Barrington 220 School District Chief Communications Officer Morgan Delack spends her days managing media inquiries and communications for our schools, but she has her hands full when she heads home at night. Morgan and her husband Nathan have two very young children so making quick and healthy dishes that her kids will actually eat is Morgan’s mealtime mission. Heinen’s Grocery recently gave the Delacks a gift card to help Morgan prepare a special meal for her whole family for our Heinen’s Sunday Supper series here at 365Barrington.com. With ingredients found at Heinen’s, Morgan cooked up a feast fit for her whole family!
Dinner with the Delacks
by Morgan Delack, Chief Communications Officer for the Barrington 220 School District
Cooking used to be a hobby of mine that I enjoyed doing on a daily basis. I loved pouring over cook books and food blogs to find a delicious recipe I hadn’t tried yet. On weekends, I had plenty of time to play around in the kitchen and whip up a hearty meal. Then I had two kids in less than two years, and things changed a little bit.
With two little ones running around my house, my attention is constantly divided. Instead of choosing recipes that require a lot of preparation and cook time, I tend to select simple, nutrient-packed dishes with kid-friendly (and husband-friendly) ingredients. Sunday dinners are no different. This Sunday’s menu selection included:
- Grilled flank steak
- Corn on the cob
- Heinen’s kale salad
- Steamed green beans
- Caprese salad
I started my meal prep at Heinen’s, which is a normal occurrence for the Delack family. We are loyal Heinen’s customers because of their fresh, delicious foods at fair prices. The fact that the store is in walking distance of home doesn’t hurt, either!
Some of the vegetables I chose for our dinner came from Heinen’s in-store farmers’ market section. This produce comes from farms nearby and is always at the peak of freshness. I enjoy reading where our food came from on the labels Heinen’s provides on each item.
The meat selections at Heinen’s never disappoint. It is always fresh and butchers are typically available to answer any questions or offer cooking suggestions when needed. My family buys all of our meats here at the store.
After gathering my ingredients, I started my food prep. Thankfully, Sundays are usually a day I can count on my husband, Nathan, being home to help with the kids. He runs a busy cinematography business in Barrington and is often filming weddings on Fridays and Saturday. I was able to prepare and cook our entire meal in about 30 minutes. Just in time for my in-laws, Vince and Cindy Delack, to arrive. They live in Naperville and will often visit with us on Sunday evenings.
Caprese salad is a favorite in this home. Heinen’s staff introduced me to burrata cheese, which is similar to mozzarella, but much creamier! I use this in the salad and it’s always a big hit.
I seasoned the flank steak with worcestershire sauce and a pinch of Two Brother’s all-purpose seasoning. I can’t rave enough about this stuff. I sprinkle it on most meats and vegetables to add a hint of flavor.
I recently discovered this delicious kale salad made in-store at Heinen’s. It’s sold in the prepared foods section at $7.99 pound. Packed with zesty flavors like lemon and walnuts, this has become my go-to salad when I don’t have time to make one myself. I purchased enough for five people and the total price was only $4.
Paired with steamed green beans and fresh corn, our dinner plate was colorful and nutritious!
My 2-year-old daughter is extremely picky when it comes to food. I try to cook things I know she’ll eat, like cheese, corn, steak and green beans.
My son, who will be one in a couple of weeks, will eat anything! He gobbled up this meal without any hesitation.
It’s always a pleasure to enjoy great food with great company, and this Sunday supper certainly fit the bill. Thanks for joining us at the dinner table!
Heinen’s Grocery is located at 500 N. Hough Street, between E. Main Street and Route 14 (next to Meathead’s) in Barrington, Illinois. They’re open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit Heinens.com.
………………………………………………………
About the Author
Morgan Delack is in Media Relations and Social Media for Barrington Community Unit School District 220.
She handles social media, media outreach and other press-related tasks for the district.
Morgan has worked for several years in both television and web-based news.
She lives in Barrington with her husband and two children. In her free time, Morgan enjoys exercise, cooking, reading and being outdoors.
You can reach her at (847) 842-3536 or MDelack@Barrington220.org. Follow Morgan’s Barrington 220 updates at Facebook.com/Barrington220.
