Ask the Moving Company: My Kitchen Is All Packed Up, Have Any Recipes?

As you’re packing up to move (or even if you’re supervising professional movers who are providing packing services for you) you’re hyper-focused on taking all of the things that surround you and putting them into boxes. Sometimes get so crazed with the endless packing that we just start haphazardly throwing things into boxes without thinking about or planning out what we might need.

That’s when we forget to leave out a few items to go in the last box headed out the door. You’ll want to pack your china and most of your pots and pans but keeping a few basic items handy will allow you to eat delicious meals right up until moving day.

These meals will help you take all the perishable food that you won’t be taking with you and use them in the days leading up to your move.

Here are a few recipe ideas that work in one pot, so you won’t need to spend much time on cleanup.

“Lazy” One Pot Pasta

It’s hard to find another recipe that is as simple or cheap as this one pot dish – even when you’re done moving, this is THE dish to bring with you into your new home.

Step one is simple: throw everything into one pan and let it bubble away. Slice the onion, 2 cloves of garlic, olives and roasted peppers. Then, tip the pasta into the base of a deep saucepan then add the olives, peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, chili, basil, tomato paste and a handful of parmesan cheese. Season well with salt and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer for 12-15 minutes, until the pasta is cooked.

Voila. Lazy one pot pasta.

Beef stew

Low on prep time and high on flavor, beef stew can feed you for a couple of days. Start with pre-made vegetable stock and prepared vegetables and stew beef. If you buy pre-cut products from the store, you won’t even need a knife and cutting board. Although if you have veggies that you need to use before your move, this dish is a great way to do it. You can toss almost any vegetable into beef stew and it just adds to the rich flavor.

After searing the beef, simmer it in the stock until tender. Add carrots, celery, onions and one potato several hours before serving. Pop the potatoes in the pot about an hour before the stew is ready. In a pressure cooker, your beef stew will be ready in less than half an hour. If you’re using a slow cooker, expect it to take four to six hours.

Easy chili

Chili is another easy one pot pasta dish you can make on the stove or in your slow cooker. Just brown a couple pounds of ground beef, drain the fat and add a can of tomato sauce and your favorite chili spices. If you’re cooking on the stove, let the mixture simmer for an hour before adding some masa flour and two cans of beans. If you’re using the slow cooker, add the beans with the tomato sauce and wait to add the masa flour. The stove-top method will take about 90 minutes. In the slow cooker, figure on about three hours.

Fall-apart pot roast

Little known fact: it’s called a pot roast because you can make the entire meal in one pot.
You’ll get an especially tender pot roast you use your slow cooker. Cut up your carrots to fit on the bottom of the dish. Add a few stalks of celery and a chopped onion. Season your roast on all sides with salt, pepper, and garlic. Lay your roast on top of the vegetables. Pour in a cup of beef broth, a half stick of butter, a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and a third of a cup of orange juice. You can substitute wine, a mild vinegar or really any highly acidic liquid for the orange juice. Cook for six hours on low. Add chopped potatoes and cook for an additional hour on high.

Chances are, with all the packing and prep work you’ll be doing prior to moving day, you’ll have worked up quite an appetite. Try out these recipes for a satisfying and easy meal to get you through your move so you can enjoy your new home.

Remember – if you don’t use up all of your cans or nonperishable goods, many movers, including Suddath® work with a charity called Move For Hunger that will help get those goods to people in the community who need it.

There are different types of packing services available if you’re looking for help. Feel free to contact us to talk about full, partial or do-it-yourself packing options for your next move.