I grew up in a household where maids were instructed to match food dishes. It's like Menu by Numbers where on a Friday we were served with a Fish dish with matching munggo (lentils) and pinakbet (stir fry veggies cooked in shrimp paste), Saturdays - Beef Sinigang (Tom Yum Goong ) with matching galunggong (local fish) and Sundays - Nilagang Baka (Beef Stew with potatoes/veggies) with matching lumpia (egg roll).
I wondered if our grandmothers had a big convention one day and agreed to invent this food logic to keep the maids
busy or just to make sure we stay in the table for hours with a big belly after every meal......only to start again for the next meal! I have so much respect for people in charge of the preparation process as I have no time to spend hours in the kitchen cutting up vegetables.
Thank heavens for Sams Club and this Frozen Mixed Veggies ($< 7 per bag where I usually divide the package to make three dishes), I can conveniently prepare my side dishes in less than 10 minutes. This packet serves as the basic foundation to my everyday cooking and all I need to do is add the fresh veggies I love (Yes, I follow the Menu by Numbers and comply to the matching technique too!). There's a sauce that goes with it but its too sweet for us so I opted to use my own seasonings!
So if you are looking for a convenient everyday side dish that goes well with any main dish and easy on the budget, try this one:
1/3 bag of Mixed veggies
Green beans (Optional)
1 tbsp vegetable oil
cooked shrimp (or chicken)
onion
salt
pepper
granulated garlic
onion powder
soy sauce
hoisin sauce (optional)
Estimate cost: $6-10 (Serves 5)
STEP 1:
Saute onion in vegetable oil
STEP 2:
Add vegetables
STEP 3:
Add cooked shrimp and let stand for 3 minutes
STEP 4:
Season with soy sauce, salt, pepper, seasoning.
Simmer for another 3 minutes
STEP 5:
Serve and enjoy
