Send a Meal Blog

Do you keep in your pantry items to make a meal in minutes?

Take-out food is so expensive. When you do a little preparing, you can actually fix meals in minutes. Meal in Minutes is better for you and your family than a burger and fries. The good thing is that you are saving money.

I always keep a bag of precooked fajita meat in the freezer. Stir fry the meat, onions and bel peppers. Add lettuce and toast to make a fajita salad. Open a can of fruit for dessert.

The same fajita meat can make Nachos. Spread tortilla chips with bean dip, add fajita meat and cheese. Microwave until cheese is melted.

Quick fajitas can also be made with the meal. Add chips and hot sauce to make your meal.

Boil noodles and top with the stir fried fajita meat. Add a jar of gravy and heat until hot. Serve meat over noodles. Add a salad to complete your meal.

Frozen meatballs are another staple I keep in my kitchen. Brown meatballs in a skillet until thawed. Add a can of spaghetti sauce and simmer. Boil spaghetti pasta. Broil under the broiler toast with butter and garlic powder for garlic toast. Add a salad to complete your meal.

Brown meatballs in a skillet. Cook Ramen noodles. Toss meatballs with noodles. Add a salad.

Brown meatballs in the skillet until thawed. Pour in a can of beef gravy. Open a box of macaroni and cheese. Add a salad to your meal.

I always keep a package of the frozen skillet meals in the freezer. These can be made within 15 to 20 minutes. Add a salad and a can of fruit and your meal is complete.

Kids love this dish- take 2 cans of Ravioli. Layer Ravioli, cheese and crushed corn chips. Top with cheese. Microwave until the cheese is melted. Add your salad and your set.

Fix a package of stuffing mix according to directions. Take thick slices of turkey that you can purchase from your deli. Roll stuffing inside turkey to make a roll. Pour a jar of turkey gravy over the top and microwave until warm. Serve with a can of green beans.

All time favorite is soup and grilled cheese sandwiches or soup and a salad is a big hit in the winter time.

A list of "never-outs" would be:

Precooked frozen fajita meat,

Salad fixings,

Bean dip or refried beans,

Shredded cheese,

Jar gravy,

Noodles,

Ramen noodles,

Frozen meatballs,

Spaghetti sauce,

Macaroni and cheese mix,

Frozen skillet meals,

Ravioli,

Corn chips,

Stove Top Stuffing mix, and

Turkey gravy.

Make a list of your "meals in minutes" and tape to the inside of your pantry door. When you are in a hurry, turn to your pantry instead of the phone number to your favorite take out restaurant. Every time you fix a quick and easy meal instead of take-out food, put the money you would have spent into a jar. Tell your family about the money jar. As a family, decide what you are going to do with this money. (I.e., Disney trip, etc.) Fast food is a habit everyone gets into, so make getting out of the habit fun for everyone.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/70264

Mother's Day Gift Ideas For the Special Woman In Your Life

When it comes to your mom you always want the very best. Mother's Day is that special day in the year set aside to let her know how truly special she is to you. It is the day to express your appreciation for all the little things she does for you which often goes unnoticed. Your mother is your main source of support and person who gave you life. For many people their mother is their best friend and the person they can always turn to. Mothers make big sacrifices everyday in the process of raising their children. Most of the time they rarely hear a thank you. Often mothers don't even get a card for mothers day. Many mothers daily contributions are considered responsibilities instead of acts of love.

They take care of their children from birth well into adulthood and some never stop being the positive figure to turn to in trouble or pain. Moms make the world go round and help make us who we are. Mothers are one of the most important figures in society that are often overlooked. Moms work hard everyday to provide their families with the love, support, and maintenance needed for a productive healthy life. Mother's Day is the day when we show our mothers how much we truly love and admire them. How much we appreciate all of the sacrifices and hard work they've done for us to better our life. So, on the holiday known as Mother's Day we all try to get the very best to show our appreciation and thanks to the greatest mother in the world.

Many people get overwhelmed when Mother's Day comes around. There are an array of great Mother's Day gifts that any mother will adore. If you purchase any of these awesome gifts you will not have to worry about a thing. You will have selected the very best for your mother showing her your deep appreciation for all she has done throughout the years. The best and most popular Mother's Day gift to give a card for mothers day. You can select a card for mothers day that fits your mother's personality the best.One great way to ensure you get the best card for mothers day or any occasion really check out the resources for printable cards for anyone.

