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5 minute meals and fast meals of all kinds can serve up an easier homelife.
5 minute meals mean different things to different people. Some folks
mean they actually want to go from beginning of cooking to eating the
meal in 5 minutes. I can't even make that happen with a frozen pizza.
For most of us in the throes of busy mothering however, 5 minute meals
mean fast meals, easy, and convenient. For me, that means the
throwing-together-part, not including the cooking. Especially if the
cooking involves a couple of minutes in the microwave or using the
crockpot.
(Editor's note: these 5 minute meals are not given as complete
recipes. I assume you know the basics of cooking, like knowing when
your meat is fully cooked, etc. If you are not comfortable in the
kitchen, go to your local library and get some basic learn-to-cook
books. Especially if cooking is not your favorite thing, knowing the
basics will get you in and out of the kitchen that much faster with
satisfying results.)
So, using these fast meals guidelines, here are some of my favorite 5 minute meals.
- Start with 3 large or 4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
Place in crockpot on low. Add one bottle of low-fat or fat-free zesty
Italian salad dressing. Cook on low for 8 hours (again, cooking time
depends upon your chicken and your crockpot. Check time for yourself).
Add 1/2 cup or so of wild rice last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Fast meals idea #2. Brown hamburger, pour about 1/2 cup of salsa
over and melt 1/2 cup cheese on top. One of my young daughter's
favorite 5 minute meals!
Think 'open a can and add' for fast 5 minute meals. - Place 3 or 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in baking pan.
Pour 1 can Italian stewed tomatoes over top. Bake at about 350 degrees
until chicken is done (Do not undercook chicken!!). This is between 20
and 30 minutes for my oven, but you'll need to discover how fast your
oven cooks. Sprinkle cheese over top to melt during last 5 minutes of
baking.
- Place flat flour tortilla on microwavable plate. Open a can of
refried or black beans and one can of corn. Place one layer of beans on
tortilla and spread layer of corn over top. Roll up; sprinkle cheese on
top and microwave until hot.
- Combined precooked chicken, a bag of frozen veggies and a bottle
of sweet and sour sauce for a fast stir fry. Cook chicken first, then
add veggies and bottled sauce.
- Think in terms of building up your favorite convenience foods for
fast meals. Add extra precooked chicken to a can of chicken noodle
soup...add a bag of salad to any meal for instant veggies...add spices
to a can of stewed or diced tomatoes for instant hearty tomato
soup...the possibilities are endless.
Fast 5 minute meals begin with a hearty bread.
- Start with French bread sliced and laid open. Add cooked, browned
hamburger mixed with a can of sloppy joe mix. Sprinkle cheese over top
and heat.
- Toast some hearty wheat bread. Spread a layer of mayo over the
bread; add canned tuna. For added zest add in a little lemon juice or
pickle relish. Top with chopped hard-boiled egg and cheese for a
super-duper open faced sandwich in a snap.
Keep your 5 minute meals healthier.
If you opt for low-fat or nonfat ingredients, you'll go a long ways
towards preserving the health benefits in these 5 minute meals. That's
also why I use the boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Lower fat and
easy for use in fast meals.
5 minute meals tricks and tips.
A well-stocked pantry is the key to fast meals of any sort. Once you
discover a set of 5 minute meals you like, jot them down and keep the
list posted in your pantry. When you use any ingredient in one of these
fast meals, put that ingredient immediately on your grocery list template. Doing this will ensure you will always be ready to cook your 5 minute meals in a flash.
The next time you are at your local grocery store, take a long look at
the impressive array of bottled dressings and sauces available to you.
These are fast meals ready to be cooked! Think in terms of adding your
favorite bottled sauce or dressing to cooked meat (and adding frozen
veggies, where possible) and you'll have several fast meals ready to
go. 5 minute meals are really not that difficult if you think in terms of putting together convenience foods. Remember to choose low-fat, non-fat convenience foods where possible for easier, healthier fast meals.
If you want to plan out your 5 minute meals for maximum efficiency, use my monthly dinner menus printable to help.
Want more fast meals?
Would you like more yummy, convenient, fast meals? The meals listed on my recipes for quick and easy supper
meals page are not quite as quick as these 5 minute meals, but they
come close. And they're also very kid-friendly for easier mothering.
Want grocery savings?See my grocery savings page for tips on how to save money on your grocery shopping.
Colleen Langenfeld is a mother with over 25 years of parenting experience and helps other busy moms at http://www.paintedgold.com.
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