A Few Favorite Meals for School Nights

One Twitter discussion today was on easy meals once school starts.

I need some ideas for recipes to cook once the school year starts. Something easy that will keep for a few days. Ideas?

— Math by the Mountain (@MathByTheMt) September 2, 2017

Here are a few of my favorites ...

#MTBoSBlaugust Friday Fun Day: Lunch, Anyone?

Packing lunches can be a chore ... but with new cool lunch boxes out there ... the possibilities are limitless!  I love the lunch boxes with multiple sections like Bento, LunchBot, Planetbox.

Consider creating some of these lunches:

Protein Box

Wheat Crackers
Cheese Slices
Peanut Butter
Cucumber Slices
Boiled Egg
Blueberries and Apple Slices








Salad Box

Mixed Greens Salad
Boiled Egg
Cheese Slices
Grapes
What other add-ins might you enjoy?

Roll-Up Box

Turkey Roll Ups are pictured ... but you could even do lettuce roll ups?  Insert your favorite veggies, or tuna/chicken salad, or as pictured, your favorite deli meat.

Add fruit and a handful of nuts!

These boxes can be prepared the night before ... and the variations are many!

I've started a collection on a Pinterest Board ... Check it out!

My favorite resources are listed here:
http://followinginmyshoes.com/bento-2/i-heart-lunch-diet-and-bento-friendly-lunches-for-grown-ups/
http://theroxxbox.com/
http://operationlunchbox.blogspot.com/
http://smashedpeasandcarrots.com/easy-and-healthy-bento-lunch-ideas/
http://www.thesnarkyschoolteacher.com/blog/bento-box-lunch-ideas-for-busy-teachers

#MTBoS12Days Just a few favorite recipes

Friends have been sharing easy meals, crock pot meals.  Here are a few of our favorite meals:

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Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot

Ingredients
Vegetables ... choose several of your favorites like carrots, celery, onion, potato, parsnips, garlic
Whole chicken
Seasonings
1 lemon (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare veggies by washing, peeling, and cutting in large chunks
2. Remove chicken from packaging; remove neck/liver; rinse; pat dry.
3. Season chicken with salt, pepper; add a favorite all purpose seasoning if you want to. Place quartered lemon inside chicken.
4. Put vegetables in crock pot. Set chicken on top of veggies.
5. Cook 6 - 8 hours on low.

Tips

• don't add liquid when roasting chicken
• save skin, bones to make broth.  simply throw discarded parts of chicken back in the crock pot with fresh veggies like onion, carrot, garlic, and celery.  Add a cut  up lemon.  Cook 12 - 24 hours on low.  Add salt to taste.  Use for broth, soup, to make rice, or as a warm drink.

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Crock Pot Baked Potatoes

Use large russet potatoes.  Wash thoroughly. Rub with oil. Place them in the crock pot.  Cook 6 - 8 hours on low.  Yummm!

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Crock Pot Beans

Ingredients

1 bag dried beans (pinto, black-eyed, red, or black beans)

Veggies like onion, garlic, carrot, celery

Ham Shank, ham hock, diced ham, or 6 slices of bacon chopped (Pick just one :))

1 qt boxed broth (optional)

1 tsp cumin

1/4 - 1/2 tsp cayenne

salt - optional (depends what meat you use to season)

Directions

1. Peel, wash, chop veggies.  I usually use one onion, 2 - 3 carrots, and 2 - 3 stalks celery. 
2. Put dried beans (no prep needed), veggies and seasoning meat in crock pot
3. Pour in water ... leave 1 inch at the top of crock pot.  (Use 1 box of broth with water - optional)
4. Stir in seasonings (don't add salt if using ham shank or ham hock)
5. Cook on low 8 hours.  Adjust seasonings as needed in the last hour.

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Roast with 3 Envelopes

 (does use "processed" mixes)

Ingredients

3 lb roast (beef or pork)

1 cup water

1 envelope dry ranch dressing

1 envelope dry italian dressing

1 envelope dry brown gravy

Directions

1. Stir packages with 1 cup water
2. Put roast in crock pot.
3. Pour envelope mixture over roast
4. Cook 6- 8 hours on low.

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Favorite Chicken Casserole

Not a crock pot meal ... but cooks in an hour

Ingredients

Boneless skinless chicken thighs (1.5 lbs approx)

1 cup dry rice

1 cup frozen corn

1 can black beans (drain and rinse)

1 jar salsa (I use Roasted Tomatilla ... but you can use your favorite)

1 cup water or broth

1/2 Tbl chili powder

1/2 tsp oregano

1 cup shredded cheese

Directions

1. Stir together all ingredients except chicken.  Pour in a 9 x 9 casserole dish.
2. Cut thighs in half; push down into salsa mixture in pan.
3. Cover with foil tightly and bake for 1 hour.
4. Remove foil; sprinkle cheese on casserole, and bake for 5 - 10 more minutes, uncovered.

#MTBoSBlaugust #3 Recipe Swap!

Recipe Swap for Busy Teachers ...

Post your favorite recipe in the comments!

These recipes are not original with me ... links to the recipes are included.