3 Quick & Easy Meals I Made After Hurricane Helene
Hey guys, welcome back to my channel! This video is a lot different than my last one. Life has somewhat returned to normal after the hurricane, but things are still far from perfect.
We’ve got our power back and school has resumed, but the mountains around us are still heavily affected. My heart and prayers go out to all those still suffering and to the incredible people working on rescue efforts across Western North Carolina.
Today, I want to share how I’ve been restocking our fridge and freezers after the storm and what I’ve done to help make that process a little easier.
Table of contents
Restocking After the Storm
After everything we went through, I went on a big grocery run to restock the basics. It came to about $400, and honestly, it doesn’t feel like much in my fridge at the moment! Replenishing things like sauces, condiments, and basic ingredients takes time and money, but we’re slowly getting there.
To help us with this transition, I ordered an Every Plate box. Just to be clear, this isn’t a sponsored post—I paid for this box myself—but it’s been a real help as we get back on our feet.
I’ve seen a deal where Every Plate offers meals for $2.99 per serving, so I thought, why not give it a shot? I ordered three meals, each with two servings, to help us get started.
Let me take you through the meals we cooked this week and how they turned out!
Meal 1: Chicken Sausage Tomato Linguini
Our first meal was Chicken Sausage Tomato Linguini. Here’s what I used:
- Linguini
- Tomato paste
- Onion
- Garlic
- Chicken sausage
- Diced tomatoes (substituted for a roma tomato)
- Cream cheese
Cooking Steps:
- I started by sautéing the chicken sausage and onion until browned, then added garlic and tomato paste.
- After adding ¾ cup of water, I stirred it and brought it to a simmer before incorporating cream cheese and a bit of butter.
- The sauce came together beautifully, even though I had to swap out the roma tomato for canned diced tomatoes because the one in my box wasn’t in great shape.
- I combined the sauce with cooked linguini, portioned it out into two meal prep bowls, and topped it with cheese.
Verdict: This meal was delicious and super easy to make! It was great for dinner and even better as leftovers the next day.
Meal 2: Cheeseburger Crunch Wraps
The second meal was Cheeseburger Crunch Wraps, and let me tell you—this one was a hit!
Ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Baby potatoes
- Onion
- Cucumber (for quick pickles)
- Flour tortillas
- Dijon mustard
- Mozzarella cheese
- White wine vinegar
Cooking Steps:
- First, I prepped quick pickles with cucumber slices, white wine vinegar, sugar, and salt, and let them sit to marinate.
- I roasted potato wedges in the oven and caramelized some onions while browning the ground beef.
- After making a tangy sauce with Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup, I assembled the wraps by spreading the sauce on tortillas, layering with beef, cheese, and the pickles, and then pan-searing them until crispy.
Verdict: These crunchy wraps were amazing! The flavors were great, and paired with the roasted potatoes, it made for a satisfying meal. We prepped extra, so we had lunch ready for the next day too.
Meal 3: Greek Pork Chops with Cucumber Tomato Couscous Salad
The final meal in the box was Greek Pork Chops served with a cucumber-tomato couscous salad.
Ingredients:
- Pork chops
- Couscous
- Cucumber
- Tomato
- Garlic
- Sour cream
- Greek vinaigrette
Cooking Steps:
- I sautéed garlic in butter and added couscous, cooking it with chicken stock until tender.
- Meanwhile, I diced cucumber and tomato for a fresh salad, tossing it in Greek vinaigrette.
- I seared the pork chops, then made a creamy sauce with sour cream and more vinaigrette.
Verdict: While the pork chops were good, this was probably my least favorite meal of the three. But the couscous salad was light, refreshing, and perfect for pairing with other meals during the week.
Why Every Plate Helped Me
I’m so glad I decided to try Every Plate while restocking. The pre-portioned ingredients made it easy to make meals without overbuying, which is crucial when you’re trying to restock a fridge from scratch. The deal I got—three meals for $29—was a lifesaver, and it gave us a break from the stress of meal planning during this hectic time.
Again, this isn’t sponsored, but I’ve left a link in the video description box here if you want to check them out. It might help you too, especially if you’re in a similar situation!
Final Thoughts
I’ve been overwhelmed by the love and support from you all after my last video about the hurricane. Your kind words, prayers, and even super thanks mean the world to me. Thank you so much for being here with me through this journey.
I hope these meal ideas help you as much as they’ve helped me, and I’ll see you in my next video. Take care, and stay strong!
For more recipe ideas, read 10 No-Cook Meals You Can Prepare During a Power Outage.
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