Flowers are a great Mother's Day gift. You can select your mother's favorite flower or colors and present with an elegant vase. This is a great gift because it lasts for a week as a constant reminder of how much you love your mother. Women and even mothers simply can't resist a beautiful bouquet of flowers. It is the ultimate gift of thought, appreciation, and love. A great Mother's Day gift for the mother who has everything is a special day trip. Even something as simple as a card for mothers day can mean the world to any mother.Many mothers think the greatest gift is spending time with their children and family. So, you can plan a special trip to somewhere they've always wanted to go. Whether it is a trip to a resort, cabin, day spa, new movie, lodge, national park, concert, museum, or doing crafts with her family.

No matter what, a card for mothers day,flowers, or time with the family, it will be a great Mother's day gift because it is shared with you. Gift Certificates and candy is also a great gift especially if you don't have a lot of money but still want to get her something great.One great idea is to take a card for mothers day and put a gift card inside of it. She will love it.

There is truly nothing to fear when it comes to changing your diet, if you're open to the help of a little technology. Changing one's diet can be extremely stressful for many. Particularly when they don't feel that they have control over it, like when they've been told they must follow a specific protocol to help manage a chronic disease, or they resent the disruption to their normal routine. Admittedly, the initial changes can be an adjustment but thankfully, many enterprising chefs have decided you can take the guesswork out of your new protocol by letting them do the cooking at your place, (sort of). Meal and meal kit delivery is becoming increasingly popular among many. From time-crunched students, to busy families, to people needing to keep strict dietary compliance, these services are brilliant!

These types of services are extremely convenient and can be separated into two basic categories (although a few have hybrids of both). Some will prepare entire meals that are ready to be reheated and eaten, others, will deliver the fresh, prepped ingredients with detailed cooking instructions and you prepare the rest of the meal yourself. We don't recommend one type of service over the other, we think the best way to consider them, beside which may fit a specific protocol best, is how much do you enjoy, or how much time do you have, to devote to being in the kitchen? Is part of using a delivery service attractive to you because you don't have to cook? That's completely fair and is exactly why these services exist in the first place! There's also absolutely nothing to say you can't use more than one service, either. Regardless of where your meals may be coming from, we all eat so many times a day, so many times a week, right? For someone who loves to cook, but only when they have time on the weekends, that may mean using one service a few days a week and another for the weeknights when they're in a hurry, which provides fully prepared meals that save time. That may sound like a hassle, but with easy to use mobile apps and desktop sites to work with, it can certainly still be easier than pouring through cookbooks and websites and trying untested recipes, then slogging to the dreaded grocery store to collect everything you need.

After looking over so many of the menus offered by the companies we'll talk about below, we can say their prices are all fair for their offerings. If you're the type of cook who ends up with a lot of waste at the end of the week, we can even go as far as saying they can be money savers, too. As always, we are not affiliated with any of these services and aim only to help our patients and readers on their journey with dietary change, and helping them make informed decisions while they learn about new strategies for eating. Improving their quality of life while we're at it never hurts, either.

We used several broad criteria when selecting which of these services to recommend. To begin, we looked for companies that support specific dietary protocols such as: Paleo, Keto, Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan and more. Then, of course, we checked pricing, because that's just logic taking over. We think it makes the most sense to judge each of them for their own value, instead of judging them against each other, because in many cases it can be like comparing apples to oranges. Companies that offer organic, antibiotic, hormone and GMO-free foods were especially attractive to us for a myriad of health and environmental reasons. And finally, if they aim to provide local and/or sustainable meat and produce, that was all the better!

In all, we are really excited these services exist and strongly recommend doing your own research to see which fits your specific needs and budget. We know that changing your diet, or following a strict protocol every day, can be stressful and intimidating for most people, especially at first. Even if you don't use a meal delivery service 7 nights a week, the times you may can certainly be a great jumping off point to learn about your new protocol, the ins and outs, and get some future meal inspirations for when you are feeling more comfortable and confident in your protocol.

Easter gifts are pretty much a one time usable thing unless they're full of chocolate and candy because after that all the Easter dresses and wicker baskets, not to mention the Easter chickens and Easter bunny effigies are stored away and highly unlikely to be used again because next year, the whole spring season coupled with this holiday is likely to make you want to buy new stuff. A lot of people are likely to make an extended effort for Easter because although the holiday doesn't enjoy the same level of popularity as Christmas does, it's still one of those few holidays when families are highly likely to get together. the situation is somewhat dampened by the fact that that there are not nearly as many Easter gifts on sale as there are at Christmas time. While stores put out a huge variety of things for Christmas, there are not nearly as many Easter gifts and Easter decorations on sale and the Easter parties are often neglected.

You can find Easter decorations but you'd be hard put to find a decent Easter gift to take with you if you're invited to Easter dinner at someone's home. There is usually the traditional Easter basket full of chocolate eggs and jelly beans but after people hit a certain age mark none of those things seem like an appropriate gift to exchange between adults.

