Why is fast food so appealing? Could it be because it is fast? Or maybe because it isn’t a lot of work on our part?
Well, here is one way that you can have fast food at home…
We have a fast food basket in our fridge. It contains all sandwich condiments, meats (including grilled chicken strips and pre-cooked burgers), cheese, tortillas, flat bread, and other things that can be added to our quick lunch. All you have to do is grab the basket, make your fast food and then put it all back in the basket and stick the whole thing in the refrigerator. This eliminates the problem of having to organize the ingredients according to cheeses, meats, condiments, etc. before putting them back.
A bonus to this method is that if we want anything else from the fridge then we can just toss it in the basket for easy carrying. I know, lazy, but what is fast food? hmmmm?
We can also declare “fast food night” and I just throw in some paper plates and sit the basket in the center of the table and everyone makes their own food. And of course, clean up is easy!
So what do you do to speed up the process of quick meals?
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I like your basket idea, Amy.
Sometimes we’ll have snacks for lunch or an easy supper (if David is working). Items include string cheese, salami, cut apples, yogurt, pretzels with peanut butter and honey, and anything else that’s handy!
Very cool idea!
I have a favorite, never-fail chicken marinade, so I marinate and grill about 6 chicken breasts at a time, then divide them into snack bags (single portions) and freeze them. Perfect for wraps, salads, mixing with pasta or rice, or even making a (heaven forbid) ….sandwich! Always have string cheese, different mustards and salsas, and lettuces. THE BEST and healthy fast food for us!
I love this idea, and linked back to your post from my blog!
Great idea! I will have to clean out our fridge first though before I can put anything like that in there.
I love this idea! Fast food for us comes from the deep freezer – taquito’s, frozen pizza’s, etc.
What a wonderful idea!!!! Quick meals at our house are sheppard’s pie, tacos or speghetti
Great idea! Sometimes I use a whole loaf of bread to make PB&J; sandwiches. I half them (triangles, of course) and put them in a big zipper bag for the kids to eat any time they want. It's good for those mornings I'm too busy to make a decent breakfast for myself and dont feel like having cereal.
I am loving this idea. I do the same thing for snacks out of the pantry but had not thought about one in the fridge. I am on my way to the store right now to get a “fast food” basket! Love it! Thanks!
I may be ashamed to say this with all of you great cooks…..but I have discovered Super Suppers. I call them once a month and they make up the “main course” that I have requested, and then I throw a side with it. How simple, but at least we are not eating out.
But I do love the basket idea. I “purged” my fridge and pantry this week. It felt good!!
Quesadillas and tacos at my house. Corn tortillas, cheddar cheese, refried beans, and chicken (all from Costco, so the most you have to do is grate the cheese and open the can of beans) and a few packages of hot sauce from Taco Bell… now that’s…
Good Eats.
~Luke
I’ll try this again. I bumbled some words up and could not edit after I posted.
I was saying…. Believe it or not my 102 year old grandmother (I accidently left out the word “grandmother”, which made it sound like I HAD a 102 year old. LOL) does the same thing and has for years. Her basket is a lot smaller, but it holds all her sandwhich stuff. I also do this, but I love the idea of tossing in cooked chicken, burgers, and tortillas. :0)
One thing I do to make dinner time easier is to have and follow a menu. When I do that, I have everything on hand and I’m not running to the store on a whim.
I love it when moms can share their ideas with each other. :0)
Absolutely stealing this idea! Having it all in one basket will free up some space for better organizing other items.
I keep browned ground beef (in quart freezer bags) and browned beef tips in the freezer. I also put chicken and porkchops (usually 4 or 5 per freezer bag) in with marinade. If I need them quick then I and thaw them in the microwave and throw them on the grill – no hassle because the marinade is already included.
LauraLee – HA! Do you want to know my secret? Hurricane Gustav came through a couple of months ago and caused me to have to clean my refrigerator spotless.
You should have seen it before!
Cynthia – Oooh. I love rubbermaids in the freezer too. Do you premake any meal?
Another GREAT idea. I use rubbermaid type plastic containers to organize things in my freezer, but I never thought to do that in the fridge!
Awesome idea, and VERRRRRY organized. Opening my refrigerator, well, hmmmm, let’s just say it can be risky.
It’s not quite as clean and organized, but you made me wanna do something about that!
Christy – HaHa! Yes, you still have to assmeble them but it is much quicker than unloading and reloading the fridge. And we have frozen dinners on occasion too.
Angela – I love the basket! In fact, I have a smaller one just for salad stuff!
Jennifer – I’m glad you like the idea. Thank you so much for being such an encourager!
Great idea, I love it!
Smiles!
Awesome idea… we have ‘grab and go’ stuff in the fridge but a basket would make it so much easier.
Don’t you still have to assemble them?
Home fast food for us is Patio Mexican TV dinners. Yuck and bad…I know.