TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham shows how to make timesaving meals, using these quick-and-easy shortcuts:
- Items that come in handy in the pantry are canned tomato products such as dried soup packets and/or canned soup, salad dressings, mixed frozen vegetables, rice, pasta and baking mix.
- No time to make the family's favorite meal? Dishes like lasagna and beef stroganoff can be done without all the fuss in a skillet. Cook the noodles on the side, and add to other prepared ingredients.
- Make cheeseburger pie with one pound browned ground beef and one chopped onion. Place in nine-inch pie plate, and add 1/2 cup baking mix, one cup milk and two eggs. Blend with a fork, then sprinkle with your favorite cheese and bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees.
- That old slow cooker in the cupboard is a great timesaver. Simply throw your favorite ingredients in the morning, and when you arrive home, dinner will be prepared!
- Saute any vegetable you have on hand, and toss with pasta noodles and olive oil. Add some Parmesan cheese if you wish.
- Leftovers are a great timesaver. Yesterday’s roast can be today's stew, or make chicken salad out of the rest of the bird you roasted for Sunday dinner.
- Packet cooking is another way to make a meal all at once. Take meat, vegetables, rice and spices, wrap them in foil, and cook. In 20 minutes you will have individual meals all ready to go.
- Salads can be complete meal itself--and ready in about 15 minutes. Try adding different things to make it interesting such as chicken, garbanzo beans, sunflower seeds, even raisins.
