As I write this article we are still in the midst of COVID-19 and in week 6 of “Healthy at Home”. It’s been a strange several weeks, to say the least. I’m looking forward to getting back to normal, but with the official announcement today that schools will continue with NTI (non-traditional instruction) for the remainder of the year, I have little hope that “normal” will return before July.
However, it hasn’t been all bad. Although, I have still been somewhat busy with work, my family has been able to enjoy some nice quality time. We have also been able to enjoy many more family meals than normal. Now I know that isn’t everyone’s favorite cup of tea (I’ve seen soooo many posts on Facebook about people being tired of cooking), but I enjoy cooking for my family when I have time. It warms my heart when we can all sit around the table together and share a meal that I made for my family with love.
However, even with the bit of extra time we have, the thought of what I’m making for dinner can be stressful. With that said, I thought I would share some of the recipes that my family most enjoys. And I’m sharing the simple ones that don’t take an hour and a half to prep.
The first recipe is so simple you probably already do it at your house.
Italian Crockpot Chicken
Just throw some chicken breasts in a crockpot and cover with Zesty Italian dressing and cook on low all day. Boil some noodles and open a can of green beans. Instant meal. It’s so easy and it is delicious. My kids love it and I don’t have to think! (I serve it with some of the juice poured over the noodles.)
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Cook your chicken (enough to equal about 4 breasts). Or you can do what I normally do and just open cans. (So easy – wink, wink). Shred the chicken and mix in 1 large sour cream, 2 cans of chicken soup, and 2 tablespoons of poppy seeds. Place in a 13×9 pan and cover with a layer of crushed Ritz crackers. Drizzle melted butter over the top and bake at 350 until bubbly. (I usually let it bake 30-45 minutes.)
Pork Chops and Apples
6 pork chops
6 peeled & sliced apples
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tbsp. butter
Place apple slices in a greased baking dish and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Dot with butter. Place pork chops on top. Cover and bake 1.5 hours at 350 degrees.
Western Meal Casserole
1 lb. ground beef
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. chopped garlic
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 can tomatoes w/ chilies
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can black beans
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 cans crushed tomatoes
3/4 cup instant brown rice
Brown beef and garlic in a pan. Add onion and green pepper; cook until onion is transparent; drain off fat. Combine the meat mixture, salt, chili powder, beans, tomatoes, and rice and place in a casserole dish. Bake covered for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Uncover and sprinkle with cheese and bake 15 more minutes.
Ranch Chicken
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 packet of Ranch dressing seasoning mix
1.5 cups bread crumbs or crushed corn flakes
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Combine the Ranch Seasoning Mix, bread crumbs, and parmesan cheese in a ziploc baggie. Shake well to mix. Dip each chicken breast in the melted butter and then drop in the baggie. Seal the bag and shake to coat the chicken in the mixture. Place chicken in the baking dish and sprinkle any remaining mixture onto the top of the chicken. Bake for 40 minutes. *This is probably my family’s favorite meal.
One trick I have recently learned is to tenderize the meat. Trust me, it makes all the difference in the world – especially with chicken!
These recipes are not fancy but my family enjoys them. They are also fairly easy and they are some of the first recipes that I use with my children when I teach them to prepare meals. Meal prepping as a family has been one of those nice benefits of being at home. We get to spend quality time together, I get to teach my children an important skill, and dinner is prepped much faster than when it’s just me in the kitchen.
I know that we are all anxious for things to go back to “normal”. I am, too, and I have days when I think to myself, “I can’t stand to walk into the kitchen. I’m going to scream if I have to think about dinner!” But in my more sane moments, I know that making dinner for my family is a blessing and an opportunity to show them how much I love them. I hope that you are able to take at least one of these recipes and use it in your own kitchen to show your family how much you love them. Maybe you can even prep a meal together and make a memory. I wish you health and blessings during this crazy time.
-by Kari Carr
About the Author: Kari doesn’t claim to be a parenting expert, just a mom to her four wonderful children and wife to the love of her life, Mike. Together they move through the ups and downs of raising kids in this crazy world. She struggles through the trials and joys of raising children from the ages of two to 15 years old. Kari received her degree at WKU and taught public middle school music and choir for seven years before opening her own business, Sound Beginnings Musikgarten & Vocal Studio. She lives and works in Bowling Green.
