With our busy lives these days who doesn’t love Quick and Easy Recipes. My dishes require only two to three ingredients and take less than ten minutes usually to put together. All are tasty and kids approved in most cases. I tend to make a big batch (a whole package) of pasta on the weekends or when I have spare time and separate it into usable one-quart freezer bags and freeze it. Then it is quickly available to pop into the crockpot or casserole when you are in a hurry. You don’t have to wait for the water to boil, etc. and one less pot to wash later.
Easy Casseroles
Here are some easy dinner casserole ideas. I love one-dish casseroles. Easy to make and easy to serve, just add a salad and/or vegetables and supper is ready. Many can be made the day before and just popped into the oven when Mom gets home from work, or, if there are teen children at home, they can learn to pop it in the oven so it is ready for a timely dinner,
Hamburger Casserole
This one has more ingredients than most of the others but needs only what you have on hand. It also takes a bit more prep time but makes enough for leftovers the next day so you save time there.
One pound of ground beef browned with one cup of chopped onions and one cup of chopped celery and one cup of chopped bell pepper (green or red). Two cups (or so) of cooked macaroni. Two cups of grated cheese (Monterey Jack or Cheddar). One 8 oz can of Tomato Sauce. Mix it all together in a large casserole dish and bake for one hour at 350 degrees. Note: You can make the cooked macaroni ahead of time and freeze it and just add it right from the freezer into the casserole bowl. Spaghetti can be substituted for the macaroni.
Scalloped Potatoes and Pork Chops
One package of Scalloped or Au Gratin potatoes put in the bottom of a 9×12 Pyrex baking dish. Sprinkle the sauce powder over the dried potatoes and pour half of the milk (see box directions) over the potatoes. Line the pork chops on top and sprinkle them with pepper (I don’t add any more salt because there is enough in the potato seasoning. But this is your choice.) Finally, add the rest of the milk pouring over the pork chops. Bake for one hour at 350 degrees.
Chicken with Dressing
Place one packet of Instant Dressing to a 9×12 Pyrex baking dish. Pour one can of Cream of Chicken mixed with one can of milk on top and stir to moisten the dressing crumbs. Put your chicken breasts on top and then cover it all with a cup (or so) of grated Monterey cheese. Bake for one hour at 350 degrees. Cream of Mushroom or Cream of Celery soup can be substituted for the Cream of Chicken.
Easy Desserts
I use to bake like everyone else, but it was difficult when I was working and now that I’m older and alone, I don’t do much of it anymore. Some quick desserts that I make now and also a reminiscent mini pie from when my Grandmother made pies and made them for us kids with any leftover crust.
Quick Berry Cake
Two packages of frozen berries put in the bottom of the baking dish. Put the batter of a boxed white cake on top. Follow the box directions for the cake batter. Bake according to the box directions. This gives you a yummy cake with a topping and no icing to do.
Mini Leftover Pies
If you are a pie baker, there is always a small amount of pie shell left over after trimming. My grandmother put them into a small pie tin (about 5″ in diameter) and put about an inch of milk, sprinkled sugar and cinnamon on top and put them in the oven with the pies. They were for her kids and us grandkids who couldn’t wait for the big people’s pie to be cut. You might need to watch them in the oven as they will cook faster than the main pie.
Easy Main Dishes
These will all be quick, simple meals, many of which can be thrown into the crockpot in the morning and be ready when everyone gets home in the evening. Minimal and low-cost ingredients will also be involved.
Crockpot Spaghetti
One pound of ground Italian Sausage, mild or spicy to your taste, crumbled into the crockpot, and one can of Hunt’s Pasta Sauce (<$1/can). Dump them in, cover the pot and let it cook – 3+ hours. Add the pasta a half hour or so before you are ready to eat. The pasta can be cooked ahead in large batches and separated into meal sizes and frozen. Just add a package of the frozen pasta to the crockpot a half hour before you are ready to eat.
Poor Man’s Stroganoff (15-minute meal)
You need:
- One package of McCormick Stroganoff Seasoning
- One pound of ground beef (I use ground chuck)
- One cup of milk
- Noodles
Start the water for the noodles and while waiting for it to boil, brown the ground beef in a heavy skillet. Check the boiling water and add the noodles to cook.** Back to the skillet. When brown and crumbly, (pour off any excess fat but a little is needed), sprinkle the Stroganoff Seasoning over the meat in the skillet and add the milk. Stir and then Reduce the temperature and simmer until the noodles are done. About 10-15 minutes. The stroganoff should thicken by then and dinner is ready.
** Do you know that if you put a wooden spoon across the top of a pot that is cooking pasta, that it will NOT boil over?
Pork and Sauerkraut in the Crockpot
Put the pork chops or small pork roast into the crockpot and dump a can or jar of sauerkraut on top of it and let it cook for 3+ hours. You can substitute apple sauce if you don’t like sauerkraut. Mashed potatoes or Spaetzels round up the serving if you want them, but that adds extra work unless you used Instant Potatoes.
My Signature Salads
These are some of my favorites from my past and also things that I like to make now in the hot summer months.
Sunshine Salad
One package of Lemon Jello dissolved with only one cup of hot water, one can of crushed pineapple and one cup of grated carrots. Let it set in the refrigerator overnight.
Christmas Snow Salad
One package Lime Jello dissolved with one cup of hot water. When a bit cooled add one can of crushed pineapple, one 8 oz. package of small curd cottage cheese and one cup of chopped walnuts. Let set overnight in the refrigerator. It will separate so that the white cottage cheese is on top like snow and the walnuts will sort of settle like pebbles on the ground.
Taco Salad
For mine, I use crushed Tortilla Chips rather than a Taco Shell but assemble the normal taco ingredients. I use the Shilling packet of Taco spices to the ground beef and brown the meat. Add salsa from a jar, refried beans (if desired and warmed), grated cheddar cheese, and of course grated iceberg lettuce. An Avacado is also a special treat when they are ripe. And also sour cream, if desired. This can be a make your own dish for the family with them just starting with the chips and adding what they like. Also, ripe chopped tomatoes can be added too.
Spinach Salad
Assemble baby spinach leaves, sliced hard-boiled eggs, bacon bits, water chestnuts (optional). Also Mandarin oranges and sliced mushrooms (opt). I use Catalina Salad Dressing. Hint: Look for Dole Mandarin oranges in the jar – they are packed in fruit juice, not syrup. There are also peaches and mixed fruit. Healthy but still sweet and fewer calories
Side Dishes
Two specialties are here. One from my Pennsylvania Dutch Grandmother and the other from my British mother-in-law, who was a caterer.
Spaetzels
The first recipe that I have put on here is one for my Grandmother’s Spaetzels. These are unique as I’ve never seen a recipe that is similar to the way she made them. And the way she taught me to make them. A Spetzel is sort of a cross between a noodle and a dumpling. And, it is served as a side dish usually with a pork roast and sauerkraut, which is typically the New Year’s Day dinner as a token to wish a good year ahead. For the recipe, go here.
Yorkshire Pudding
I have to try to find this one. It has been so long since I made it.
And when the Quick and Easy Recipes just aren’t quick enough, I offer you the following.
Healthy Choices When Eating Out
While McDonald’s is not at the top of MY list, it is the go-to favorite of kids everywhere. Before heading that way, you might want to read my page about making it a healthy choice.
Unexpected company for dinner?
To spice up these quick and easy recipes for the adults, a bottle of fine wine will make even a meager casserole a feast both for yourself and for unexpected company. It is important to have that extra bottle on hand which you can with our Wine of the Month club. Go here to read about it, or if you are ready to order go straight here.
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