times. DD finally scored a replacement remote job. She is still working for hospital, just a different contract. I see so many people looking for work in the area.

 

[Wildwood]

Dollar Tree shelf stable milk...I've come to the conclusion that my oldest out of date cartons have reached the point that I'm not comfortable using them any more unless it's for cooking or feeding the animals. They expired on 2-28-25.

I ended up with several cases that were out of date so we switched to the DT milk only, several months ago. I started buying fresh milk again about three weeks ago. We've opened a couple of the DT milks with that date that still had a good seal, etc. that were clabbered, in the last month or so...others were still fine. The one I opened this morning when we ran out of fresh milk was not clabbered or sour but it had a slightly old taste. I feel completely safe cooking with it and I even went ahead and drank the cup of coffee I'd already poured it in before I thought to taste it but it wouldn't be good for drinking just because of the slightly old taste. All other brands I've tried had that taste when they were fresh but the DT stuff tastes like fresh milk when it is chilled.

I have a very old dog that won't eat his food if I don't pour a little bit of something on it and milk is his favorite so it won't be wasted and I won't hesitate to cook with it. I've cut down the amount we keep in stock now. Our milk needs aren't as great since the grands are older and kicked their chocolate milk habit. My goal now is to not keep more than I can use six months out from expiration date.

 

[hd5574]

It was upper 30s here last night..we still have not had a frost..that is crazy for here...a least two weeks late..
We ran lots of errands thisbweek so don't need to go anywhere for a few days..a friend is coming over today...to help DH...add the last two batteries to the ecoflow system...they are heavy...plus he is interested in getting one for them..

Continuing to ad recipes that will be easy to make from stored items...and taste great too...that is the challenge..have picked up some of the East Indian sauces..in extra mild...we like hot pepper but their food,can go to set you on fire....easy to add canned chicken to them...but experimented with adding canned veggies to them also...they were great..then served over rice..DH and I were able to two get 2 full meals from each jar of sauce..we were both really full ...walked in to Food Lion...this week and they were on sale for $3.97..a jar..they are small jars about half the size of spaghetti sauce jars..so grabbed about 6 of different flavors..rotisserie chicken works well with them..also..just different way..
Dehydrated a load of sweet corn 4 lbs....yesterday...planning to make beef veggie soup in a couple of days..will hydrate some of that and add to the soup
Grabbed a bunch if different meats and packaged and vacuum sealed those and froze them..
We were at Martin's a sister store Giant Food in our area..and was looking at their chuck roasts..we were both blown away their prices..$57...two rib eye steaks just normal thickness..where about the same price..

We were at BJs..like a Costco or Sam's..they had two rib eye steaks for the same price ...but the were cut twice as thick for that price...and the family pack of pork chips there was $8...and change..

We have been getting smoked sausage made like fat hot dogs..if you haven't seen or tried them.. they are very good on buns or could be cut up like normal smoked sausage...grabbed a couple of packs and vacuum sealed them
The scary thing ..I keep reading that prices are getting ready to take a huge jump from here..

An old friend, a nam vet.. told me years ago to take boneless skinless chicken breast ..put in a baking dish..top with any salsa you like...bake when done top with shredded cheese of your choice..pop back in the oven to melt the cheese..
They are super easy and delicious

 

[hd5574]

Dollar Tree shelf stable milk...I've come to the conclusion that my oldest out of date cartons have reached the point that I'm not comfortable using them any more unless it's for cooking or feeding the animals. They expired on 2-28-25.

I ended up with several cases that were out of date so we switched to the DT milk only, several months ago. I started buying fresh milk again about three weeks ago. We've opened a couple of the DT milks with that date that still had a good seal, etc. that were clabbered, in the last month or so...others were still fine. The one I opened this morning when we ran out of fresh milk was not clabbered or sour but it had a slightly old taste. I feel completely safe cooking with it and I even went ahead and drank the cup of coffee I'd already poured it in before I thought to taste it but it wouldn't be good for drinking just because of the slightly old taste. All other brands I've tried had that taste when they were fresh but the DT stuff tastes like fresh milk when it is chilled.

I have a very old dog that won't eat his food if I don't pour a little bit of something on it and milk is his favorite so it won't be wasted and I won't hesitate to cook with it. I've cut down the amount we keep in stock now. Our milk needs aren't as great since the grands are older and kicked their chocolate milk habit. My goal now is to not keep more than I can use six months out from expiration date.

We have been buying Hooiser Farms powdered dairy products.
Their whole milk is great..just made up...but if you make it ahead and put in fridge it is even better
They have lots of powdered things sour cream, heavy cream, cream cheese
They come in a plastic jar.. .I drop the whole thing in vacuum seal suck bag..suck the air out..it lasts even longer that way..
I have tried shelf stable but even super fresh it always seems to taste a bit weird ...this ...just tastes like milk to us..Amazon carries all their stuff..

