Fast family food

Published 11:18 am Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Don’t let the back-to-school frenzy put a damper on dinner plans. Soccer, dance, football and piano lessons don’t have to keep the family from sitting down for a meal together.

With a little planning – and everyone pitching in – you can create memorable family time around the table, even on the busiest of weeknights. Try some of these quick dinner tips and easy recipes for a delicious family dinner – fast.

Simple is better. During the week, stick to simple family favorites and save multi-step meals and new recipes for the weekends when you have a little more time.

Do double duty. When you brown ground beef or sausage for one meal, go ahead and brown extra to use in another dish later in the week. Rice, cheese and chopped onion can all be put in the freezer and saved for tacos, spaghetti or a skillet dish when you’re pressed for time.

Have a back-up plan. Even the best-laid plans can go awry, so make sure you’ve got something you can put together in a flash. It could be a meal you’ve prepped and frozen that just needs warming up, or some pasta, jarred sauce and whatever vegetables you have on hand that can be tossed together for a quick Italian feast.

Use convenience foods. Save some time and hassle with frozen cut vegetables or bagged salads. Look in the freezer and refrigerator sections of your grocery store to find proteins and sides that help you get a wholesome meal on the table with plenty of time to spare.

For more fast family recipes and money-saving coupons, visit www.bobevans.com.

Source: Bob Evans