Planning Dinners

Have you ever tried a Meal Prep place. I own the Meal Makers in Chandler, AZ. You can prepare meals in a short amount of time and have great dinners for the month. Visit www.mealmakers.com or call at ###-###-####. For the month of April if you buy 12 meals you will receive 4 of them free.

M.

We make a meal called swiss chicken and its really easy to prepare. My children are real picky eaters but they love this meal. heat oven to 350 Put boneless skinless chicken breasts in a caserole dish thats oven safe and then salt and pepper on chicken then put swiss cheese on chicken (2pieces per chicken) then mix 1 can of cream of chicken soup with a 1/2 cup white cooking wine. Then put about 2 cups bread cubes on top spread even over chicken then cut up in slices 1 and 1/2 sticks butter and put over bread cubes.Cook in the oven for 1 hour. Everyone i have ever made this meal for has loved it even if they really arent a fan of swiss cheese.

I know someone who works full time and is a mom of four children, she told me about Dream Dinners. She goes once a month and they have all the ingredients there. You choose from the menu online and make the appointment for a convenient time, show up and assemble it yourself. The meals go into the freezer and you use them as you need them. This way there is variety and you always know there is something "homemade" to eat.

menus4moms.com is free and offers weekly meal plans emailed to you plus shopping lists.

Hi K.,
I am a mom of three and homeschool all of them so I can kind of relate to the lack of time in meal making. One thing I like to do is very healthy eating too. However, time and prep is definately a factor. Here are some ideas: Get some mini corn tortillas. Brush it with oil and just put it in the oven until heated well. Open a can of black beans and chop some red onions and cilantro. Or you can just open a can of refried beans. Put out some salsa, shredded cheese and sour cream. They all can make their own tacos! Another one is make your own pizza. Trader Joe's have fresh dough for .99 a bag and whole wheat too. You ususally can make two kid sized pizza from one bag. Or just make your own dough. It really is just a few cups of flour and yeast. Check out www.allrecipes.com for recipes. Open 2 cans of tomatoe sauce and put some shredded cheese and veggies out and they can make their own pizza. Also crock pot is great! Put in whatever veggies and meat you want then pour a large can of cream of mushroom soup. Put it on low and come dinner time make some curly pasta and pour the crock pot meal onto the pasta! Just a few healthy and easy meals for your family. Hope this helps.

My kids love when I make them pigs in a blanket. I use the premade biscuit or croissant dough. I roll it out till it will wrap around the hot dog & I add 1/2 slice of American cheese then bake according to directions on the can (the only thing is you do have to turn them over 1/2 way thru baking so that they cook evenly). Another of the kids favorites is tostadas. The kids like them with just beans & cheese. I like to add shredded chicken, lettuce, tomato & salsa to mine.

Try this link.

http://www.entreesmadeeasy.com/menu.php

My friend goes here and LOVES it! I am planning on trying it this month as well.

Hey there,
Sounds like your busy like I am (actually you're probably busier than me... I only have one to chase around). I have found that Rachel Rays cookbooks are helpful. Most of her meals take only about 30 minutes from start to finish. You can find her cookbooks at Frys and they are usually 25% off the regular price.

Happy Cooking,
Shan

K., there is a new place at Speedway and Wilmot in the same shopping center as Trader Joe's called DinnerMyWay. You can go to their website and look at their menu. They have different items every month to choose from. You go in and they have all of the ingredients ready, you just package them and take them home to freeze and cook at your convenience. Most meals are $19 each but they serve 6, so not too bad. They have a minimum purchase of 3 meals per session. I have been there twice and have been very satisfied with the ease of it all as well as the taste of the meals.

it may be a little easier and fun foryou and your girls to cook together. have each of them choose what they want for dinner as long as its nutritious and includes a protein a vegetable etc. they can look through cookbooks or internet for the recipes and go shopping togehter for ingredients. they will love what they cook because it gives them a sense of belonging. also hels withmath and they dont even know they are doing math, finding out cost and budgeting for each meal, measuring, cooking. try it out once a week then increase. clean up time is easier because whoever cooks doesnt have to clean up so they will look forward to they cooking day. i went through nursing school while working nights and being a single mom so i know how important it is to have quality time with your kids when you dont have much time anyway. good luck

Yes! Go to www.kraftmagazine.com and sign up for their free magazine which comes up every season with wonderful recipes that both you and your girls will enjoy. They are low in fat and fun to make.

I'd like to first applaud your endeavors in your pursuit of a nursing degree--in addition to balancing a full time job and being full-time mommy! I work weekend nights as a peds RN and am at home with my girls ages 3 years and the other 9 months during the week.

As far as nutritious meal ideas--maybe try grilling chicken breasts ahead of time and storing 'em for a few days stock, steaming some veggies---they make those microwaveable bags of pre-cut broccoli and carrots. Mac and cheese is a favorite. Baked potatoes are quick and easy too.