The following is a guest post from momAgendaCOMM member Toni Patton.
I am busy both at home during school hours and after school when I kick it into high gear with the homework, practices, dinner, bedtime and all that jazz. Sometimes dinner is my therapy and I love spending a couple hours in the kitchen, other times I am so frazzled or have late practices that long time spent over the stove is not a welcome visitor.
Today I want to share with you some of the quick and easiest recipes I resort to when I either don’t want or have time to spend in the kitchen.
Slow Cooker Roast
Ingredients:
*Any size and cut roast you prefer (we go with whatever is on sale, a good way to pinch pennies is to watch for the buy one get one at your local grocer if they have that)
*Baby Carrots (peeled already, definitely a time saver)
*Small red potatoes (just wash and they are ready)
*White or Yellow onion (optional)
*1 box (2 packets) of Lipton’s Beefy Onion Dry Soup Mix
*1 can (14 oz) cream of mushroom soup (more if you like a thicker gravy)
*Seasonings you prefer (I use Tony Chachere’s, Seasoned Salt, Onion Powder)
Instructions:
1. Season roast and set in slow cooker
2. Add carrots, potatoes & onion (any other veggies if you like)
3. Mix beefy onion soup mix, water and cream soup mix in a bowl. (I start w/ 4 cups water and add more if needed)
4. Pour over roast and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high 6-8 hours. Serve with veggies in dish and rice.
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Ingredients:
*4-6 frozen chicken breasts
*1 can of salsa (whichever you like best)
*1 can of corn (drained)
*1 can of black beans (drained)
*1 block of cream cheese (optional)
Instructions:
1. Combine everything EXCEPT cream cheese and cook on high for 4-6 hours.
2. Add cream cheese last half hour and serve over rice or pasta.
Both of these recipes are “fix and forget” which makes them super easy in my book. They may not be quick in actual cooking time but preparation is and then you just serve.
Salmon Wrapped with Bacon
Ingredients (this is for our size family, can be adjusted as needed):
*5 (5 oz) Salmon Fillets
*5 tsp. whole grain mustard
*5 slices bacon
Instructions:
1. Preheat broiler. Position rack about 4 inches from heat and place broiler pan on rack.
Pat fish dry and sprinkle with salt & pepper. Spread “curved” side with 1 tsp. mustard each.
2. Place one slice bacon lengthwise along top of fillet, tucking ends of bacon under fillet.
3. Thread a skewer through length of fillet to secure bacon.
4. Arrange fish bacon side down on rack of broiler pan and broil 3 minutes. Then, turn over and broil until fish is just cooked through and bacon is crispy. Remove and serve immediately with any side of your choosing.
I hope these meals give you a great idea on some things that are tasty and easy to prepare. When using your momAgenda planner to try and pre-plan your dinners because that is one of the main keys in making dinner time less hectic. The Weekly Menu/Grocery Pad is also helpful when planning out your meals for the upcoming week.
Toni is a member of the Council of Media Moms. Sharing stories about parenting, life and everything in between you can find her on A Daily Dose of Toni. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.