Stretch The Meat
Posted by terrepruitt on June 15, 2013
I know that this would not work for every family. This is another recipe using one piece of meat with beans as the source of protein. I know that people have their own ideas about what makes up a dinner. Some people have to have meat. And not just a little meat, but a full serving or more otherwise to them, it is just not dinner. I understand that people are different. If that is you or someone in your family then this will not work for you. But as long as I don’t do it three nights in a row, my husband is ok with it. What I often do is cook three pieces of meat. The first night we each have a piece of meat. Then the next night I stretch the remaining piece into a meal for two. Sometimes . . . . depends on what I am cooking in turns into a meal for four. I have mentioned this before in some of my other post so I like to share “recipe” ideas. Even though it is really easy to throw something together, sometimes it is nice to have someone else do the thinking for you. With everything else that has to be done, if you can just look at something and have it all figured out — YAY!
So this recipe is pretty much like the one in Dinner Desperation. See? It works when you are “desperate”.
Mushrooms, Kale, Beans, Chicken, and Rice
—2 tablespoon olive oil
—1/2 of an onion, chopped
—1 lb mushrooms, chopped or sliced
—2 cups cooked rice (out of the fridge, so leftover)
—2 tablespoons of butter
—one LARGE chicken breast, cooked and chopped
—1 15 1/2-ounce can garbanzo beans/chickpeas, drained and rinsed
—2 teaspoons granulated garlic
—1 bunch of kale, chopped
—salt
—Garlic Salt, to taste
—Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Heat the olive oil and the chopped onion. Add the mushrooms. Cook until almost done. (Done to YOUR tastes) Add a little salt. (Just a little because you need to “save” your salt “layer” for the kale.) Add the rice breaking it up and letting it get soft. Stirring it and allowing it to cook. Use the butter to help the rice get moist (might need to use a bit of liquid too). When the rice is soft, add the chopped chicken. Let it cook for a little bit. Then add the can of garbanzo beans. Sprinkle half of the garlic over mixture. Then add the kale. Sprinkle the rest of the garlic over the kale. And salt. Then stir and cook. Then add more salt and garlic if you want, and pepper.
With this mixture the mushrooms need to cook. Some people don’t like their mushrooms really cooked, I do. So I let them cook pretty much all the way as if I were going to just eat them. When in the other recipe I don’t cook the asparagus THAT much because I like it less cooked. So I add the rice sooner. But in THIS recipe I wait until the mushrooms are done. Also remember, if you are using freshly cooked rice then it won’t take as long to cook/heat up. Also the chicken I used had been seasoned when cooked so that is something to keep in mind when you are flavoring your dish.
Kale is really a great green, however, I think it is really bitter. So I use the salt to tame the bitter. That is why I “save” the salting of the dish for after the kale is added. Typically I would salt the mushrooms, but with kale, I wait for the kale. So the salt goes directly on the kale.
Of course, this is just how I do it. This is an explanation of the order I like it in. You might come up with your own. Oh, maybe you like your kale to be REALLY cooked, so you might want to add it with or after the mushrooms? I like mine just wilted so it goes last.
So what do you think? Mushrooms and kale, anyone?
Terre Pruitt's Blog 
yoshimatrix said
Reblogged this on Riddle me this and commented:
It’s a great post! When I was young and a father raising two toddlers as a single Dad for a period of time. All I had as the Wife had been the one making the money, was AFDC Welfare for families. While I looked for work. Many were the times that I had to make things and find ways to “Stretch” things for us to get by and be happy. Just made me think about the past and how now, in these times of uncertantiy and economic flux, it may be time to remember things that were commonly taught that are not any longer. Don’t forget what you need to know to be able to function, in the event of Disasters, Alien invasion, Military actions, and so on. Nice post Terre!
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terrepruitt said
Thanks, Ernie. Economic reasons is one for which to “Stretch The Meat”. And another is to eat less meat. Whatever the reason it is fun to try different recipes and food. 🙂
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