So I got this feeling about an hour before dinner group(s) began to check online to see where I'd be eating at tonight. (The reader should be aware that I am a member of two dinner groups that overlap on Mondays and Wednesdays.) I pulled up Google Calendars and discovered 2 names: Jon King (apartment 125) and my OWN!
The time was 5:20. My dinner group of 8 was due to arrive at 6:30. That gave me 5 minutes to panic, 15 minutes of total travel time, 15 minutes at the grocery store, 4 minutes for unpredictable friend-encounters along the way (which I completely used up), 30 minutes to cooking and 1 minute to catch my breath. I stood up from my chair, put a different shirt on (backwards), grabbed my keys and took off for Maceys. Fortunately, I backed into my parking stall, shaving 5 seconds off of my driving time.
Everything went according to plan. I was totally in the zone at the super market. I cruised around the perimeter of the store like a man possessed. Celery looked good, bananas looked cheap [read: perfect], ¿DONDÉ the marinated chicken? Got it! And, I'm outta here.
Back at the apartment, I had the foresight to start some rice and pre-heat the oven. So I quickly "Pam"ed a pan, packed in the chicken and closed the oven, hoping that it would be enough time. While the chicken was baking, I put the bananas in a bowl, slapped some PB on the celery and steamed some leftover vegetables in a pot. In the end, I had only spent $12 had still had 10 minutes to kill. It turned out to be one of the best dinner group meals I've ever cooked. (The chicken was SOOOO juicy; I should under-cook it more often. JK.)
Menu
Bryan's Quicky Meal of Healthy Goodness- Pre-marinated Chicken - $8
- Assorted Vegetables Leftover from Costco Bag - $1
- Brown rice - Gift from my roommate, Reed
- Bananas - $2
- Celery with Peanutbutter - $2
- Brita Water - Priceless
Wow, well done! You didn't even resort to pizza or frozen lasagna.
ReplyDeleteI'm very impressed! I love dinner group, but i'm not very good at making it as inexpensive as you.
ReplyDeleteGood work, I'm definitely impressed.
ReplyDeleteI'm also impressed by the pricetag. I'm especially impressed that you started the rice before you left. You definitely had your head on straight even if your shirt was backwards.
ReplyDeleteBrita: priceless :) ha ha
Whoaaaa! I don't know if I'm more proud of you or more impressed by your skills and lack of panic! That could be such a nightmare! Did you reveal your hectic schedule to the participants? Just think what you could do if you really tried!!!
ReplyDeleteI've never bought marinated chicken. Mebbe I should give it a go. Nice work on pulling off a fab dinner.
ReplyDelete