Recipes for a Busy Life....

I will often crockpot on the weekend and freeze stuff for the week. One of my favorite sites for great recipes is www.crockpot365.blogspot.com

Quick: Steamed fish-
Put a fish filet on a small plate. Top with strips of ginger and green onion. Steam about 8 minutes, ot until done. Finish with a few tsp. soy sauce and 2 T. oil that's been heated to shimmering.
(If that sounds good, but confusing, message me - I'm typing 1 handed while feeding baby :-))

Crockpot:
Tikka Masala Lentils - http://chowreview.blogspot.com/2009/03/tikka-masala-scent...

Hoisin Chicken - http://chowreview.blogspot.com/2009/03/crockpot-hoisin-ch...

Chili - http://chowreview.blogspot.com/2008/09/crockpot-chili.html

The key for me is planning ahead. I have written on index cards each dinner meal, and I rotate through them. Each Monday, I choose 7 cards/meals & then only have to go to the store once. I assign a meal to each day. On the cards I wrote the ingredients I'll need and which of my cookbooks has the recipe.
Good luck!

My husband and I work as well, so I typically try to cook on Sunday so we'll have meals on the ready for the week. Hope you enjoy some of our family staples; I don't have time for anything that requires too much prep or cooking time. Clean up on all of these is pretty simple and quick, too.

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Black Bean Soup:
3 cans black beans
1 jar fresh or canned salsa
about 1 cup chicken stock

Through them all in a stock pot, including the juice from the beans. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Put half of the mixture in a blender and puree. Pour that back into the stock pot and stir. Voila!

You'll get about 5 adult-size servings of soup. Really nice with a dollop of sour cream on top (to cut the heat) and with some nachos on the side (the crunch is good when served along a thick, smooth soup)

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Chicken Soup:
Bag of carrots (1 or 2 lbs) peeled and sliced into big chunks
Half a bag of celery sliced into big chunks
1-2 onions, peeled and sliced into big chunks
Chicken, cut into big chunks (think Oreo-size)
1-2 boxes of chicken stock
Olive oil

Drizzle the oil into a stock pot, medium heat. Through in the chicken. Put the lid on the pot. After about 5 mins, take off lid and give chicken a turn. Grab your veggies and drop them all in. Raise the heat. Add 1-2 boxes of chicken stock; 1 box = 4 cups of liquid, so depending on how much veg you added, put in enough stock so it's soupy. Give it a stir. Let it simmer for about 25 mins so chicken cooks through.

You'll get about 7 adult-size servings. Freezes well, too.

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Broccoli Quiche
Pillsbury ready-to-unroll pie crust (red rectangular package in dairy section at grocery store)
1 onion
1 bag frozen broccoli
about 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup whole milk
3 eggs

Heat oven to 375. Chop up onion and saute with a little olive oil over medium heat until it's softened; just a couple of minutes. While onion cooks, thaw the broccoli; typically you can pop in the microwave for a few mins. Unroll the pie crust and put it into a round baking pan; no need to spray. When onion is done, put it into pan, so it's the bottom layer. Put in broccoli next, then cheese. Sprinkle in a little pepper. In a mixing bowl, crack in the eggs and whisk them (or use a handheld mixer) so they are beaten and light (when they get a little frothy, they're ready; about 4 minutes of hand-whisking or less with the electric hand mixer). Pour the milk into the eggs and stir. Then, pour this over the ingredients in the pan and pop it in the oven. Give it 35-40 minutes to cook, until eggs are set and pie crust looks golden.

You'll get 6 dinner-size servings.

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Lentil Soup
I bag Goya-brand Lentils
couple of carrots, peeled and sliced into small pieces
1-2 stalks of celery, prepared like carrots
1 onion, prepared like carrots
1 box chicken stock

Follow instructions on back on Lentil bag. Sort and rinse lentils. Put veggies in stock pot with a little oil, then add lentils and stock. Let cook, per directions on bag.

You'll get about 6 adult-size servings of soup.

Hi B.,

One recipe I'll throw out is a super easy pot roast. Pull out your crock pot and put in a pot roast (not frozen is best), a package of onion soup mix, a can/bottle of beer, and chopped up vegetables (I usually throw in carrots, celery, a small onion, and small red potatoes). Turn it on low before you leave for work in the morning and when you come home, you'll have a full meal waiting for you. Super easy!

I live by the Fix It and Forget It cookbook. There are loads of recipes for your crock pot, which I find is the quickest way to have dinner ready when we all get home.

My best to you!