 

[ginnie6]

I'm thinking about changing out to our flannel sheets this week. It will be warm during the day but nights in the 40's and dh is gone so....
I'm working on my recipe book today. Got a big 3 ring binder I keep recipes I print off in and every few years I like to update it and get rid of ones I don't use. That is ALL I have planned today. Other than the normal of dishes and supper of course. Some type of chicken tonight and it may be a new recipe I've found this morning lol.
I pulled a pork butt and chicken and some beef out of the freezer to cook for this coming week. Meal prepping on Sunday afternoons saves me so much time and hassle during the week. I did once a month cooking when the kids were little and it was awesome but for some reason quit so this is just a shorter time version of that. When dh retires I may have to change how I do things though as the last two at home and I can eat the same three things throughout the week but he wouldn't be happy with that. He likes it 2x and then is done for awhile. Hmm....maybe I'll still do my meal prep, just less and let him cook a couple nights a week!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

An old friend, a nam vet.. told me years ago to take boneless skinless chicken breast ..put in a baking dish..top with any salsa you like...bake when done top with shredded cheese of your choice..pop back in the oven to melt the cheese..

I love quick and simple recipes like that. I have the same recipe. I call it Salsa Chicken. I also have another quick and easy recipe for boneless, skinless, chicken breasts. Spray a baking dish with Pam spray, or other non-stick spray. Add 1 cup of regular white rice and dot with butter. Salt and pepper the chicken breasts and lay on top of the rice. Pour 2 cans of French Onion Soup all over the top, cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.

Since the price of beef is so outrageously expensive these days, we are eating more chicken and pork. Chicken is so versatile.

 

[Wildwood]

It was upper 30s here last night..we still have not had a frost..that is crazy for here...a least two weeks late..
We ran lots of errands thisbweek so don't need to go anywhere for a few days..a friend is coming over today...to help DH...add the last two batteries to the ecoflow system...they are heavy...plus he is interested in getting one for them..

Continuing to ad recipes that will be easy to make from stored items...and taste great too...that is the challenge..have picked up some of the East Indian sauces..in extra mild...we like hot pepper but their food,can go to set you on fire....easy to add canned chicken to them...but experimented with adding canned veggies to them also...they were great..then served over rice..DH and I were able to two get 2 full meals from each jar of sauce..we were both really full ...walked in to Food Lion...this week and they were on sale for $3.97..a jar..they are small jars about half the size of spaghetti sauce jars..so grabbed about 6 of different flavors..rotisserie chicken works well with them..also..just different way..
Dehydrated a load of sweet corn 4 lbs....yesterday...planning to make beef veggie soup in a couple of days..will hydrate some of that and add to the soup
Grabbed a bunch if different meats and packaged and vacuum sealed those and froze them..
We were at Martin's a sister store Giant Food in our area..and was looking at their chuck roasts..we were both blown away their prices..$57...two rib eye steaks just normal thickness..where about the same price..

We were at BJs..like a Costco or Sam's..they had two rib eye steaks for the same price ...but the were cut twice as thick for that price...and the family pack of pork chips there was $8...and change..

We have been getting smoked sausage made like fat hot dogs..if you haven't seen or tried them.. they are very good on buns or could be cut up like normal smoked sausage...grabbed a couple of packs and vacuum sealed them
The scary thing ..I keep reading that prices are getting ready to take a huge jump from here..

An old friend, a nam vet.. told me years ago to take boneless skinless chicken breast ..put in a baking dish..top with any salsa you like...bake when done top with shredded cheese of your choice..pop back in the oven to melt the cheese..
They are super easy and delicious

It's the exact same here with the temps. My tomatoes are loving it and folks in this area are showing off their green tomato hauls on FB...I thought I was special lol.

Beef is being priced out of the reach of common folks and we are all turning to chicken to fill the need. I hope they don't do the same with chicken. I'm just glad we love it.

My easy, always wonderful chicken recipe that I somehow forgot about and haven't cooked in months is boneless, skinless thighs cut in sizes about like a deck of cards, slathered in a mixture of mayo and parmesan cheese. I no longer use a recipe but I'd guess a cup of may and 1/4 a cup of Parm mixed together.

Lay it in a pan lined with foil and sprayed with Pam then sprinkle genersouly with crumbled Ritz crackers that have been crumbled and mixed with melted butter. Sprinkle your favorite seasoned salt on top...I use garlic salt.

Bake at about 350...depends on your oven....for about 45 minutes or so. It will for sure make you slap your mama but it is not the best left over so only cook what you need for a meal. We do eat it left over if there is any left and it is good but not as good. If we have the kids over, there is never any left, no matter how big a pan I use. You just have to go back for one more bite.

 

[hd5574]

I love quick and simple recipes like that. I have the same recipe. I call it Salsa Chicken. I also have another quick and easy recipe for boneless, skinless, chicken breasts. Spray a baking dish with Pam spray, or other non-stick spray. Add 1 cup of regular white rice and dot with butter. Salt and pepper the chicken breasts and lay on top of the rice. Pour 2 cans of French Onion Soup all over the top, cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.

Since the price of beef is so outrageously expensive these days, we are eating more chicken and pork. Chicken is so versatile.

