A Cooking/Baking Fest in the Kitchen

Yesterday I spent the majority of my afternoon in the kitchen. Taking care of my health by staying on the GI Diet and cooking almost every meal of the week for my husband and I is a lot of work. In order to get ready for the week I took advantage of some time alone in the house to get prepared for the week so that I would have less work to do when I get home from work.

So my marathon of baking and cooking included making:

2 batches of Chocolate Zucchini Muffins - which we will eat as a snack each day and will last us at least two weeks

2 batches of Blueberry Rock Cakes - again to have as a snack here and there over the next few weeks.

1 batch of strawberry jam for on our toast in the mornings

1 pot of Ham and Split Pea Soup for dinner on Monday night (and leftovers for lunch on Tuesday)

1 Chicken and Rice Casserole for dinner Tuesday night (and leftovers for lunch on Wednesday)

1 batch of basic spaghetti sauce for dinner on Thursday night (and left overs for lunch on Friday, the rest to be frozen for dinner next week)

Every Wednesday we go for a run and sushi with our friends so we are covered for food until Friday night. I have planned something that is quick and easy to make for dinner on Friday because who wants to spend an hour in the kitchen after a long week.

Chicken Rice Casserole

I have made this dish two or three times already. You have your vegetables, meat and grain all in one dish so making it is a snap and there are plenty of leftovers. At first I was not used to working with ground chicken and I was hesitant to try it out but now that I have worked with it I am ok with it and not as quick to dismiss recipes with ground poultry in them.

SERVED WITH: Nothing else is needed.

COOKING TIPS: I cook the rice before I add it to the casserole. The first time I didn't and it took way to long to cook it through. Even though I pre cooked the rice I still put it in the oven for the full hour suggested in the recipe.

RATING: 6. It is a good stand by recipe because it is easy to make and filling but not the most exciting dish flavour wise.