Raines Realm

Ahhh, the time of year when planning family trips, preparing for Thanksgiving di,ner, and shopping for presents make your already busy life almost unbearable. Well, the good news is that with these simple tricks, you can make meals a snap and eliminate some of the stress. 1. Plan your meals With so many things competing for your time these days, the grocery store should not be one of them. Plan your meals a week in advance so that you go to the store armed with a complete list. Try opting for simple breakfasts, such as fruit and yogurt or smoothies. Here's a quick and easy smoothie recipe: https://youtu.be/neil5RiwnRQ  Leftover dinners can make great lunches and cut your prep time in half. Think casseroles, chilis, and other one pot dishes. 2. Utilize Meal Prep Using a portion of your morning or afternoon on a day off to prepare meals ahead of time is an excellent time-saver. Make several meals in advance and freeze or refrigerate for the rest of the week. You can h...

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2017 may be the year of the rooster, but goat is predicted to dominate the dinner table. The U.S. is now catching up with the rest of the world when it come to this delicious protein staple. When I was in primary school, (many moons ago), we had a guest restaurant come in and cook for us. They made goat stew. There were a lot of kids that skipped lunch that day and out of those that ate it, there was only one who went back for seconds...yep, you guessed it, it was me. I've always enjoyed trying new foods and perhaps it was then that I realized I was a future "foodie". The goat stew was amazing. The meat was tender, the potatoes and vegetables adding just the right notes of flavor and texture. It was delicious! So, imagine how excited I am that it's finally trending for the new year. And why not? Many other countries already utilize this versatile, lean red meat. Its low in fat, cholesterol, and calories. Goat meat actually ha...