B. -

I mainly cook on the weekends and then freeze portion sizes big enough for our family for one night so that I can easily take it out the night before (put it in the fridge) and then do a quick reheat for dinner. I do this with lasagna, pepper steak, pastas, etc. Soups are also really great and you can add stuff to them when you reheat. For example, I make homemade chicken soup and then when I serve it, I throw in frozen chopped spinach and some pasta. I also do individual chicken pot pies which are great and filling. They're time consuming to make, but worth it in the end as you can do a whole bunch at one time to freeze and take out when you need them. If you'd like the recipes for anything I've mentioned, drop me a message back with your e-mail address and I'll send them to you.

- K.

My favorite recipe EVER...

a can or two of baked beans
a pound or so of ground meat
some veggies you like (lima beans & corn are our standard)
potatoes (mashed, baked, whatever)

brown the meat, pour in the beans and veggies, heat and pour over potatoes. Num!

Easy egg sandwiches:

Whisk an egg and mix in whatever you want (bacon crumbles, salt/pepper, torn spinach leaves, etc.). Spritz a LARGE coffee mug with Pam and pour in the egg mixture. Microwave for about 2 minutes. Partway through toss an English muffin in the toaster. Check the egg and flip it if needed (it will cook into a perfect little disk in the mug). If desired, place a slice of cheese on the English muffin when it is ready and put your egg "patty" on. My 2 year old and I like this for an easy dinner with a fruit on the side. Last night we sliced bananas and drizzled melted peanut butter over them (this is also good if you melt a little bit of chocolate in the peanut butter--easy and healthy dessert!). This is great because it only takes a toaster and a microwave and is healthier than scrambling eggs.

This is my husband's absolute favorite, and it is so easy to make: combine apricot jelly, lipton onion soup mix, and french dressing (taste it for the balance). Pour it over chicken breasts that have a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Cook it until the breasts are no longer pink (about 400 degrees, for about 45 minutes - 1 hour). It is almost impossible to overcook this. The sauce makes the chicken so tender. Hope you enjoy it!

One thing I like is pork tenderloin. The receipe is in Betty Crocker book. dont forget to grease the pan first. I salt pepper and garlic the tenderloin, bake at 450(?) for 20-30 min uncovered, remove from oven cover with tin foil and let rest for 15. Easy enough and I can get a load of wash in the mashine or dishes done. Sometime I use seasoning salt. We like to fry pork chops too. But a lot of my problem is having the meat in the refrigerator! So thinking in advance is usually helpful!LOL Tonights dinner is a London Broil in a crock pot with big can of Cream of Mushroom and a packed of french onion soup (can substitute small can of campbells french onion) I cook it on low for 8-10 hrs. Not a huge mushroom flavor either, boy friend doesnt like mushrooms, and he never complains about this.

Check out allrecipes.com -- they've got tons of great tried and tested recipes in a ton of categories and you can even search for something to make based on what you might have in the house like "can of chickpeas, linguine, asiago cheese..."

Martha Stewart's 'Everyday Food' magazine is focused on meals that take less than 30 min to prepare and they've got a pretty good companion website as well.

All else fails- ORDER IN.

Hi B.,

I don't usually freeze ahead unless I'm making soup or stew, but I try to keep it simple. We eat a lot of chicken at our house. 1 easy dish is chicken fajitas. You can marinate the chicken cutlets in the morning in the fridge or just season with salt, pepper and cumin before grilling. I sautee onions and red bell peppers, grill the chicken, mix them together and squeeze some lime over it all, then serve with tortillas, guacamole (homemade is fast and easy, but you can get store bought too), salsa and shredded cheese.

I also buy rotisserie chicken at the supermarket and just make the sides, usually mashed potatoes and broccoli. The left over chicken you can throw into salad or make soup from.

Also check out the Real Simple website. They have a whole section on freeze ahead meals.

-R.

Hi- Buy the book "Saving Dinner". The recipes are simple, simple, and she sets it up weekly for you. The BEST part is that she writes out your grocery list! Good luck.

Hi,

try: http://weelicious.com/

they have good recipies for kids and adults, most are easy to make and very nutrious.

This is my favorite easy recipe. My mom made it growing up and since I married a Polish man I try to make some dishes from his heritage. From start to finish it's done in under 25 minutes with very little hands on work. It can also be sized up very easily to serve more people.

Kielbasa and potatoes with Cucumber Salad

1 kielbasa sausage (or smoked sausage,we use Hillshire Farms Lite Beef Kielbasa or real Polish Kielbasa from the Polish deli)
2 1/2 lbs small red potatoes (or larger ones cut into 2" pieces - no need to peel them)
2 Cucumbers
1/2 C Light Sour Cream
Vinegar
Milk

Put Kielbasa and potatoes in a pot with cold water covering them by about an inch. Bring water to a boil and then lower temperature to medium until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.