It's precisely this reason that food is such a gift item on Easter. There's something about Easter eggs boiled and decorated at home or simply chocolate and store bought, you know will be received warmly or at the very least they're something that you can't go wrong with. While few stores are likely to expand their range of items and merchandise for the Easter holiday and as ever Easter holiday shoppers will have to use bunny stickers to give most things an Easter look, there is still hope because a little effort in our Easter shopping can help us find all sorts of really great ideas for Easter that can be incorporated in different aspects of the holiday. Although companies are slow when it comes to Easter gifts, they're still evolving and things like Easter lights directly pluggable in your USB port are there for your tech crazed teen.

However if you're looking for Easter gifts for kids or your mom or the hostess of the Easter hunt your kids will be going to a better option for Easter gifts could be fruit. While fruit alone is a great way to celebrate spring and Easter, there are many options in fruit available like fruit bouquets that can be found in Easter themes. Fruit baskets and fruit bouquets are available in a large variety for practically all occasions and can be found easily on line.

There's no denying that all mothers will be highly likely to buy a special spring or Easter outfit for their kids but there is also no denying the fact that chocolate eggs and stuffed Easter bunnies don't make Easter gifts that are appropriate to give your mother or your neighbor or best friend which is why people search for better options and many find them.

When someone arrives home from the hospital following an operation, they may be stuck in bed for several days or weeks. For most people, finding ways to pass the time while they are cooped up can be a challenge. If you know someone about to go into the hospital, how about putting together get well from surgery gift baskets? All it takes is a little creativity and time to put together or purchase the perfect basket. Here are a few things to consider:

What are their hobbies?

If you know a craft person, you might want to offer small craft kits that can be laid out on the bed for easy working. Cross stitch or crochet supplies are good ideas that take time to complete.

If you know someone who enjoys sewing, give fabric squares in a variety of colors and patterns for a small quilting project. Be sure to include a miniature sewing kit with thread, needles, thimbles, and other necessary items.

Model airplane and model automobile kits work well for men or boys, especially if you know, for example, a certain muscle car or sports car they have always wanted.

What kind of surgery are they having?

If they are having heart surgery, why not encourage future healthy eating by purchasing cookbooks filled with heart-healthy recipes. Another great idea is signing them up for a fruit of the month club so that fresh fruit is always handy. If you include snacks in your basket, make sure they are low in sodium and fats.

If they are having cosmetic surgery, they will surely welcome the best quality sunscreens with a high SPF, anti-aging lotions, creams, and gels, or makeup specially formulated to cover new scars from plastic surgery.

Patients undergoing back or knee surgery will have problems in the beginning with mobility. Many great tools are available for helping them do the necessary daily tasks. Dressing sticks aid in putting on shirts or jackets, shoehorns help in getting shoes off and on when bending is difficult, and help pick things up from the floor that they might otherwise be unable to reach.

Get well food gifts for surgery.

Suppose you, or a friend or acquaintance is about to have a child? The very last days of pregnancy can make it specially
challenging to go food shopping, prepare food, and tidy up after every meal. From time to time, expectant Moms might require
special diets, and the majority of prepared meal companies present you with a huge choice of menus for specialty diets. Even if a
special diet is not necessarily an issue, the convenience involving reheating a chef prepared meal inside the microwave oven will
go a long way in assisting an expecting Mom serve her family members meals. Even soon after a family has a newborn baby,
chef prepared meals provide the very same benefits as families adapt to their brand new way of living.

A second situation that matches perfectly using this service can be if a family buys a new home. Moving out of an old residence,
and into a different home is a very time-consuming process. Receiving chef prepared meals sent to yourself, or as a present for a
friend or family member, is a perfect strategy to help make relocating much smoother.

If you are pondering a Housewarming present, think about the excitement the people moving in will have for finding a package
of chef prepared meals delivered to the front door of their brand new place. They are easy to keep in the fridge, and the new
homeowners may reheat them in a microwave oven at any time they are hungry. It would be notably convenient if the family had
small kids, and even teens, in the home too. The mother and father would not need to bother about trips to market or buying junk
food. This is a good strategy for everyone.

The most primary benefits that is sometimes forgotten, may be to make use of prepared meals in order to support an older
person, commonly a mom or dad, get healthful foods on a regular basis. Modern day seniors usually rely upon their kids as
family caregivers to help them with projects around the house. One of those particular projects is often food shopping and
cooking meals in advance. A son or woman may care for their parents simple enough if they live in the area, but when they are
located miles away, starting a food delivery service may resolve the two problems at one time.

