GainesvilleMoms.com

I am going to be getting really busy as school gears up, as I am sure most of you all will. Do you have any quick dinner meals to share?
(I know that sites like Pillsbury.com has a ton of these types. Do you have any favorites?)

I like to cook tacos (supper easy!) I also cook double the meat and freeze half. That way when I cook them again I can just reheat and thaw, all at once, in the microwave. This is also great for throwing together enchiladas, nachos, etc.

If make a decent size pot of chili (on a weekend or in a Crockpot) you can take the leftovers, place them in a baking dish. Then get a couple boxes of cornbread mix. After mixing the batter according to the directions, pour over the chili and bake as indicated on the cornbread mix box.


Making chicken wings (the cheating, fast way) Take either chicken wings or boneless/skinless chicken breasts (cut into slices like fingers) and bake till done. Pour your chicken wing sauce over them. Serve with salad rolls (or other bread)
Fast and easy wing sauce: half cup of butter (melted) and enough Louisiana hot sauce to taste, (This will equal almost the same amount of butter) Mix well.

I try to throw together casseroles or baked dishes that can be prepared the night before then popped in the oven when I get home. Our favorites are chicken and rice, stuffed shells, and broccoli, chicken and cheese casserole. I just throw these in the oven when I get home, play with the kids for 30 minutes and we're ready to go.

I love crockpot meals. One of our favorite easy ones is this:

chicken (frozen or fresh, thighs or breasts or whatever)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn, drained
1 jar salsa

Cook on low. Top with shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro, green onions, or whatever you want. We eat this with tortilla chips.

Crock pot meals are wonderful and so easy. When I have a busy week, I will go on the Internet and type in "award-winning crock pot meals." I have tried many and almost all have been very good. There are also lots of cookbooks on sale on e-Bay, including crock pot ones. And as you wait in line in Publix or another grocery store, always check out the aisle rack for recipe booklets. Sometimes there are crock pot recipe booklets offered for under $5.00 and I have always found some delicous recipes in them.

Also try DOUBLING recipes and then freezing the second half for a future meal. I often cook dishes on the weekend and then freeze either all or 1/2 of them for later eating. My family loves my chili (an award-winner I found on the Internet), so I never make less than 2x what I need for a meal; I have frozen chili in the freezer now and we'll have it sometime next month. All I have to do is throw together a salad and bake some packaged corn bread. It's a quick, but tasty meal.