Weeknight Meals Made Easy with Longos PLUS $100 Gift Card Giveaway!

What's the worst time of day during the week?  Is it around 4pm after homework and before the evening's activities when you realize that you forgot to take out the chicken from the freezer, the kids are starving and you have to race out of the house to swimming, dance or hockey?  Yup...making weeknight meals that are healthy, affordable, easy and a hit with my boys is a huge challenge for me.

I was really lucky to be asked to try Longo’s "Shop Once, Eat All Week" menu by their food expert, Emily Richards.  She has come up with recipes for 5 meals under $100 that will make feeding the family easier and affordable as our busy schedules start to get even crazier.

I had never done a "batch cook" before but I LOVED making the week's meals on a Sunday afternoon. Grocery Gateway delivered $100 worth of groceries from Longo's and we reviewed the menu, recipes and ingredients.  Even Ty pitched in (picked some great meal-making music to listen to) and it really went quickly and easily!  Who knew that cooking all afternoon could be so much fun!  

By modifying a few ingredients (like no spinach, beans or mushrooms), I followed Longo's simple instructions and planned our whole week of meals.  Some were prepped, some frozen and some split for two meals- super easy and the kids where excited to hear what was "on the menu" for the week!  We really loved the tilapia, roasted cauliflower and meatloaf patties, but the family fave was the amazing Chicken Chili with real chicken breast, not ground chicken like I've made before.  What a great and hearty meal with some delicious toppings and a side salad on a very busy weeknight!  Here's the menu below, and a fabulous contest so that YOU can have as easy a week of meals as I had!  

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Kids loved the meals each night, but Chicken Chili was the biggest hit!

Chicken Chili
PREP 10 min COOK 40 min SERVES 6

1 pkg Longo’s Sliced Mushrooms (we didn't use them)
1 pkg boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 to 3)
2 tsp Longo’s Montreal Steak Spice
1 can Longo's Petite Cut Tomatoes with Garlic and Olive Oil
1 tbsp Longo’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp chili powder
1 cup Western Family Exquisita Mild Salsa
1/4 cup white wine or chicken broth
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed (we eliminated beans)

SPREAD mushrooms in the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking dish, place chicken breasts on top.

SPRINKLE steak spice over chicken and spread the tomatoes over top.

BAKE in preheated 400°F oven for 30 to 40 minutes until chicken reaches 170°F internal
temperature and is no longer pink inside. Let cool.

CHOP chicken and stir into baking dish.

HEAT oil in saucepan over medium heat and cook onion, stir in garlic. Add chili powder and
stir for 30 seconds then stir in salsa, white wine and parsley. Add chicken mixture; stir in
kidney beans. Let cool completely.

PACK in container and freeze for a quick weeknight dinner served with salad.
Top with cheese and crushed tortilla chips.

Want to Win a $100 Gift Card to Longo's so that you can "Shop Once, Eat all Week"?  Enter this contest!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow Longo's Markets on Twitter and Facebook and try Grocery Gateway to save time and money with delivery right to your home!

Longo’s Markets are in the Greater Toronto area – see website for store locations. 

Random winner will be selected October 13th, 2014.