Prepared meals tend to be most commonly reheated in a microwave oven, so just about anyone could have a great dinner at
home. Plus a son or daughter doesn't have to deliver twenty one dishes per week. Companies allow you the versatility of
personalization, to help you to send merely dinners, lunches and dinners, or just about any combination of meals you desire.
Prepared meals also make a fantastic gift idea, and for almost any celebration. The initial option would be purchasing a gourmet
gift certificate. After you give a gift certificate, you permit the individual you are giving this gift to, the ability to pick out his or
her breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The second choice is to delight them with a package of meals that shows up at their
doorstep. A lot of companies offer preset packages you can get dependent on themes such as high-end gourmet foods to less
expensive plans that enable you to get the most dinners for your money. No matter what, this can be an amazing gift giving
solution to be given or received.

Naturally, these are simply some situations of uses this original service provides today's consumer

Directions
Cook macaroni according to package directions, adding asparagus the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain and set aside.

Heat butter in a very large skillet over medium heat. Add ham; cook about 4 minutes or until ham begins to brown, stirring occasionally. Add onion and garlic. Cook and stir for 3 minutes more. Add flour to skillet; stir to coat ingredients well. Add the milk all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute more. Stir in macaroni mixture, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and lemon peel; heat through. Top with fresh dill, additional Parmesan cheese, and paprika, if desired.

Celebrate Mexican street food with these quick vegetarian quesadillas that can be enjoyed as a snack or light meal. A mix of fajita vegetables, melty cheese, and creamy avocado fills these tortilla treats. For a flavorful finish, dip them in sour cream, salsa, or guacamole

Directions
In a large skillet cook sweet pepper, onion, and serrano pepper in hot oil over medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are just tender. Remove from heat.

Lightly coat one side of each tortilla with cooking spray. On the uncoated side of two of the tortillas, divide half of the cheese. Top with onion mixture, tomato slices, the 1 tablespoon cilantro, and the remaining cheese. Top with remaining tortillas, coated sides up.

Heat a very large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Cook quesadillas for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until cheese melts and tortillas are lightly browned. Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges. Serve warm and, if desired, with sour cream, additional cilantro and lime wedges.

Tips
*Because chile peppers contain volatile oils that can burn your skin and eyes, avoid direct contact with them as much as possible. When working with chile peppers, wear plastic or rubber gloves. If your bare hands do touch the peppers, wash your hands and nails well with soap and warm water.

This chicken casserole recipe is called the "ultimate" for some very good reasons: It's a chicken and noodle casserole that also features Alfredo sauce and veggies, plus it's topped with panko, pecans, and Parmesan cheese.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Return to hot pan.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan melt the 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add mushrooms and onion; cook and stir until mushrooms are tender. Stir into pasta along with the chicken, pasta sauce, Italian-blend cheeses, asparagus, sour cream, roasted sweet peppers, and fines herbs. Transfer mixture to an ungreased 3-quart rectangular baking dish.

In a small bowl combine panko, nuts, Parmesan cheese, and the 2 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle over chicken mixture. Bake, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through and topping is golden brown.

*Tip:
If you don't have cooked chicken on hand, pick some up at the supermarket. Look for refrigerated or frozen chopped, cooked chicken or buy deli-roasted chicken, each of which will yield 1 1/2 to 2 cups of boneless chopped meat. If you like, you can cook your own. In a large skillet combine 1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts and 2 cups water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 12 to 14 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink (170°F). Drain well. Chop chicken. By starting with 1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, you will get about 3 cups cubed cooked chicken.

Nutrition Facts
Per Serving:
600 calories, 34 g fat (17 g saturated fat, 2 g polyunsaturated fat, 6 g monounsaturated fat), 141 mg cholesterol, 797 mg sodium, 36 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, 4 g sugar, 38 g protein.

If breakfast hasn't been your favorite meal in the past, it will be now. Introducing a delicious (and easy!) roundup of make ahead meals casserole recipes -- sunny egg stratas, fruity bread puddings, even spicy morning lasagnas -- perfect for starting your Sunday fun day.

Directions

In a large saucepan cook potatoes, covered, in boiling lightly salted water about 5 minutes or until slightly tender but still firm. Drain; set aside. In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add pancetta; cook until lightly browned. Using a slotted spoon, remove pancetta, reserving drippings in skillet. Set pancetta aside. Add onions to skillet. Cook and stir over medium-low heat about 20 minutes or until lightly browned and very tender. Remove from heat. Carefully stir potatoes and pancetta into onions in skillet.

Lightly butter a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Spread potato mixture into prepared dish. In a medium bowl whisk together eggs and milk. Add cheese, salt, rosemary, and pepper; stir until well mixed. Pour evenly over potato mixture in baking dish.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake, uncovered, for 45 to 50 minutes or until golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Make-Ahead Tip
Prepare as directed. Cover; chill for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake, uncovered, for 45 to 50 minutes or until golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:
250 calories, 13 g fat (5 g saturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 4 g monounsaturated fat), 180 mg cholesterol, 535 mg sodium, 22 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, 4 g sugar, 13 g protein.