The trick with my DH is to make it taste different...or he doesn't want it.lol

 

[SouthernBreeze]

It's the exact same here with the temps. My tomatoes are loving it and folks in this area are showing off their green tomato hauls on FB...I thought I was special lol.

Beef is being priced out of the reach of common folks and we are all turning to chicken to fill the need. I hope they don't do the same with chicken. I'm just glad we love it.

My easy, always wonderful chicken recipe that I somehow forgot about and haven't cooked in months is boneless, skinless thighs cut in sizes about like a deck of cards, slathered in a mixture of mayo and parmesan cheese. I no longer use a recipe but I'd guess a cup of may and 1/4 a cup of Parm mixed together.

Lay it in a pan lined with foil and sprayed with Pam then sprinkle genersouly with crumbled Ritz crackers that have been crumbled and mixed with melted butter. Sprinkle your favorite seasoned salt on top...I use garlic salt.

Bake at about 350...depends on your oven....for about 45 minutes or so. It will for sure make you slap your mama but it is not the best left over so only cook what you need for a meal. We do eat it left over if there is any left and it is good but not as good. If we have the kids over, there is never any left, no matter how big a pan I use. You just have to go back for one more bite.

Thanks for that recipe! I'm writing it down as soon as I finish my post! It sounds like a "keeper".

 

[moldy]

Looking thru old recipes today and saw a recipe from 1976 for 'mock chicken salad' using tuna. IIRC, chicken prices in the 70s were crazy. I remember eating some beef and tuna growing up - not much chicken.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Looking thru old recipes today and saw a recipe from 1976 for 'mock chicken salad' using tuna. IIRC, chicken prices in the 70s were crazy. I remember eating some beef and tuna growing up - not much chicken.

Chicken and pork have always been a staple of the deep south. Most people raised and slaughtered/butchered their own. Beef was really hard to come buy, and was usually relegated to the rich land owners who had enough land to raise cattle.

Chicken and pork are still far cheaper than beef, and always has been. I did notice the pork prices took a jump when I was buying some the other day. I sure hope it doesn't go the way of beef.

 

[moldy]

@SouthernBreeze - what about goats and sheep? I would think they would have been easier and maybe cheaper to raise than beef. I am trying to avoid pork.

 

[Meemur]

I dunno. Sheep seem to die when you look at them wrong, and while goats are hardy, do you really like goat meat? I'll take chickens and small pigs any day of the week.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

@SouthernBreeze - what about goats and sheep? I would think they would have been easier and maybe cheaper to raise than beef. I am trying to avoid pork.

No, only the rich land owners could raise sheep just like cattle. They had to have plenty of pasture land. Goats have never been a big thing down here. All of that is the way it once was. There are more cattle ranchers down here now than in times past. Goats are also now raised for all the Mexicans that have moved into the area. They love goat meat. I don't know of any sheep farms anywhere around here, though. My maternal grandfather owned a huge cattle ranch, and also raised his own chickens, hogs, turkeys, and had huge fields (corn) and a huge backyard garden and a milk cow for Granny to work and milk. There were also two large lakes on the ranch that he kept stocked with fish. We always had plenty of meat to choose from.

Back in the day, most families did have their own milk cow, backyard chickens, and hogs.

 

[Wildwood]

Thanks for that recipe! I'm writing it down as soon as I finish my post! It sounds like a "keeper".

Ok...I've been thinking about this recipe and tried to find the original but can't. The original called for a whole sleeve of Ritz crackers crushed and I'm guessing about half a stick of melted butter, more or less to mix with that many crackers. I believe the ratio of parmesan to mayo was more than I listed above...I just go by how it looks and feels so I'd probably start with 1/2 cup parmesan to a cup of mayo and increase from there. Also that recipe makes a whole pan of chicken...most of us don't need near that much so reduce accordingly.

Also, after slathering the chicken with the mayo mixture, I rolled it in the crumbled crackers and butter and after I have it in the pan, I sprinkled more on top and then the garlic salt or whatever seasoning you prefer. I use to use Cavenders until I discovered Riega Organic Pink Himalayan Garlic Salt at WM...so, so good. It has more of a roasted garlic taste. I also have a new one that I may try next time...I'm loving Kinder's Caramelized Onion Butter Seasoning. Those young girls that do YouTube videos are not afraid to try new things and a bunch of them are loving the Kinder's so I decided to give it a try. They were right...it's good.

The funny thing is, when I start making it, it all comes back to me so I've been trying to make it in my mind to make sure I give good directions lol. I plan on making it next week so after that I can give an update if anything changes. For just two people, it probably want take but half what I posted, if that. I'm use to cooking with the thought of kids dropping by.

I put my Ritz in a plastic bag and run the rolling pin over them a few times...not too much or it will pulverize.

It's bothering me that I'm forgetting some of our favorites so I'm going to try and make a list. We love this so much and it's so easy that I can't believe it hasn't been on my radar for months. It's the reason I started buying boneless skinless thighs years ago and it's the kind of recipe that you never get tired of.