Quick, Easy Meals

my son loves fish sticks and i don't like the frozen taste so i make easy breaded fish

i just blend some saltines with cesar croutons
mix 1 egg with lemon pepper and powder garlic

just dip the tilapia filets in the egg and then in the saltines and fry with olive oil

with some veggies and a salad .

pasta with tomatoe sauce

broil spaguetti or rottini

brown some ground turkey

mix the pasta with the turkey add some canned tomatoe and serve with parmesan chesse

some salad and garlic bread

I have a little blog that I update at least weekly with my own quick/nutritious/delicious successes in the kitchen - if you're interested. I've found the internet to be my biggest help in finding meal ideas.

www.quicklynutritiousanddelicious.blogspot.com

Good luck!

Sounds like you would really appreciate using a crockpot. Rare is the better feeling than knowing by 8:30, you've got dinner in the bag! Here are two things I like to make in my crockpot:

PORK & SAUERKRAUT
Place O. bag of sauerkraut and O. pork roast in the crockpot. Add on small peeled, diced onion, salt & pepper...8 hr on low or 4 on high.

BBQ BEEF SANDWICHES
Also, place O. 2-3 lb. chuck roast in the crockpot with about half cup water, cook on low all day. Drain water out of crockpot. Shred beef with 2 forks. Mix BBQ sauce with about 1 cup apricot preserves. Pour BBQ mixture on meat, mix. Warm through for about another 30 minute & serve on rolls. Yum!

You should check out Simple and Delicious magazine, I love their recipes! In the meanwhile here are a few favorite recipes at our house.

Baked Ranch Chicken
This is another favorite recipe at our house
and it's so simple...the best kind of recipe in my opinion!

3/4 Cup Crushed Cornflakes
3/4 Cup Parmesan cheese
1Pkg. Ranch Dressing Mix
8 Chicken Breasts
Melted Butter
Mix the cornflakes, Parmesan cheese, and the package of Ranch dressing mix. Dip the chicken in melted butter. Roll in the cornflakes mixture. Place chicken pieces in a shallow baking dish. Add 1/4-1/2 inch of water to the bottom of the pan so chicken will be tender. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 2-3 hours.

My Mom's Famous Meat Loaf

4 Slices of Bread
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Mustard
1 Cup Ketchup
2 Tablespoons Minced Onion
1 Teaspoon Salt
3 Eggs
1/2 Cup Oatmeal
2 Pounds Ground Beef

Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, minced onion, salt, egg and oatmeal in a large bowl. Shape meat mixture into a loaf in a 9x13 baking pan. In a small bowl combine brown sugar, mustard and ketchup and spread over top of the meat loaf. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

Delicious Hot Sanwich Roll
"My sister gave me this wonderful
recipe, I hope that you enjoy it."

1 Roll of Refrigerated French Bread Dough
1/4 LB. Thinly Sliced Salami
1/2 Lb. Shaved Honey Ham
1/2 Cup Diced Green Pepper-Sauted
1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Tbsp. Melted Butter
Parmesan Cheese

Unroll bread dough into rectangle. Layer the meat and cheese over the top leaving 2 inches along one long side with nothing on it (to seal it when you roll it back up). Sprinkle with green peppers. Roll up and seal ends. Rub with melted butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Bow Ties with Asparagus and Honey Ham

1 package (16oz.) bow tie pasta
1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 pound fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 Tablespoons water
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 pound sliced honey ham cut into thin strips

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring cream to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 6-7 minutes or until slightly thickened. Place asparagus and water in microwave-safe dish. Cover; microwave on high for 6-7 minutes until tender. Drain. Drain pasta and place in a large serving bowl. Add cream, asparagus, Parmesan cheese and honey ham; toss to coat. Yield: 6 servings

I found this awesome website with 8-weeks worth of meals. http://www.momswhothink.com/easy-recipes/easy-dinner-reci... Most of the ingredients are something you would have in your pantry anyways. I tried one last night and it took me like 10 min to brown the meat and then 30 sec to open all the cans and noodles and then 20 min for it to simmer. Easy-Peasy!

I have three kids, homeschool and run a business. And I make almost everything from scratch: ketchup, bread, vegetable ferments and more. So I have a different definition of quick and easy. BUT I really feel the keys to smooth and fast meal preparation are
1. planning! Make a menu. Start tomorrow's meal today. Do the little things to prepare earlier in the day as you go.
2. CROCKPOT IT! Use that thing. It saves so much time!
3. Put a fussy toddler on your back to get your cooking done. Love those slings and soft pack carriers!

One of the most difficult issues we have every week is trying to put food on the table. We can easily go through the motions at times and get in the car and drive our lovely little ones from school to gymnastics and back to home but to create a meal at the end of the day, that requires planning and thought...who has time or energy for that!

I am a foodie through and through but not every meal can be gourmet and if it was, my kids would never eat! So I try and use fresh local ingredients that are in season to prepare delicious meals to keep my kids sitting at the table. Well, my oldest is 4 so I pretty much have to tie him down to his chair to keep him seated but you know what I mean.

Please check out my Market Menu each week for what is on sale in our local grocery stores and a listing of great menu ideas that you can make for your family.

It Takes a Village...
Where Dallas Moms go for Food, Family and Fun

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