Gone are the days of takeout, thanks to these carb-tastic noodle bowls. Your next Netflix night meal in will never go noodle-less thanks to these dinners, including classic sesame chicken, reinvented ramen, and trendy pad Thai and pho.

Directions

In large saucepan cook noodles in lightly salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain; rinse under cold water. Divide among bowls. Top with bok choy.

In same saucepan heat broth and 2 cups water over medium-high heat until simmering; whisk in miso and soy sauce. Add carrots and mushrooms; return to simmering. Reduce heat. Cook 1 to 3 minutes or until carrots are crisp-tender.

Ladle broth and vegetables over noodles and bok choy. Top with eggs and cracked black pepper.

*Soft-Cooked Eggs:
In a 2-quart saucepan

bring 5 cups water to a full rolling boil. Carefully add eggs to water with a slotted spoon. Reduce heat to a gentle boil; cook eggs 8 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon to a bowl of ice water for 1 minute. Remove and crack lightly on hard surface. Gently peel away shell.

*Hard-Cooked Eggs:

Place eggs in a single layer in a large saucepan (do not stack eggs). Add enough cold water to cover the eggs by 1 inch. Bring to a rapid boil over high heat (water will have large rapidly breaking bubbles). Remove from heat, cover, and let eggs strand for 15 minutes; drain. Run cold water over the eggs or place them in ice water until cool enough to handle; drain. To peel eggs, gently tap each egg on the countertop. Roll the eggs between the palms of your hands or against the countertop. Peel off the eggshells, starting at the large ends.

Nutrition Facts
Per Serving:
206 calories, 4 g fat (1 g saturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 1 g monounsaturated fat), 124 mg cholesterol, 1175 mg sodium, 31 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 13 g protein.

There is nothing better than a warm, comforting meal that consist of a bowl of chili on a cold day. But there is no need to spend all day stirring at the stove. Instead, let your slow cooker do the work for you with these easy and delicious chili dinners. From classic beef chili meal to chicken chili (and even vegetarian!) we have a slow cooker chili meal for everyone.

Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
2 14.5 ounces diced fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained
1 15 ounce black beans, rinsed and drained
1 15 ounce pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 15 ounce dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 14.5 ounce beef broth
1 ½ cups chopped yellow onions (3 medium)
1 8 ounce tomato sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo 
2 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon honey
Sour cream (optional)
Chopped green onions (optional)
Unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)

Directions
In a large skillet cook ground beef over medium-high heat until brown,
using a wooden spoon to break up meat as it cooks. Drain o fat.

Transfer meat to a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Stir in tomatoes, black beans,
pinto beans, kidney beans, broth, yellow onions, tomato sauce, chili
powder, chipotle pepper, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, and coriander.

Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting
for 3 to 4 hours. If using low-heat setting, turn to high-heat setting. Stir in
chocolate and honey. Cover and cook about 15 minutes more or until
heated through. If desired, serve with sour cream and green onions and
sprinkle lightly with cocoa powder.

For Easy Cleanup
Line your slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner. Add ingredients as
directed in recipe. Once your dish is finished cooking, spoon the food out of
your slow cooker and simply dispose of the liner. Do not li or transport the
disposable liner with food inside.

Per Serving:
Nutrition Facts
298 calories, 9 g fat (4 g saturated fat, 0 g polyunsaturated
fat, 3 g monounsaturated fat), 36 mg cholesterol, 1076 mg sodium, 37 g
carbohydrates, 8 g fiber, 11 g sugar, 22 g protein.

Homemade meal of pizza has never been easier! Leave your slow cooker to do the work with this easy pizza recipe

Ingredients
Directions
In a large bowl stir together the first three ingredients (through salt); add the next three ingredients (through honey). Beat with a mixer on low for 30 seconds, scraping bowl. Beat on high for 3 minutes. Stir in as much of the whole wheat flour as you can. On a lightly floured surface, knead in enough remaining whole wheat flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (6 to 8 minutes). Cover and let rest 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, for filling, in a large nonstick skillet cook sausage and sweet pepper over medium heat until sausage is browned. Drain off any fat. Stir in the next four ingredients (through black pepper).

Line a 6-quart oval slow cooker with nonstick pan lining paper; remove paper and set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 14x11-inch oval. Transfer dough to the paper and return to cooker (dough should extend 2 to 3 inches up the sides). Press top of dough edges onto lining paper. Spoon filling into crust in cooker.

