Angel Food Ministries Food review

Just thought I'd let everyone know how my first Angel Food Ministries box went. First off - getting it was nice and simple, the place that we went to was very fast an efficient.

The box was made to feed a family of four for one week (at least for dinners) though you still needed to make some extra sides etc. We are a family of six (though baby boy is still nursing, so it's just me just eating a little extra:) so I did have to adapt some of the meals, and stretch the meat (which is what I usually do to save money anyway) but some required no stretching.

Though I usually strive to make my family homecooked meals the chicken fingers and fish sticks were easy fixes after a TaeKwonDo belt-test and to give to the baby-sitter on our date night when I made my husband take me to see "New Moon".

So over all - our first angel food box was a helpful addition to our meals and food budget. I will be ordering in January as well and keep you updated. In the meantime - you may want to try it for yourself and lower that food budget.

Pics of some of the meals I made here

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Chicken Potato Pancakes

This is a great way to use up your leftover chicken, you can even throw in some leftover veggies or whatever else you have to use up.

What's in the mix...
- mashed potatoes (with some cornstarch. egg and seasoning)
- shredded chicken thighs
- sauteed onions & garlic with herbs

Dip in beaten eggs and then potato flakes.
This is filling enough to simply serve with a side salad and you're done. My ten year old son liked it so much that the leftovers went in hos lunch bag the next day.

$5 Dinner Challenge

Thai Chicken Wraps

This one was adapted from Sandra Lee's recipe. A very simple and inexpensive meal. The sauce was just chunky peanut butter, garlic, lime juice, sugar and water whisked together. Adjust the amounts to meet your taste buds and the consistency you like.

Put shredded chicken on a tortilla, top with the sauce, greens and cucumbers.

Check out more affordable meals at the $5 dinner challenge.

Help for your holiday and grocery budget

Check out Angel Food Ministries to help your food budget this Holiday season (or any season). There is no income level required, anyone can order, too many of us are effected by todays economy. You can even order food to bless another family this season. There are many sites nationwide. Check out the site to find a pick-up and order location near you.

They have a monthly menu. This month their signature box provides food for one week for a family of four for only $30 (You can order multiple boxes. (Box includes 2 lbs NY Strip Steak, 1.5 lb boneless pork roast, 1 lb chicken breast fajita strips, 1 lb lean ground beef, 1.5 lb all white meat chicken tenders, 1 lb bake or fry fish sticks (32 count), 1 lb hickory smoked center cut ham, 1 lb frozen baby lima beans, 1 lb frozen green beans, 2 lbs frozen french fries, 2 lb bag fresh apples, 10 ct flour tortillas, 2% shelf stable milk, one dozen eggs and a dessert, pretty good for $30!)

They also have a senior/convenience box for $28 which provides prepared meals for seniors or people on the go (this months includes meals like...roasted chicken with red potatoes sugar snap peas and carrots, swedish meatballs with sides, meatloaf with sides etc. check the site for a full listing.)

On the December menu is also an allergen free food box, a 6lb assorted grill meat box, a special 2" 4.5 lb steak combo, a 10 lb IQF assorted poultry box, meat and cheese Christmas gift box, premium fruit and veggie box, and an assorted Christmas fruit box.

Hurry to place your order for December - my local site's orders are due today.

Please use me as a referal (janinenfleming@gmail.com)

Chicken & Black Bean Tortilla Soup

Tonight's dinner came from the fact that I had leftover tortilla taco shells from last night, vegetables to use up and chicken in the freezer, plus I watched both Rachel Ray and the Contessa make this on Food Network today.


To start I chopped onions and peppers added some minced garlic and sauteed in melted smart balance. At the same time I poached chicken thighs and chicken breast tenderloins in broth made with bullion.

I added tomatoes that I had diced and a can of chicken stock, then I scraped the bits off the bottom of the pan, which gave the veggies a kind of roasted effect.

I added the following spices.
- Adobo Chili Powder
- Adobo
- Cilantro
- Chili Powder
- Bay Leaves (don't forget to remove)
Use whatever amounts suits your taste buds.

I strained the stock the chicken was cooking in and added it along with a can of corn (kept the liquid to sweeten it a bit) and black beans (these were originally dried, it helps to cook up a bunch at once and freeze them in individual bags, about a cans worth for various recipes)

I broke up my leftover taco shells and served on top of the soup. You can also add the tortilla shells or chips to the soup to thicken it.
My eight year old son made the corn muffins (with a little help & from a box) for our dinner. The best thing was - this made enough to freeze some for another whole meal.

Rachel Ray's Warm Chicken Piccata Spinach Salad

This one is from Rachel Ray's Express Lane Meals (pg 51) which is one cookbook of my growing collection that I keep going back to for good, fast, easy meals.

I substituted onions for shallots and chopped frozen spinach for fresh to cut costs and I omitted the lemon juice because I didn't have any lemons, but the white wine and capers added plenty of flavor. Tip - you can get cooking wine for a much smaller price in the international isle in some stores. I get it at my local Shoprite.

What's in it...
- 3 boneless chicken breasts (great way to stretch chicken by chopping it and adding it into something)
- salt & pepper
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- rolls
- rice
- butter
- one medium onion chopped
- 3 small spoonfuls of chopped garlic (from the jar, don't tell anyone:)
- 3 tablespoons capers
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 2 boxes of frozen chopped spinach

First I browned the chicken in Olive Oil, when it was done I removed it and let it sit till the end, when I chopped it and added it in.

Sauteed the onions, garlic and capers in olive oil and 1 TBSP butter, then added white wine and let reduce.

Added the spinach and then the chicken.

Served it up two ways, my boys ate it with rolls and my daughter and I had it over rice, cause that's the kind of girls we are.

This was a nice, healthy, and affordable meal. My kids ate it surprisingly well even with the spinach factor. The boys seem to eat anything better when they can make it a sandwich.