While the kielbasa cooks, peel and slice the cucumbers into 1/4" rounds or half moons. In a bowl large enough to hold the cucumbers, mix together sour cream and a dash of vinegar with salt & pepper to taste. Mix in the cucumbers and thin with milk, if needed, to your desired consistency. This really is a trial an error kind of thing. My mother-in-law,a Polish immigrant, taught me to make the salad and she uses no recipes. The salad should be served cold. If the sausage isn't ready store the cukes in the fridge until ready to eat.

When the potatoes are tender, remove the sausage to a cutting board and drain the potatoes. Slice sausages and serve with mustard (my 2yo loves ketchup with her kielbasa) and rye bread on the side. If I am feeling ambitious I may also make a vegetable (usually a frozen bag - cooked in the microwave) as well.

Depending on the sausage you use, you may need to salt the potatoes but most sausages impart enough saltiness while they cook together.

I like to dip the hot potatoes into the sour cream dressing on my plate. :) Yum!

Hope you enjoy!

My husband and I both work full time and I am in school part-time so I completely understand!

BBQ Chicken
Throw a bottle of BBQ sauce over boneless chicken breasts and bake at 425 for 20 minutes... great with micro veggies and sliced bread.

Sausage, Peppers and Onion sandwiches in the slow cooker
Cook hot or sweet sausage links in a bottle of BBQ sauce and 3 cups of water. Leave it on low for 6-8 hours. Add sliced peppers and onion to the cooker 45 minutes before serving and cook on hi setting for 45 minutes. Serve on a roll with a salad.

We LIVE by our slow cooker on nights that I have class. Better Homes and Gardens has an awesome cookbook. It's great to put everything (literally open cans and drop it in) at 6:00 and come home to a great smelling house and a "real" meal!

My husband and I eat alot of black beans... you can make a batch which will last for 3 or 4 day. you can quickly warm them up and make a quick side dish.
A typical meal would be black beans, hard boiled egg, and rice.

You can soak the beans overnight and then cook the beans in water for about 2-3 hours on the weekend while you are home. For one bag of beans, use about 6-8 cups of water. You may need to add some water as you go. Add a 1 tsp or so of salt, some garlic, some cilantro, and a little sprig of celery. Cook the rice (adding carlic, salt, and cilantro is great!) and combine in a bowl. Add some chopped tomato to the rice and beans (we like to use alot of bean broth so it is almost like a soup) and a side of avocado. A hardboiled egg cooked either in a second pot or simply boiled in the beans for the last 20 minutes adds some great protien.
Enjoy!

I hear you. I'm all about the meals that take 15 minutes or so to cook. I used to cook on the weekend and reheat, but have since moved away from that. I am now all about broiling... It is great, even a steak takes less than 15 minutes to broil, and while that is going on I boil some sweet potatos for a mashed sweet potato side, and even make a salad while all of this is going on.
I also make a little rice every couple of days, so I always have it in the fridge since my son loves it with just about anything.
Other easy ones: 1)I get boneless skinless chicken thighs, and quickly saute with little bit of onions, season with sezon poultry seasoning. sear the both sides (a minute or two), and then pour a small can of tomato sauce cover and cook for 15 minutes. It's quick, and while it's cooking you can make a side like steamed sparagus.
I cut up some filet mignon, and toss with green onions and mushrooms in a pan, while it's cooking I add some soy sauce, and top with sesame seeds (do not salt, since soy sauce is already salty).
Last night I made chicken tenderloin breasts, wet them, and roll them in bread crumbs, and saute'd in a little bit of oil (or broil them). My son ate it with rice, while I made it into wraps for my husband and I. It was yummy.
I also slow cook from time to time, such as chuck roast, or brisket.
Filet of tilapia, I put it in a shallow broiling pan, add a little white wine, season with pepper, sprinkle the fish with italian bread crumbs, and grade some parmasan cheese. Broil for about 5 minutes, and it is delicious served with rice and vegetables. You can broil any fish (such as salmon) with a little squeezed lemon juice and olive oil, and will take less than 15 minutes. Good luck to you. I am going to read the other posts to get some ideas myself.

There are crock pot meals and over hundreds or meals that you can do in less than 30 min. You dont need to cut yourself short on all meals. Prepare most of your stuff the night before, vegetables are easy stirfry, chicken ona forman grill, instant mash potatoes, prepare your dough the night before then pizza the next day. there are a lot you can do without doing take out. Lomein is quick and easy, if your into asian food. Freezing your soup as well, or your chilli. Taco kits from the supermarket, then just brown your meat. If you need more, email me. I have a 1 years old, and a 2 year old, so i know its hard but there are ways. Good luck.