Cover and cook on high for 3 to 3 1/2 hours or until filling is bubbly and crust is golden, giving crockery liner a half-turn halfway through cooking if possible. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook about 10 minutes more or until cheese is melted. Let stand, uncovered, 15 minutes before serving. If desired, top with fresh oregano.

These fuss-free soup deliveries are filled with good-for-you veggies, fresh fish, hearty beef, and more. Nothing beats the winter chill like a steaming bowl of soup or beef stew. And don't stress if you're short on time—we have plenty of quick soup recipes that will help you get dinner on the table fast.

INGREDIENTS
2 - cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1/4 - cup vegetable oil
3 - cups thinly sliced onions
10 - ounces beef sirloin, trimmed and cut into very thin strips
Salt and black pepper
2 - 32 ounce boxes reduced-sodium beef broth
1/3 - cup dry white wine (optional)
1 - tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 - teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 - ounces very wide homestyle egg noodles, broken if long
6 - slices French bread, toasted (optional)
3/4 - cup shredded Swiss, Gruyere, or Jarlsberg cheese (3 ounces) (optional)

DIRECTIONS
In a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven or pot cook mushrooms in 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat until softened. Add onion and an additional 1 tablespoon oil; cook and stir over medium heat until mushrooms and onions are lightly browned. Reduce heat to low. Cook, covered, 10 minutes or until soft and golden, stirring if necessary. Remove from pan.

Sprinkle beef strips with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef; cook and stir until browned. Remove beef from pan; set aside. Stir in beef broth, wine (if using), Worcestershire sauce, and freshly ground black pepper. Bring to boiling; add noodles and onion mixture. Cook noodles, uncovered, according to package instructions, return meat to Dutch oven the last 3 minutes of cooking.

Meanwhile, if desired, preheat broiler. Arrange toasted bread on a baking sheet and sprinkle with cheese. Broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat for 1 minute or until cheese melts and turns light brown. Top each serving with a toasted bread slice.
NUTRITION FACTS (Beefy French Onion Noodle Soup)

Per serving: 275 kcal , 12 g fat (2 g sat. fat , 6 g polyunsaturated fat , 3 g monounsaturated fat ), 44 mg chol. , 664 mg sodium , 24 g carb. , 2 g fiber , 6 g sugar , 18 g pro.

This Valentine's Day cake is a showstopper! Topped with colorful heart sugar cookies and plenty of sprinkles, this party-worthy dessert is easy and impressive. It's covered with a luscious almond whipped cream frosting and filled with tart strawberry-rhubarb jam. 

INGREDIENTS
3/4 - cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 - teaspoons baking powder
9 - eggs, separated
1 - teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 - cup sugar
1 - 8 ounce container almond paste, crumbled
1 1/2 - teaspoons vanilla
3/4 - teaspoon almond extract
2 - cups heavy whipping cream
2/3 - cup powdered sugar
1 - teaspoon almond extract
1 - cup strawberry-rhubarb jam
Desired sprinkles
Decorated heart cookies, if desired

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and line the bottom of three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.* Grease paper; set pans aside.

In a small bowl whisk together flour and baking powder. In a large bowl beat egg whites and salt with a mixer on medium until soft peaks form. Beat in sugar one tablespoon at a time. Continue beating until stiff peaks form; set aside.
In another large bowl combine almond paste and egg yolks; beat on high 2 minutes until pale and fluffy (allow some almond paste chunks to remain intact), scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Mix in vanilla and almond extract. Gently fold whites into yolk mixture; fold in flour mixture. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean.
Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans; remove paper. Let cool completely on racks. Spread 1/2 cup each jam and Whipped Cream Frosting between layers. Frost cake with remaining Whipped Cream Frosting. Decorate and add cut-out heart cookies, as desired. Chill, covered, up to 24 hours. Makes 12 servings.

For Whipped Cream Frosting: In a bowl beat 2 cups heavy whipping cream, 2/3 cup powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon almond extract until stiff peaks form.

FROM THE TEST KITCHEN
*For a two-layer cake, use 9-inch round cake pans; reduce jam to 1/2 cup.

NUTRITION FACTS (Valentine's Cake)
Per serving: 479 kcal , 24 g fat (12 g sat. fat , 2 g polyunsaturated fat , 8 g monounsaturated fat ), 185 mg chol. , 229 mg sodium , 54 g carb. , 1 g fiber , 42 g sugar , 8 g pro.

Indulge morning guests (and picky eaters) with an-easy-to-customize cereal. Simply set out an array of toppers so everyone can create their own tasty combinations.

