Easy Meals
 

Any suggestions for really quick and easy to make meals?

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich? It might help if there were some more information as to what type of meals you were wanting.. and for who.

Ham, bologna, roast beef, etc. is readily available at most grocery stores.

Put some mayo, cheese, one or more of the aforementioned meats together, and you've got yourself a nice sandwich!

Else, Pizza Pops/Pockets also gets the trick done :lol:

Try this discussion in the Tilted Cooking section. If these don't quite fit what you are looking for, try doing a search of that section. You should find something there.

When you do have time to make big meals, go all out (you have the oven on anyway...) and prepare extra & freeze meals for later use. I actually just recently purchased a huge pot so when I make spaghetti (sauce) or chili I can make a whole lot & freeze the extra. Then when I need to make a meal quick I can use the fresh pasta from the grocery store that cooks quick & microwave the frozen sauce & have supper ready in 10 minutes.
I also got a crock pot for valentines day & enjoy the fact I can throw in food in the morning & have a meal ready when I get home from work.
Of course, many meals can be prepared with using a pasta (or rice), a meat, and a sauce combination. Just use a bag of prepared salad from the grocers & there you go!

I think the best idea is to make a lot of something and then package the leftovers into smaller portions for a later date. I make a big pancake breakfast every Sunday morning, and use a ziplock bag to freeze the extras. I reheat them in the microwave with some turkey sausage links, add a banana and juce for a nice, quick breakfast on Tuesday and Thursday.

I make bread in the bread machine during the day, and the kids love mac and cheese (Annie's, for you New Englanders) and fruit cocktail and fresh bread, with milk and baby carrots. It's a 10-minute meal, and I feel that I've at least covered the bases on a hectic day.

My kids also love pulled pork sandwiches. It's a crockpot recipe, and the leftovers are easily frozen for later.

tacos/burritos with fresh veggies and fresh salsa and ground turkey -- another favorite

I try to hit all the food groups, especially the veggies. My kids are lean and mean and green, just the way I like em

beans are your best friend.
Things to do with a can of beans:

empty into a skillet with most of the sauce, add cheese shreds, cumin, garlic and onion powder. Stir until the cheese disintegrates into a thick sauce, and serve.

Drain, wash, and add to a green salad with dressing.

Put three or more kinds into a pot, add an entire head of some leafy green like kale or chard, add a can of tomatoes, onion, and anything else you like. Complete the protein with pasta, rice, or meat.

Puree and heat for refried beans to make burritoes.

Make in a skillet with only a little of the can liquid, add chopped chipotle chili to taste, simmer till most of the sauce is gone. Put into bols and top with cheese and guacamole.

Add to macaroni and cheese for extra fiber and protein.

Mix refried beans, rice, and pepper jack cheese for quick and extremely satisfying lunch.

The list is near-infinite....

Crock pots are so easy to use, just throw what you like in, turn it on low and away you go. I also tend to overcook and freeze, leftovers don't really seem like leftovers. I figure that its easier to double a receipe as it is to clean a pot twice.

An old family favourite: Pita Pizzas (also known as mini-pizza)

Use either a pita (don't cut it open or anything) or an english muffin half. Add pizza sauce and cheese and any other topping you want and throw it in the toaster oven.