Here at the Co-Op, we always look for new and simple ways to take advantage of our high-quality ingredients to create a delicious dinner. We know that today’s families need meals that can be put together quickly, with minimal ingredients, that the whole family can enjoy, and that use basic ingredients that most of us already have in our pantries.
We have put together 5 delicious meals using Co-Op ingredients and can’t wait to hear how they go over with your family the next time you gather at the dinner table!
Homemade Crab Cakes & Corn Fritters
This meal came together by looking through the pantry and knowing we had some crab meat that needed to get used up and trying to find the best way to use it.
First, you gather up your crab meat and put it into a large bowl. You can use whatever you want as a binder, but some of the most common ingredients include eggs, mayonnaise, bread crumbs, and some herbs and spices, including fresh parsley. Mix all of your ingredients together into walnut-sized balls, spray a baking pan with some oil, and spread the crab cakes out, giving them plenty of space in between. Top each crab cake with some melted butter and stick them in the oven for about 30 minutes at 450°.
We had some Glutino Yankee Cornbread Mix left over from a previous Co-Op purchase and used that to deep fry some corn fritters that resembled the consistency of a perfect hush puppy. Pair it all with some smoked spaghetti squash or your favorite veggie, and you have a simple meal that will work on your next busy weeknight!
Simple Tacos with Ground Pork or Beef
Everyone loves tacos, and when you start with a base of high-quality ground pork or ground sirloin from the Co-Op, it will take your taco night to the next level!
Add in all of your favorite toppings from shredded lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, avocados, sour cream, greek yogurt, and shredded cheese, and dinner will be served. You can always mix it up by serving it with a mix of soft tortilla shells and hard corn taco shells, or even throw everything in a small bowl and dip it with tortilla chips for a budget-friendly recipe.
Deep-Dish Pizza
If you have littles at home, then this simple meal will be a winner for the entire family! We started with a package of Mrs. Hewitt's Focaccia Bread Mix as our crust. This is a simple mix but has a great overall flavor.
Top with your favorite marinara or tomato sauce, a mix of cheeses, pepperoni, or other toppings your family enjoys. This is a fun meal in the fact that you can have kids help put the toppings on, and you can customize different parts of the pizza so that everyone feels like they are making their very own pizza! It's a great addition to any family meal plan! It can also be the perfect snack when you warm it up the next day.
Egg Roll in a Bowl with Ground Pork
If you’re looking for another great way to use up the ground pork that you received in your mixed box, the egg roll in a bowl is not only a great-tasting, simple recipe but is also a healthy meal full of protein and veggies!
The ingredients you will need include your ground pork, shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix, low-sodium soy sauce, ground ginger, and egg. If you want to add some more spice and texture to your dish, you can top it with sriracha, sesame oil, and sliced green onions.
After you brown your ground pork in a large skillet with the garlic, you will add in your cabbage or coleslaw mix and ginger and mix it all together until it gets to the tenderness you prefer. Once it looks good, form a well in the middle of your mixture and crack an egg right in the middle. Then you scramble it into the rest of your mixture on medium-high heat. You can then serve it over rice just as it is or add in some of the above toppings if you prefer. This is a great go-to meal when you're running short on time but still want to provide your family with a healthy dinner.
Smoked Salmon and Pasta
If you want a simple, hearty meal, then look no further than this one! You only need three ingredients, and that is salmon, your choice of pasta (currently at the Co-Op, we are offering cheese-stuffed tortellini and gluten-free penne), and some alfredo sauce. That’s it!
We smoked the salmon for about an hour at 275°, cooked the pasta to desired texture in some boiling water, and then added our alfredo sauce. This family meal would be great for those cool nights coming up! If you want to add in some fresh vegetables, you could throw in spinach, mushrooms, or cherry tomatoes as well. Top with some parmesan cheese for the perfect pick-me-up after a busy day this holiday season!
If you found the above 5 simple family meals using our Co-Op simple ingredients to be something you want to add to your family’s meal rotation, we also encourage you to check out some of our other hearty meals, including our best homemade chili!
If you’re like us, you also like to end a meal with something sweet, and we can take care of you for that as well! Whether you want to try the Rustic Scoop cookie mixes and mix everything together, or you would rather just have something already mixed that you just need to put on a baking sheet like Ms. Hewitt's Cookies , we absolutely have you covered when it comes to all of your upcoming dinner times!