INGREDIENTS
6 - cups water
2 - cups steel-cut oats
1 - teaspoon salt
Toppers, such as dried cherries, cranberries, raisins, or snipped apricots; coconut; chopped nuts; brown sugar; maple syrup; and/or milk, half-and-half, or light cream

DIRECTIONS
In a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine the water, oats, and salt. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 5 1/2 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

Top each serving with desired toppers. Serve warm.

BANANA-HONEY OATMEAL:
Prepare as directed in Step 1. Top each serving with sliced banana and chopped peanuts. Drizzle with honey.

BERRY MEDLEY OATMEAL:
Prepare as directed in Step 1. Top each serving with fresh raspberries and/or blueberries and chopped pistachio nuts.

TASTE-OF-THE-TROPICS OATMEAL:
Prepare as directed in Step 1. Top each serving with cubed mango and toasted coconut. Drizzle with caramel-flavor dessert sauce.

CRANBERRY-APPLE OATMEAL:
Prepare as directed in Step 1, except stir 1/2 cup apple butter and 1/4 cup dried cranberries into oat mixture before cooking. Top each serving with vanilla yogurt and cinnamon-sugar.

APRICOT CRUNCH OATMEAL:
Prepare as directed in Step 1. Top each serving with purchased trail mix and snipped dried apricots or mixed dried fruit.

BLACKBERRY-WALNUT OATMEAL:
Prepare as directed in Step 1. Top each serving with fresh blackberries, graham cracker crumbs, and toasted broken walnuts.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND OATMEAL:
Prepare as directed in Step 1. Stir about 1/2 cup presweetened cocoa powder into cooked oatmeal. Top each serving with semisweet chocolate pieces and toasted sliced almonds.

PB&J OATMEAL:
Prepare as directed in Step 1. Stir about 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter into cooked oatmeal. Top each serving with strawberry jam and granola.

CINNAMON-RAISIN CRUNCH OATMEAL:
Prepare as directed in Step 1. Toast and butter 4 slices cinnamon-raisin bread; cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Top each serving of oatmeal with brown sugar and toasted bread cubes.

BACON-BERRY OATMEAL:
Prepare as directed in Step 1. Slice fresh strawberries and sprinkle with sugar. Top each serving of oatmeal with sweetened strawberries and crumbled, crisp-cooked bacon.

NUTRITION FACTS (Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oatmeal)
Per serving: 124 kcal , 2 g fat 263 mg sodium , 24 g carb. , 4 g fiber , 5 g pro.

Grab your muffin tin for this fun, kid-friendly appetizer recipe. A nest of spaghetti is the base for the adorable meatball pies.

INGREDIENTS
Nonstick cooking spray
4 - ounces whole grain or multigrain thin spaghetti, broken in half
1 - egg, lightly beaten
1/3 - cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 - tablespoon milk
1 - 12 ounce package (12) refrigerated cooked Italian-style turkey or chicken meatballs
1/2 0 of a 23.8-ounce jar (1 1/4 cups) light no-sugar-added tomato and basil pasta sauce
1/2 - cup shredded reduced-fat Italian cheese blend (2 ounces)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with cooking spray. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine the next three ingredients (through milk). Stir in cooked pasta. Using the back of a spoon, press mixture onto bottoms and slightly up sides of prepared muffin cups. Add meatballs and top with pasta sauce.

Bake 15 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 2 minutes more or until meatballs are heated through and cheese is melted. Cool in muffin cups on a wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from muffin cups. If desired, serve with additional warmed pasta sauce.

NUTRITION FACTS (Mini Spaghetti and Meatball Pies)
Per serving: 283 kcal , 11 g fat (4 g sat. fat , 1 g polyunsaturated fat , 1 g monounsaturated fat ), 83 mg chol. , 719 mg sodium , 22 g carb. , 3 g fiber , 4 g sugar , 21 g pro.

If you're craving a taste of the Mediterranean, there's no need to pack your bags. Just whip up a crispy flatbread topped with eggplant, cherry tomatoes, and fresh mint. One bite, and your taste buds will take you straight there.

INGREDIENTS
Cornmeal
1 - recipe Food Processor Flatbread Dough or 1 lb. purchased pizza dough
Olive oil
3/4 - cup Baba Ghanoush
1 - cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 - cup chopped toasted hazelnuts*
1/4 - cup chopped fresh mint
Lemon zest
Flaked sea salt

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet; sprinkle with cornmeal. On a lightly floured surface roll and stretch dough into a 12x8-inch rectangle or oval. Lightly brush olive oil over dough. Transfer dough to baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes.
Spread crust with Baba Ganoush and top with tomatoes. Bake about 10 minutes more or until crust is golden brown and crisp. Top with hazelnuts and mint. Sprinkle with lemon zest and salt to taste.

