In case you did not know, I am a vegetarian and my husband is a very understanding meat-eater. He is always kind and does not usually complain about the lack of meat in most of our meals, but it's been a while since he had a home-cooked meat-filled meal. So tonight, the crock-pot is dedicated to him and him only. Marriage IS about compromise, right?
His meal tonight consists mostly of left-over veggies from some minestrone I made last week. What is one to do with unused bulk red-potatoes, carrots, and celary? Make a hearty crock-pot meal of course! The recipe is from my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. I love Better Homes and Gardens books and magazines because they are relatively inclusive of vegetarian options.
So back to the recipe, it includes the obvious for most hearty "meat and potato" dishes: potatoes, carrots, onions, and beef. For a crock-pot you want a pretty substantial cut of beef that will hold up for the long-haul. I have not eaten meat for a year and a half now so I'm rusty. When it comes to a split house, the butcher should be your new best friend. The butcher at our local grocer was wonderful and helped me find a cut that was not HUGE and would be the perfect size for just one person to eat over two to four meals for left-overs. It is a lovely piece of boneless shoulder roast...just a little over a pound.
Now, I know not everyone is willing to buy more expensive meat when the cheap stuff is so readily available and nice to the budget. It all looks the same, right? What you choose to put in your or your loved one's body is completely your choice. The facts are that animal cruelty IS a problem in America's factory farms, but in addition to the cruelty factor is the humane factor. Most animals in factory farms spend a majority of their short lives sitting in their own feces and being pumped full of hormones and antibiotics. For these reasons, I prefer to get what little meat I buy from a local farmer or a market that supports local farms. Yes, the prices are a little higher, but it is what you are choosing to put in your body. Skimp on something else; trust me it is worth the sacrifice. Not only will you be putting a purer food in your body, but you will be supporting your local farmers and economy as well. And it just tastes better. Everyone wins.
Ok, back to the crock-pot meal. In addition to the veggies and meat, the only other ingredients are beef-bouillon granules, Worcestershire sauce, and dried spices. I love this recipe because it consists of things you probably already have in your pantry. And it's a crock-pot meal! Everyone goes in the hot-tub and you just go about and do your own thing for the remainder of the day. Not to mention this meal really is easy on the pocket-book. Just plan ahead...if you have left-over celery, onions, carrots, and potatoes, go buy some meat and there is you or your loved one's meat meal! You probably cannot even order a large pepperoni pizza for that price tag.
As for compromise? I am lazy today and absolutely do not feel like cooking one meal, much less two! So yes, I am doing the unthinkable....frozen dinner! Now, before you food snobs go about judging my choice, let me elaborate. Frozen dinners are not just limited to Hungry Man meals! In an ideal world, I would have a lovely frozen home-made veggie lasagna in the freezer or pesto sauce frozen from the warm summer months...the possibilities are endless! But we just recently moved a couple months ago so no home-made frozen meals just yet. So in times like this, I call on Amy's. You can get these frozen dinners EVERYWHERE these days. Even the dreadful Wal-Mart carries Amy's products. For $3 to $4 you can get a pretty tasty vegetarian Indian, Mexican, or Italian meal. You can even get a filling burrito for a little more than a buck. Your excuse for the sub-par fast food dollar menus? This evening, while the hubby is enjoying a meaty slow-cooked meal, I will be enjoying a quickly cooked vegetarian Indian dinner. Win-win.
So, I will post pictures of our split-house meal later this evening. But there you have it. With a little bit of compromise and a helpful butcher, a split-house meal can be completed on a lazy day, lasts for a few days, and is budget-friendly! Hmm...what should I plan for next week?
So here are the pics as promised:
