1 box chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 cup chocolate chips
Mix together all of the ingredients.
Roll the cookie dough into balls and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Flatten the cookies a little, with a spoon.
Bake at 350*F for 10 minutes.
Easy Salmon Fillets
1 - 2 pounds frozen salmon fillets (already cleaned and bone free)
olive oil
garlic powder
basil
salt and pepper
lemon juice
Thaw the frozen salmon fillets.Preheat oven to 375*F. Place the fillets in a greased baking pan. Brush on some olive oil. Season with a little garlic powder, basil, salt, and pepper. Drizzle on some lemon juice. Bake for 20-25 minutes - until the fish flakes when pierced with a fork.
olive oil
garlic powder
basil
salt and pepper
lemon juice
Thaw the frozen salmon fillets.Preheat oven to 375*F. Place the fillets in a greased baking pan. Brush on some olive oil. Season with a little garlic powder, basil, salt, and pepper. Drizzle on some lemon juice. Bake for 20-25 minutes - until the fish flakes when pierced with a fork.
Easy Sloppy Joe Casserole
Cook the following ingredients according to the instructions on the Sloppy Joe seasoning packets:
2 pounds hamburger
2 packets Sloppy Joe seasoning
2 cans (6 oz) tomato paste
2 cups water
Spoon the cooked meat mixture into a 9x12 baking pan.
Mix together the following ingredients:
2 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 1/3 cups milk
6 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 eggs
Spread the dough mixture evenly over the hot meat mixture.
Bake (uncovered) at 450*F for 18-22 minutes, until the top is a lightly golden brown.
(Check the part of the cooked dough that touches the meat mixture. If it still seems doughy, in the middle, then cover it all with foil and bake it a little longer. The foil will keep the top from burning.)
2 pounds hamburger
2 packets Sloppy Joe seasoning
2 cans (6 oz) tomato paste
2 cups water
Spoon the cooked meat mixture into a 9x12 baking pan.
Mix together the following ingredients:
2 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 1/3 cups milk
6 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 eggs
Spread the dough mixture evenly over the hot meat mixture.
Bake (uncovered) at 450*F for 18-22 minutes, until the top is a lightly golden brown.
(Check the part of the cooked dough that touches the meat mixture. If it still seems doughy, in the middle, then cover it all with foil and bake it a little longer. The foil will keep the top from burning.)
Easy Potato Soup
8-10 medium sized potatoes
3 cans cream of celery soup
3 cans water
Mix the soup and the water together. Heat in the microwave, stirring occasionally, until hot.
Peel and cut up the potatoes into bite sized pieces. Put the potatoes in a pot of boiling water. (Make sure the water covers the potatoes.) Boil the potatoes until soft enough to easily cut with a fork. Drain them.
Add the potatoes to the soup mixture and stir together. Then, serve.
3 cans cream of celery soup
3 cans water
Mix the soup and the water together. Heat in the microwave, stirring occasionally, until hot.
Peel and cut up the potatoes into bite sized pieces. Put the potatoes in a pot of boiling water. (Make sure the water covers the potatoes.) Boil the potatoes until soft enough to easily cut with a fork. Drain them.
Add the potatoes to the soup mixture and stir together. Then, serve.
Easy Italian Rotelle
16 oz. rotelle or rotini pasta (dried)
1 or 2 cans (or jars) spaghetti sauce
pepperoni slices (cut up)
sliced olives
chopped onions (optional)
chopped green peppers (optional)
cooked sausage (optional)
cut up tomatoes (optional)
Cook the pasta following the instructions on the package. Then, drain the pasta and pour into a baking dish. Stir in 1 - 2 cans spaghetti sauce. Stir in the cut up pepperoni, sliced olives, and any other pizza toppings that you like. Bake covered at 350 for 30 minutes or until hot.
1 or 2 cans (or jars) spaghetti sauce
pepperoni slices (cut up)
sliced olives
chopped onions (optional)
chopped green peppers (optional)
cooked sausage (optional)
cut up tomatoes (optional)
Cook the pasta following the instructions on the package. Then, drain the pasta and pour into a baking dish. Stir in 1 - 2 cans spaghetti sauce. Stir in the cut up pepperoni, sliced olives, and any other pizza toppings that you like. Bake covered at 350 for 30 minutes or until hot.
Easy Chicken and Rice
1/2 - 1 bag frozen Chicken Breast Chunk Fritters (they come fully cooked)
2 boxes Chicken flavored rice (like the Rice a Roni kind)
margarine (for rice)
water (for rice)
Make the rice according to the instructions on the boxes.
Heat the chicken chunks according to the instructions on the bag. Then, cut up the chicken chunks into
smaller pieces.
Mix the rice and the chicken together and serve.
2 boxes Chicken flavored rice (like the Rice a Roni kind)
margarine (for rice)
water (for rice)
Make the rice according to the instructions on the boxes.
Heat the chicken chunks according to the instructions on the bag. Then, cut up the chicken chunks into
smaller pieces.
Mix the rice and the chicken together and serve.
Easy Homemade Pizza
Mix together:
3 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cooking oil
Stir 3 tsp. of yeast into 1 cup of very warm water (but not hot).
When all of the yeast is dissolved, pour it into the flour mixture. Stir all together, with a wooden spoon. Gradually add a little flour until the dough is no longer sticky. Flour your hands and knead the dough while it is in the bowl, for a few minutes. Then let the dough stand for 5 minutes. Spray a 13x14 (or about) baking sheet with cooking spray. Stretch and press the dough onto the baking sheet.
Spread spaghetti sauce over the pizza. Then, cover with grated Mozzarella. Add your favorite pizza toppings.
Bake at 400*F on the lowest baking rack for 18 minutes.
Time saver tip: Make 2 pizzas and save the rest for leftovers.
3 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cooking oil
Stir 3 tsp. of yeast into 1 cup of very warm water (but not hot).
When all of the yeast is dissolved, pour it into the flour mixture. Stir all together, with a wooden spoon. Gradually add a little flour until the dough is no longer sticky. Flour your hands and knead the dough while it is in the bowl, for a few minutes. Then let the dough stand for 5 minutes. Spray a 13x14 (or about) baking sheet with cooking spray. Stretch and press the dough onto the baking sheet.
Spread spaghetti sauce over the pizza. Then, cover with grated Mozzarella. Add your favorite pizza toppings.
Bake at 400*F on the lowest baking rack for 18 minutes.
Time saver tip: Make 2 pizzas and save the rest for leftovers.
Easy Chicken Noodle Casserole
1 bag (28 oz) frozen Chicken Breast Chunk Fritters (they come fully cooked)
16 oz. wide egg noodles
3 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans water
Cook the noodles according the instructions on the package, then drain the noodles.
Thaw the chicken chunks and cut them into smaller pieces.
Mix together the 3 cans of soup and the 2 cans of water.
Stir in the cooked egg noodles. Then, mix in the chicken.
Bake at 350*F, covered, for 30 minutes.
16 oz. wide egg noodles
3 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans water
Cook the noodles according the instructions on the package, then drain the noodles.
Thaw the chicken chunks and cut them into smaller pieces.
Mix together the 3 cans of soup and the 2 cans of water.
Stir in the cooked egg noodles. Then, mix in the chicken.
Bake at 350*F, covered, for 30 minutes.
Easy Chili Mac
2 boxes macaroni and cheese
1 stick margarine
1/2 cup milk
2 cans chili
2 cans chili beans
Using the first 3 ingredients, prepare the macaroni and cheese according to the instructions on the boxes.
Mix the cans of chili and chili beans together and heat in the microwave until hot (stirring occasionally).
Mix the completed macaroni and cheese and chili mixture together. Then, it's ready to serve.
1 stick margarine
1/2 cup milk
2 cans chili
2 cans chili beans
Using the first 3 ingredients, prepare the macaroni and cheese according to the instructions on the boxes.
Mix the cans of chili and chili beans together and heat in the microwave until hot (stirring occasionally).
Mix the completed macaroni and cheese and chili mixture together. Then, it's ready to serve.
Easy Chicken and Rice Soup
Chicken (cooked and cut into bite sized pieces)
White Rice (cooked, about 2 cups or less)
3 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
3 cans Water
Stir the soups and the water. Add the amount of cooked chicken and cooked rice that you want to. Warm up in the microwave for about 10 minutes (stirring occasionally). I use the microwave for this recipe. When I heat soup on the stove, I usually end up letting it burn in the bottom of the pot.
Time saver tip: Cook a lot of chicken at once. Then, cut it up and freeze the cooked meat in smaller portions. All you will have to do is defrost the amount that you want to before adding it to a recipe. I usually get a large amount of the cheapest chicken (like leg quarters or thighs). Then, I arrange them on a large baking pan and cook them at 350*F for about 1 1/2 hours, turning once 1/2 way through.
White Rice (cooked, about 2 cups or less)
3 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
3 cans Water
Stir the soups and the water. Add the amount of cooked chicken and cooked rice that you want to. Warm up in the microwave for about 10 minutes (stirring occasionally). I use the microwave for this recipe. When I heat soup on the stove, I usually end up letting it burn in the bottom of the pot.
Time saver tip: Cook a lot of chicken at once. Then, cut it up and freeze the cooked meat in smaller portions. All you will have to do is defrost the amount that you want to before adding it to a recipe. I usually get a large amount of the cheapest chicken (like leg quarters or thighs). Then, I arrange them on a large baking pan and cook them at 350*F for about 1 1/2 hours, turning once 1/2 way through.
Easy Chicken and Fries with Gravy
1 bag (28 0z) frozen (fully cooked) Chicken Breast Chunk Fritters
1 bag of (32 oz) French Fries
2 packets of chicken gravy mix
water (for the gravy)
grated Mozzarella cheese (optional)
Heat the chicken fritters according to the instructions on the bag. Then, cut into bite sized pieces.
Cook the French fries according to the instructions on the bag.
Add the appropriate amount of water to the gravy mixes and cook according to the instructions on the packets.
Assemble the cooked ingredients onto each plate:
Lay the fries down first, then spoon on pieces of chicken, top with grated Mozzarella, and pour hot gravy over all.
1 bag of (32 oz) French Fries
2 packets of chicken gravy mix
water (for the gravy)
grated Mozzarella cheese (optional)
Heat the chicken fritters according to the instructions on the bag. Then, cut into bite sized pieces.
Cook the French fries according to the instructions on the bag.
Add the appropriate amount of water to the gravy mixes and cook according to the instructions on the packets.
Assemble the cooked ingredients onto each plate:
Lay the fries down first, then spoon on pieces of chicken, top with grated Mozzarella, and pour hot gravy over all.
Easy Tater Tot Casserole
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can of milk
1 pound hamburger (cooked and drained)
1 bag (32 oz) tater tots (potato puffs)
1 (9x12) baking pan
Mix the 2 soups and the milk in the baking pan. Then, mix in the hamburger (cooked and drained). Arrange the tater tots, in rows on top of the hamburger and soup mixture. (You won't use the whole bag.)
Bake (uncovered) at 350*F for 50 minutes.
Time saver tip: Cook up a lot of hamburger and freeze it in individual 1 lb sections. Then, when a recipe calls for cooked hamburger, it will just need to be defrosted.
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can of milk
1 pound hamburger (cooked and drained)
1 bag (32 oz) tater tots (potato puffs)
1 (9x12) baking pan
Mix the 2 soups and the milk in the baking pan. Then, mix in the hamburger (cooked and drained). Arrange the tater tots, in rows on top of the hamburger and soup mixture. (You won't use the whole bag.)
Bake (uncovered) at 350*F for 50 minutes.
Time saver tip: Cook up a lot of hamburger and freeze it in individual 1 lb sections. Then, when a recipe calls for cooked hamburger, it will just need to be defrosted.
Easy Chili Enchiladas
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
3/4 can water
2 (15 oz) cans chili (any kind)
2 (15 oz) cans chili beans
3+ cups of grated cheese (Cheddar or Mexican blend)
18 corn tortillas
2 (9x12) baking pans
Mix all of the ingredients, except for the cheese and corn tortillas. Divide the mixture in 1/2. Ladle a scoop of mixture into a tortilla. Roll over the edges of the tortilla and place (with edges down) into a baking dish. (It's OK if the tortilla breaks and the mixture oozes out.) Continue doing this until there are 9 filled tortillas in each baking pan. With the remaining 1/2 of the mixture, spread it on top of all the filled tortillas. Then, top with grated cheese.
Bake (uncovered) at 350*F for 35 minutes.
3/4 can water
2 (15 oz) cans chili (any kind)
2 (15 oz) cans chili beans
3+ cups of grated cheese (Cheddar or Mexican blend)
18 corn tortillas
2 (9x12) baking pans
Mix all of the ingredients, except for the cheese and corn tortillas. Divide the mixture in 1/2. Ladle a scoop of mixture into a tortilla. Roll over the edges of the tortilla and place (with edges down) into a baking dish. (It's OK if the tortilla breaks and the mixture oozes out.) Continue doing this until there are 9 filled tortillas in each baking pan. With the remaining 1/2 of the mixture, spread it on top of all the filled tortillas. Then, top with grated cheese.
Bake (uncovered) at 350*F for 35 minutes.
Carschooling
If you want to make the most of your family driving time, you would probably enjoy Carschooling by Diane Flynn Keith. She has written about 350 fun and enticing activities, resources, and games designed to improve your kids’ skills in math, science, history, reading, grammar, and more. Put it to use as you make your way across town or while on a road trip.The following are ideas that my family has created for learning in the car:
Current Events
Find a radio station that reports on current events. Listen while you are driving in the car and you can discuss the stories you find interesting.
Print and Read
Print an educational article off the Internet and take it in the car. The kids can practice taking turns reading it out loud. You can find good articles at:
Stop by the Library
You can stop by the library at the beginning of your errands. That way the kids will have something new and exciting to read in the car.
What I Learned Today
Everyone in the car takes turns sharing something new that they learned.
Oral Report
I've found that riding in the car is a good time to ask one of the kids - "How did you like that show on PBS last night?" The child gets to think through and explain what he has learned from the show. The other kids, in the car, get to listen and learn.
Brochures
While traveling, collect and read local brochures. You can find them at the chamber of commerce and hotels.
Eat New Foods
While traveling, go to restaurants and eat foods that are unique to the area.
I Heard...
I like to take time in the car to tell the kids about something I heard on a radio show or TV show. It is usually an inspirational story or interesting fact. This can also lead to a discussion.
Counting Change
I taught my son how to count change in a grocery store parking lot. I had decided to stay in the car, with him, while my husband ran in to the store for some groceries. We discovered that the ash tray was filled with change. So, I taught him the value of each coin and then gave him a handful of coins. He got to count the coins and then chose some for me to count.
Act Out a Scene
The kids can practice drama in the car. My girls have memorized lines from Little House on the Prairie episodes. They enjoy impressing me with how well they can do the scene. If you have enough people in the car, you can also read a play aloud.
PE While You're Out
If you're out doing errands, going to lessons, shopping, or going to an appointment - you can plan for some PE time. Here are some easy to do ideas:
- Stop at a park to exercise on the play equipment.
- Use the walking path at a hospital, park, or college.
- Bring along the bikes to ride in the park or on a bike path.
- Bring items to run and play with like - balls, hacky sack, beach ball, softball and bat.
When my girls jump out of the car, they love to collect things like - leaves, flowers, rocks, and acorns. You can give each child a plastic zipper bag and encourage them to collect natural things. There are usually plants, trees, and flowers around buildings and stores.Your child may also enjoy a magnifying glass and nature notebook for sketching.
Paper Crafts
- origami
- complete the picture
- cooperative drawing (take turns drawing a line or shape on one piece of paper)
- draw a map (from home to the destination)
- shape collage (with pre-cut colored paper shapes and glue stick)
- learn how to draw (with a book from the library)
I try to remember to carry our read-a-loud book with me. Whether we are going for long road trips or waiting in a parking lot for 10 minutes a book has helped to pass the time, educate, and keep fights from breaking out.
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