This seems like a lot, but it isn't. Everything goes into one dish. Super easy.

Sweet and Spicy chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (can sub with a bunch of tenderloins if you want)
6 tbl Olive Oil
6 tbl Honey
6 tbl Soy Sauce
3 tbl White Vinegar
1 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
1 1/2 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Ground Allspice
1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1 tsp Pepper

Combine all ingredients into a flat baking dish and whisk. Place chicken breasts (you can stab them with a fork or not, I always forget) into slosh and turn a couple times to coat them, and bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

You can also baste or turn the breasts halfway thru, but I always forget that part too.

Helpful tips:
Cayenne Pepper is the heat, add to taste. It can also be sprinkled on after baking (My husband does this because he loves the heat)

Alternate measuring the Oil and Honey. Keeping a fresh coat of oil on the spoon makes it easy for the honey to slide off into the dish.

When I make this, all my measurements are approximate. You really can't screw it up unless you leave out something or put in too much Cayenne Pepper.

Slosh can be doubled. It tastes better 2nd day because the cooked meat soaks up the slosh. Goes great with rice (also very easy to make) and any vege you like.

Looks like you have a lot of great ones already...I will add two of my favorite weight watcher recipes that are super quick and easy and my kids LOVE!!

Chicken, Cheese and Broccoli Caserole

-Cube 1 lb chicken and cook on stove top until done through.
-While the chicken is cooking, steam 1 bag of frozen broccoli.
-Add broccoli to the chicken as well as 1 tsp curry powder, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 can cream of mushroom soup (98% ff if you want to make it a "good for you" meal!), and 12 oz reduced fat velveeta cheese. Stir until well mixed.

*you can serve right from the stove or sometimes I bake it for an additional 15-20 mins in a 13x9 with bread crumbs on top for extra crispiness. If I do it on the stovetop I sometimes cook some instant brown rice to serve it on top of...very yummy and super quick and easy (made it last night in fact for under 1/2 hour!!)

Angel Chicken Pasta

-Cube 1 lb chicken and cook through till done.
-Cook 1 box of Angel Hair Pasta (I use multigrain, the smallest box) according to directions while chicken is cooking.
-In a seperate pan, melt 1/2 c light butter (I substitute half of the butter with chicken stock to make it even lighter) and 4 oz light chive and onion cream cheese.
- add 1 packet of dry ranch dressing mix, and 1/2 cup of white wine and mix until creamy.
-Add chicken to sauce and pour over pasta

**I find the recipe doesn't make a ton of sauce, so if you want it to cover the pasta, I add extra chicken broth and wine until it is good and saucy. Sometimes I also add some steamed broccoli to it for a veggie addition! (This is a fairly fancy one you could even do for an adult dinner party...if you ever get the time to have one!!)

ENJOY!!!

Hi B.,
I hear you about needing to simplify dinner - I'm lucky if there's one day during the week that I'm not heading to baseball practice, music lessons, orthodontist, teaching a class or whatever after work. Have you ever considered getting a crockpot? It's made those busy days easier for me and there are plenty of crockpot/slow cooker recipes out there. I find that if I'm making a dish that has meat/chicken and veggies, I put the meat in before I leave for work and add the veggies after work, before running off to the next thing. Some people cook everything in it all day, but I don't like when the veggies cook for som many hours.
Good luck!

B.-

Have you ever heard of Homemade Gourmet? They have tons of recipes for busy families who still want great, easy home-cooked meals. Go to www.homemadegourmet.com/kgourmet and there is a link to Easy Recipes. The "4 Meals in 4 Minutes" type only need 3-4 ingredients for an entree (one is your meat), and you can make them up in a snap to freeze. There are recipes like Mediterranean Chicken, Garlic Lemon Pork Chops, Pot Roast, Easy Garlic Drumsticks, dozens more. I teach a meal prep class every month and we put 8-10 meals together in less than an hour. Email me directly if you want more information at ____@____.com.

K.

Get a slow cooker! You can chop the veggies the night before. (Or better yet, use veggies like baby carrots!) Throw everything in right before work, and you come home 8 hours later to a great smelling house! :) (You can even make spaghetti sauce, bbq sauce, etc. in the crockpot.) Add a salad to whatever you make, and you've got a great meal.

Totally worth it to buy a good one, with a temperature control. And buy a couple of crockpot cookbooks, too!