Favorite Recipes

Sometimes it is hard to keep track of all of the great recipes that are our there. Today, I thought I would make it a little easier by linking up some of the favorite Families.com recipes that we have posted over the years. It is a good selection of different kinds of food, from soup to desert, although I have to say that I am partial to the desert. Enjoy! *** The Serious Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate Cake Have you ever seen the gigantic chocolate cake that Costco sells? It is a 5 layer chocolate cake, with chocolatey whipped frosting and … Continue reading

Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinners

The holidays are over, the kids are back in school, and your chaotic weeknight ritual has returned. Juggling a job, kids, a house and chauffeuring duties can really compromise menu planning, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The following simple yet delicious entrees prove that there is a way to get a healthy dinner on the table without spending hours in the kitchen: CHICKEN NOODLE CASSEROLE Ingredients: 6 tablespoons butter, divided 1 cup finely diced onion 1 1/2 cups finely diced celery 1/4 cup finely diced green pepper 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 2 cans … Continue reading

Easy College Eats

Outside the dining halls, college students typically survive on mac and cheese, ramen noodles, cereal, and beer. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are thousands of simple and inexpensive recipes even a busy college co-ed with limited cooking resources can whip up. The following easy dishes prove that you don’t have to be a skilled chef to make a nutritious and delicious meal: SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE WITH BOWTIE PASTA Ingredients: 1 (12-ounce) package bowtie pasta 2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 pound hot Italian sausage, casings removed and crumbled 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1/2 cup … Continue reading

Weeknight Meals: Simple is Best

If you are a busy home cook, who also does time as the family chauffeur, maid and counselor, then you know simple is best. This is especially true when it comes to getting dinner on the table on hectic school nights. While simple is preferred, it doesn’t mean having to sacrifice texture and flavor. The following recipes illustrate that simple can be tasty and satisfying: SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND RICE Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds of hot Italian sausage, casings removed (you can use mild if your kids don’t like spicy foods) 5 cups cooked white rice 1 cup cooked wild … Continue reading

Simple Weeknight Meals

It’s Monday morning, do you know what you are making for dinner this week? If you are short on time and money, then consider the following quick, easy and affordable recipes that can be on the table in less than an hour: BAKED CHICKEN STRIPS Ingredients: 1 box seasoned croutons, crushed 1 cup Grated Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon dried parsley 1 teaspoon garlic salt 4 egg whites, beaten 1/4 cup water 4 boneless chicken breasts, cut in strips Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix croutons, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and garlic salt. In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites … Continue reading

Time Saving Recipes for Trick-or-Treat Night

Who has time to whip up a four-course meal on Halloween? With the doorbell constantly ringing, your kids screaming about missing costumes pieces and the dog trying to eat out of the treat bowl, most of us are lucky to get one course on the table. That’s why Halloween is the perfect night to cook up one-pot wonders such as chili. A big pot of hot and hearty chili is simple to make and can be prepared well before those mini ghosts and goblins come knocking. Another bonus with chili is that it tastes even better reheated so when your … Continue reading

Quick and Easy Weeknight Recipes

With Halloween just a few days away you might be looking for dinner recipes that are quick and easy to prepare. If you are like me, then you also want a recipe that contains more nutrients than a bag of Skittles, so your little ghosts and goblins have the energy they need to canvas the neighborhood. Growing up my parents wouldn’t allow us to begin trick-or-treating until we ate a nutritious dinner. Of course, getting squirmy, excited kids to chow down on a plate full of chicken and broccoli was never an easy task. These days parents have a bigger … Continue reading

Quick and Easy Weekday Meals

With school back in session and after-school activities in full swing those nights of leisurely weeknight dinners on the back deck seem like a distant memory. These days home cooks are lucky to get a couple courses on the table between dropping one child off at soccer and picking the other one up from dance. The following fish recipes are ideal for families on the go. They don’t require a ton of prep nor do they call for you to spend time basting, sauteing, stirring or flipping. Rather, for these healthy dishes to come out perfectly delicious all you need … Continue reading

Get a Handle on Back to School Meals

Sadly, summer is fading away and soon (if it hasn’t happened in your home already) families will return to the daily grind of preparing for school and work. This, of course, means that parents everywhere will soon be juggling mealtime with kids yelling for help finding a lost notebook, permission slip or sock. So how can you change your youngest child’s soiled diaper, make sure your oldest has his backpack together, get breakfast on the table, and pack lunchboxes all before the school bus rolls up in front of your house? Try these portable meals that are great for families … Continue reading

More Quick and Easy Back to School Meals—Wrap and Go

Even if your children are not enrolled in year round school the business of getting ready to head back to class is well underway in most households. (Heck, our Wal-Mart already moved the school supplies to make room for Halloween decorations.) With so much to do and so little time to do it preparing 4-course meals is out of the question for many home cooks. If you are pressed for time, but still want to get a healthy meal on the table then these next recipes might come in very handy during the next couple of weeks. The first is … Continue reading