Matthew Biswas
MDI Contributor
What’s the most intimidating room in your home?
For some men, it’s the bathroom – looking in the mirror and seeing an old man in your PJ’s. For some, it’s the garage as many don’t have the mechanical skills our dads have.
For me, it was the kitchen.
My wife moved out and left behind a family who was used to the most amazing meals, desserts, and treats. For 19 years, I rarely thought about what was for dinner. I made omelets and French toast on the weekends, and I made countless packed lunches, and I could reheat like a madman.
Yet, those days were over! I was now 100% responsible for everything that went on in my home for my three kids (19, 14, and 9). I’d never gone to the grocery store without a list made by someone else, planned a weekly menu, and certainly not tried to prepare three squares a day on a never-ending basis.
I was on my own.
The first thing I did was search “easy meal planning for a solo dad.” The results were brutal, simplistic menus with nothing but soup and sandwiches, chicken nuggets, and frozen pizza. My family deserved better. I was already committed to changing the way I did everything in my life (a marital crisis will do that for you). I was leveling up my faith, fitness, finances, and family, so food was now included in that list. (Note this is two years before joining MDI.)
I was lucky in my home there were no picky eaters and no food allergies. Very grateful that this gave me a lot more options.
I’ve made healthy tasty and unique meals standard in my home and it’s not that hard. You can do it too.
Are you ready to boost the way you eat and have your family coming back for more?
Read on:
- Start with leftovers in mind. This allows your kids to be independent on nights when you are tied up or when the family is going in different directions. Steak, pork chops, etc. are great served fresh, but get dried out quickly in the fridge and don’t reheat well. Make meatloaf in muffin trays. Mini meatloaves are quick to heat up, can be eaten “handheld,” are super easy to freeze, look unique, and are ideal for those needing lots of protein. Another meal that provides great leftovers – pulled pork.
Bonus points: Serve pulled pork with mashed potatoes on the bottom of a waffle cone. It will give the family the carnival experience without getting in the car. - Make your pot the star. Focus on the “one-pot meal.” Protein, carbs, and veggies in one dish will make you a hero. The mess can be contained, there’s no dodging vegetables, and it makes for an easy meal to be packed up and taken to school or work. Meals like chicken fried rice and Sheppard’s pie hammer hunger.
Here’s the hack: Put boiling water in your wide-mouth thermos for a couple of minutes, swish, and dump. Then insert the already-heated food. The cold in the thermos liner is conquered by the hot water. This keeps food hotter for longer. - Seventies Sundays. Take your family back in time with a weekly meal that they see on Stranger Things. The “big” family dinner can be a great way to wrap up the weekend, spend quality time together, with an opportunity to invite family and make new friends, without making yourself crazy. A glazed spiral ham basically cooks itself. Low and slow in the oven, a bunt pan, a whole chicken, and lots of rough-chopped veggies make for an awesome meal and a hilarious-looking spectacle on your table, Salmon, rice, veggies, and some tangy spices teleport your family across the globe as you enjoy rice bowls fit for an emperor (See that glorious recipe below).
Pro Tip: Buy an electronic meat thermometer ($20 – $30). Push it in the meat when the oven goes on and wait for the beep. This puts your mind at ease and will prevent your food from drying out or worse. - Boost your brunch. With a few extra minutes, you can make your morning meal Instagram-worthy. Bananas fosters on French toast and pancakes is an amazing alternative to maple syrup. The aging veggies, the last few chunks of ham, and an oven-rated frying pan make an awesome frittata. A loaf of bread, eggs, sugar, and spices on Saturday night makes a French toast bake on Sunday.
Helpful Hint: Go to the grocery store or bakery late in the day and get a discounted French stick, Challah Brioche, etc. Breakfast on a budget – what more can you ask for?
With the kitchen no longer being intimating, it’s time for me to conquer my shed. It’s a collection of toys, tools, tins, etc. Wish me luck.
Salmon Rice Bowls – Recipe
Who knew being healthy could taste so good? Try it, you’ll like it.
FOR THE SALMON
- 1/3 c. low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 c. chili garlic sauce
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 (4-oz.) salmon fillets
FOR THE SPICY MAYO
- 1/2 c. mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp. Sriracha
- 2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
FOR THE BOWLS
- Cooked rice
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 medium carrot, grated
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- Cilantro leaves, torn Sesame seeds
Directions
- Make salmon: preheat oven to 350° and line a large baking sheet with foil. In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, olive oil, chili garlic sauce, lime juice, honey, and garlic. Add salmon and gently toss to combine. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until salmon is fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Make your life easy. Slice up lemons and place them between the salmon and the baking sheet. This ensures the salmon doesn’t stick and gives the fish an extra zing.
- Make spicy mayo: in a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, Sriracha, and sesame oil.
- Assemble bowls: divide rice among 4 bowls. Top with salmon, avocado, carrot, red onion, cilantro, and sesame seeds. Drizzle with spicy mayo. Best eaten with chop sticks!
Matthew “Biz” Biswas has been a member of Midnights Sons since 2018. A resident of Toronto, he is a business owner, father, semiskilled athlete, rock music aficionado, and closet prepper. He can be reached at matthew@biswas.ca or connect with him on Facebook or Instagram @matthewbiswas.