Defrazzle with Simple Meals - 30 Minutes, Start to Finish!

"I can't cook. I use a smoke alarm as a timer." 

~Carol Siskind,

 

Being a Mom can be rather overwhelming at times, and rarely is there a moment more overwhelming than right before dinner when you have no idea to what to make and don't have much time to get it together and everyone's tired and grumpy.

When this happens, we tend to take the easy way out and grab some fast food. We all know, however, that fast food is often high in fat and sugar, and low in good nutrients. It also often takes longer than we think to drive there, wait in line and eat.

To counteract that, I recommend assembling a list of meals that are ready in just 30 minutes from start to finish, keep an ingredient list for these meals in your purse, and always keep your cupboards stocked with what you need so you're ready for these rushed times. In most cases it will actually be faster than heading to a restaurant, and it's much better for the health of your family.

Try these, and let me know what you think! If you have great recipes that fit in this category, send them off to me, and I'll post them!

**********Vegetarian**********

Apple Cheddar Quesadillas with Cranberry Coleslaw

Fromwww.wholefoodsmarket.com

Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available as365 and 365 Organic Everyday Value™ products.

Yield 4

Prepare the tangy coleslaw first, so its flavors can meld while you make the quesadillas.

Cranberry Coleslaw

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 TB lemon juice
• 1 TB sugar
• sea salt, to taste
• 10 oz shredded cabbage coleslaw mix
• 1 large carrot, peeled and grated
• 2 scallions, green and white parts thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Directions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons water, sugar and salt.

2. Combine shredded cabbage, carrot, scallions, cranberries and optional nuts in a large bowl.

3. Pour dressing over cabbage mixture and toss well to coat.

4. Allow coleslaw to sit at least 15 minutes before serving, tossing occasionally.

Quesadillas

• 6 whole wheat tortillas
• 12 oz shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 apples (any sweet, crunchy variety like Gala or Fuji), washed and sliced
• 2 TB butter

Directions

1. Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons cheese over one half of tortilla.

2. Place several apple slices, barely overlapping, on top of cheese.

3. Then sprinkle 2 more tablespoons of cheese on top of apples and fold tortilla in half.

4. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

5. Heat butter in skillet over medium-high heat and cook quesadillas until the cheese melts and the tortillas are golden brown on both sides.

6. Serve immediately with Cranberry Coleslaw.

**********Poultry**********

Last Minute Chicken Dinner

from: allrecipes.com

Yield: 4

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 potatoes, thinly sliced
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 cups frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower combination
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oil in large frying pan over medium high heat.

2. Cook potatoes, stirring frequently until tender-crisp.

3. Stir in chicken, and cook until no longer pink.

4. Reduce heat to medium.

5. Stir in condensed soup, milk, onion, and garlic powder.

6. Arrange vegetables on top, and sprinkle with parsley, marjoram and basil.

7. Cover, and simmer over low heat until chicken is cooked through, and vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

8. Remove from heat, and stir in Parmesan.

**********Fish and Seafood**********

Baked Salmon with Tomatoes & Spinach

from: www.mealsmatter.org

Yield: 4

• 4 Salmon fillets (4 oz each)
• 2 c. Chopped fresh spinach
• 1 c. Sliced mushrooms
• 1 Medium tomato, chopped
• 1/3 c. KRAFT sun-dried tomato vinaigrette

Directions

1. PLACE salmon fillets skin side down in 13x9 baking dish, sprayed w/ cooking spray

2. MIX remaining ingredients until well blended

3. BAKE at 375* 20 - 25 mins or until salmon flakes easily with fork

**********Beef**********

Three Easy Meatball Meals

From: Amanda Carson on "Frugal Moms" yahoo group (thanks, Amanda!)

Yield:4

• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup soft OR 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper

Directions

MEATBALLS

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees

2. In large bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing lightly but thoroughly

3. Pinch off approximately 1-1/2" pieces of beef mixture to make 20 meatballs

4. place in ungreased 15" x 10" jelly roll pan

5. Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until no longer pink and juices run clear

6. Use meatballs in one of the recipes below, proceeding as directed

SPICY BEEF 'N ZUCCHINI SOUP

• 2 cups dried zucchini
• 1 can (14 oz.) ready-to-serve beef broth
• 1 cup prepared chunky salsa
• 1 cup water
• Meatballs
• 1 tblsp. chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

1. In large saucepan, combine the above ingredients except meatballs and cilantro

2. Bring to a boil

3. Reduce heat

4. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes or until zucchini is crisp-tender

5. Stir in meatballs and heat through

6. Top with corn chips, if desired, immediately before serving

ITALIAN MEATBALL SANDWICHES

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup thin bell pepper strips
• 3/4 cup thin onion wedges
• meatballs
• 1 jar (14 oz.) prepared spaghetti sauce

Directions

1. Heat vegetable oil in large skillet over medium heat

2. Add pepper strips and onion wedges and cook until tender

3. Reduce heat to medium low

4. Add meatballs and spaghetti sauce

5. Cover; cook 5 to 6 minutes to heat through, stirring occasionally

6. Spoon equal amounts into 4 split hoagie rolls

7. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese, if desired.

EASY MEATBALL STEW

• 1 jar (12 oz.) brown beef gravy
• 1 small can (8 oz.) stewed tomatoes [undrained]
• 3/4 cup water
• 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pkg. (16 oz.) frozen vegetable [with potato] mixture
• Chopped Parsley for garnish

Directions

1. In large saucepan, combine gravy, tomatoes, water, thyme, and pepper

2. Sitr in vegetable mixture

3. Reduce heat; simmer 10 to 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender

4. Stir in meatballs; heat through

5. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, if desired

Bon Appetit!

 

Darlene Hull

www.mom-defrazzler.com

Darlene Hull is a happily married, Homeschooling mom who is also a speaker, workshop facilitator, writer, and the creator of the Mom-Defrazzler THE resource website for stressed-out moms.

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