Quick meal ideas

Casserole dishes are the best ky. There are literally thousands of casserole recipes - and even crock pot recipes. Another idea I worked into my schedule really works for me. On my off time (if you have a day off), while you're doing your normal cleaning chores and throughout other times, If I don't want to serve casseroles that can easily be reheated and served within a few minutes, I cook throughout the week, especially on my off time, and I plate up meals in Chinette divided plates. Cover them in foil and place them in the freezer. It's like having frozen TV dinners that anybody in the famiy can easily pop into the microwave whenever they have the need. For instance, if I want to cook a whole fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and a vegetable, I place two pieces of chicken, some potatoes and gravy and the vegetable onto a plate. Cover it with foil and label what it is and the date I cooked it. I throw it into the freezer just for the purpose of having already cooked meals. Then, on a particularly busy day or a hectic one, all I have to do is take off the foil and pop the plate covered with a paper towel into the microwave. Voila' - instant dinner. I have reserved a whole shelf in the freezer for dinners like this. You would be surprised how much time you can save if you take the time to prepare a week's worth of meals all in one day. While it might take time to cook like this on one day, it saves a bundle of time and energy througout the week. It works for me and allows the family a good selection of precooked meals.

Here is a meal that I cook in 30min tops. Preheat oven to 350degrees 2 keilbasa in a baking pan with enough water to coat the bottom. Add about 3 handfulls of brown sugar to the pan making shure to put some on top of the keilbasa. Place in oven and cook for 30min thawed and 45min for frozen. While that is cooking you can then make what ever side dishes you want to go with it, veggies, potatoes, mac & cheese...what ever it is your family will eat. By cooking more than 1 thing at the same time you saving time. Hope you enjoy.

If you don't already have one, get a crock pot or slow cooker. You can start it when you leave for work, and dinner will be ready when you get home. It's perfect for making soups and stews. Here is a recipe that I really like.... Crock pot Meatballs 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup 1/2 (16 ounce) container sour cream 3 pounds frozen Italian-style meatballs (you could also make and freeze your own, this is just to speed up cooking time) 1 (16 ounce) package uncooked egg noodles 1/4 cup butter DIRECTIONS In a large slow cooker, mix together the cream of celery soup, French onion soup, and sour cream. Stir in the meatballs. Cook on high heat for 2-3 hours. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. In a large bowl, toss the pasta with butter. Serve meatballs and sauce over the cooked pasta.

Slow cookers are wonderful....and so easy to prepare. You just throw everything in in the morning and set it on low and by the time you get home you just add the seasonings. Make sure you get a new one so you don't have to worry about it shorting out while at work. And there are a lot who even have digital timers on it. I have a cookbook from "Taste of Homes" that has loads of reccipes. ANother dish that is easy and covers all the basics is a family favorite. This is best made stove top Potatoes (peeled and cut into fourths) Polish/Smoked sausage Green beans Butter onions (optional) Peel and cut potatoes place them in the bottom of a large pot, place the green beans and onions in (I love frozen beans for this), fill with water to cover the vegetables. Cut up the sausages into small links and place them on top of vegetables with butter. Let cook until potatoes and green beans are soft. The sausage gives the meal an added flavor as the juices seep into the water. I usually serve this with cornbread and another vegetable I nuke.