FROM THE TEST KITCHEN
*TIP
To toast hazelnuts, spread them in a shallow pan. Bake in a 375 degrees oven 5 to 10 minutes or until toasted, shaking the pan once or twice. Rub the warm nuts with a kitchen towel to remove loose skins.

Baba Ganoush
INGREDIENTS
3 - medium eggplants (about 1 lb. each)
1/2 - cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
1/4 - cup fresh Italian parsley leaves
1/4 - cup lemon juice
2 - cloves garlic, peeled
1 - teaspoon kosher salt
1 - tablespoon olive oil
Crushed red pepper (optional)
Toasted baguette slices

DIRECTIONS
 Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a 15x10-inch baking pan with foil. Prick eggplants all over with a fork. Place in the prepared pan. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until very soft and skin is charred. Let cool until easy to handle.

 Remove and discard skins from eggplant. Place eggplant in a food processor or blender. Add the next five ingredients (through salt). Cover and pulse until nearly smooth, leaving some pieces of eggplant. Season to taste with additional salt. Transfer dip to a serving bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and, if desired, sprinkle with crushed red pepper. Serve with baguette slices.

FROM THE TEST KITCHEN
TO MAKE AHEAD
Transfer dip to an airtight storage container. Cover and chill up to 3 days. Let stand at room temperature before serving.

Whether you roast the pork in the oven or slow cook it, you'll score a platter full of fall-apart tender barbecue. Invite the neighbors or the entire family to enjoy a build-your-own-sandwich buffet.

INGREDIENTS
1 - 6 1/2 pound bone-in pork shoulder blade roast
3 - tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
1/3 - cup packed dark brown sugar
3 - tablespoons kosher salt
2 - tablespoons smoked paprika
1 - tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 - teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1/2 - teaspoon garlic powder
Pickles (optional)
Onion slices (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Trim fat from pork, leaving fat cap about 1/4-inch thick. Pat pork dry with paper towels. Place on a large piece of plastic wrap. Spread mustard on all sides of pork. In a small bowl stir together brown sugar, salt, paprika, chili powder, black pepper and garlic powder. Coat all sides of pork with spice mixture. Wrap the pork tightly in the plastic wrap. Place on a tray and chill for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a shallow roasting pan with foil. Place a rack in the pan. Unwrap pork and place on the rack. Roast, uncovered, for 4 hours. Wrap roast with a double thickness of foil and return to the rack. Roast for 2 hours more or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in meat registers at least 190 degrees F. Remove from oven. Let roast stand for 30 minutes to 1 hour (this allows the "bark" or "crust" to soften). Unwrap. Using 2 forks, pull the pork apart, removing any large pockets of fat as you pull. Serve with pickles,onion slices, and Spicy Vinegar.

FROM THE TEST KITCHEN
SLOW COOKER DIRECTIONS:
Prepare recipe through step 1 except reduce the salt to 1 tablespoon. Unwrap roast and place in a 6-quart slow cooker. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 10 to 12 hours or on high-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours (190 degrees F). Remove meat from cooker, strain cooking juices. When cool enough to handle, use 2 forks to pull the pork apart, removing any large pockets of fat as you pull. Drizzle with cooking juices, if you like, to reach desired moistness. Serve as directed.

What could be better than cheesy chicken with a side of carrots for dinner? A meal that only takes one pan to make, of course! Luckily, this scrumptious chicken dinner checks off both boxes. You need only one 15x10-inch baking pan to bake both the cheesy artichoke chicken and the tender baby carrots seasoned with a pinch of rosemary.

INGREDIENTS
Nonstick cooking spray
6 - 5 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 - 14 ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 - 5.2 ounce pkg. semisoft cheese with garlic and fines herbes
Salt and black pepper
1 - 16 ounce pkg. peeled fresh baby carrots, halved lengthwise
1 - tablespoon olive oil
1 - tablespoon snipped fresh rosemary
2 - cloves garlic, minced
Fresh parsley or rosemary

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large shallow roasting pan or 15x10-inch baking pan with foil; coat with cooking spray. Arrange chicken in one side of prepared pan. In a medium bowl combine artichokes and cheese; spread over chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Place carrots in other side of prepared pan. Drizzle carrots with oil and sprinkle with rosemary and garlic; toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roast 30 to 40 minutes or until chicken is done (165 degrees F) and carrots are crisp-tender. Sprinkle with parsley.
NUTRITION FACTS (Artichoke and Cheese Chicken Breasts with Rosemary Baby Carrots)

Per serving: 336 kcal , 16 g fat (8 g sat. fat , 1 g polyunsaturated fat , 3 g monounsaturated fat ), 129 mg chol. , 490 mg sodium , 11 g carb. , 3 g fiber , 4 g sugar , 35 g pro.