Cookbook Review: Robin Miller Quick Fix Meals

I was first introduced to this author by her popular television program on Food Network's Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller. The premise of her show is that she basically cooks up a bunch of food on one day to use the rest of the week as reinvented meals. It's been several years since I last saw a program so when I saw this book I was curious to check it out. And I must say I love it! There are so many delicious sounding options I'm not sure where to begin!

The first chapter talks about setting up the Quick Fix Kitchen. Miller tells you how to stock your kitchen with the basics to create many different types of meals with little effort. The next chapter, In the Bag, is one of my favorites being that I love Meal Kits! Recipes like Linguine Carbonara, New Orleans Flank Steak or Orange Herb and Oat-crusted Chicken Tenders are just a few and she gives you options for making them up a few days in advance or even preparing them for the freezer. Talk about simplifying busy weeknight meals!

The next chapter is probably one of my favorites--Morph It! Here, Miller, gives a recipe for one Main Meal and then gives two or three new recipe twists using leftovers from the main meal. How many times have you bought a certain cut of meat or fish only to have more leftover than you expected? Here's the perfect way to use up those leftovers! For example, Balsamic Roasted Pork Tenderloin morphs into Wonton Soup, Pork Fried Rice or Pork Sloppy Joes.

Didn't plan ahead but still have no time to cook? Check out the next chapter, Dinner Express, and you can have dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less! Deep Dish Pizzas with Mixed Toppings or Coconut-Lime Chicken with Chiles are just a couple of the entrees featured.

The last two chapters, Simple Sides and There's Always Time for Dessert help you round out your meal in no time!

Each recipe also includes a total time from start to finish--and tells you how much of that is Prep Time, Active Cooking Time or Walk-Away Time (i.e. it's still cooking but you just need to wait for it to be done). Beautiful picture sections can't help but make your mouth water! This book is a real winner!

Ch-Ch-Changes....on my Blog!

If you're a regular visitor to my blog you may have noticed a couple of updates to my blog. First is that I am now officially a "dot-com" and you no longer need to add the .blogspot after my address. Now, you can simply go to (and bookmark) www.mealplanningmagic.com to find the latest updates.

Next, you may notice that the blog is looking a little sparse lately...that's because I removed the colorful background and am working on some updates to the blog that will hopefully make it easier for you to find the info. you need when you want it and of course stay updated on all the newest posts that I have. So, while that's still being worked on I've "stripped the blog bare" of some extras in anticipation.

I'm really excited about what's in store so stay tuned for all the updates. And don't forget to become a fan on Facebook for updates there too.

Until later, happy planning and cooking!

Menu Plan Monday

Here we are at the end of October already! I did a big freezer cooking session (post about it coming soon hopefully) and got a new Simple & Delicious magazine in the mail last week so I'm up for serving my family real meals again. Here's what's on the menu this week:

Monday: Moo-Shu Sloppy Joes (tried it tonight--it's a keeper!)

Tuesday: Manic Mealoaf (making a double recipe--one for the freezer too!), mashed potatoes, garden salad

Wednesday: Chicken Alfredo (from freezer session), garden salad

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Out to eat

Saturday: All-American Chili (from freezer session) & Mummy Hotdogs (our Halloween traditions!)

Sunday: Prosciutto-wrapped Turkey, Avocado & Swiss Panini (new recipe but yes, the kids will probably eat it too!)

What's on your menu this week?

Become a Fan of Meal Planning Magic on Facebook!

Check out my new fan page on Facebook! You can click on the button to the right and become a fan to stay connected with what's new at Meal Planning Magic. Sign up today and tell all your friends too! I've got lots of updates and a big blog makeover in store so be the first to know what's happening as a Facebook fan.

Until next time, happy cooking and sharing!

Planning a Potluck

I love potlucks! I love making all kinds of dishes to share with family and friends or at school or the office. And I love trying new recipes!

I have organized my fair share of potlucks over the years and in particular with my MOMS Club holiday parties, we got it down to a science and knew how many desserts we needed, how many sandwiches to make, the right number of drinks we would need and round it out with a balance of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables with out having too many leftovers. What I don't love is throwing away food! Since we celebrated the same holidays each season it was easy to get our system down. I'm also part of two activity groups within my MOMS Club chapter where each month a small group of us get together to share a new dish or dessert and visit while our kids play. Each month we have a different theme and it is a lot of fun to try new recipes and taste some new favorites too! What a fun way to share a common interest and make new friends at the same time!

Most potlucks are a bit more informal and have different people participating each time. While potlucks happen year round with the holidays coming up soon, there will surely be a lot more food sharing going on! You can organize a potluck and keep track of who's bringing what by taking advantage of a couple of online tools. Luckypotluck.com helps you create, manage and share your potlucks with anyone you have an email address for! The popular online invitation system, Evite, also has an option where you can ask invitees to bring a dish to share and as people sign up for the different courses, they disappear from the list so that you don't have a ton of duplicates! Still need some ideas on how to get started? Check out the online article at Epicurious. Here you'll find tips on how to host the perfect potluck or dinner party with a lot less stress!

No matter how you decide to organize your potluck be sure to do it--it's always fun to share the load and enjoy good food with your friends or family!

Cookbook Review: The Weekend Baker

I was listening to Martha Stewart Living Radio a couple of weeks ago and the author of this cookbook, Abbie Dodge, was a guest on-air during their weekly baking segment. So many wonderful tips on how to make baking a reality in our busy lifestyles. If you love to bake like I do (or need to for an upcoming bake sale or other event) but just don't know how you can find the time for this "extra", check out this book!

Included is a section on the Weekend Baker Basics--things like what type of equipment to have (or not have), tools and basic ingredients--a great primer or refresher to getting started. Next are the recipe sections--Baker's Express, Baking in Stages and Productions. Each chapter includes recipes based on how much time you have to get something made. The first section is when you need something and you need it quick! The second is just as it sounds..baking in stages with tips sprinkled throughout on where to stop and start and what you can prepare ahead of time. Don't be intimidated by Productions...the author has taken seemingly complicated recipes and broken them down into smaller, manageable parts that can be prepared over several days. Gorgeous, full-color photographs for several of the recipes had my tummy grumbling wanting to taste them all!

With the holiday season soon approaching, this book can become a valuable resource to anyone who wants to bring a 'wow" dessert to the table without stressing out! It can be done!

Organize Meal Giving With Ease!

Everyone has probably known someone who is at a time in their life where they can use a little extra help with getting a meal on the table each day. Whether that means welcoming a new baby, recovering from surgery, grieving the passing of a loved one or just about anything else, helping out a friend by making and delivery a meal can make both the giver and the recipient feel good!

Perhaps a group of you want to help out but you're not sure how to get something organized and still make sure that your friend does not end up with a dozen lasagnas! You may just want to plan a casual thing between friends or perhaps it's a larger scale effort through your church.

But where to start? Enter FoodTidings.com! Here you can set up a schedule, let your friends and family sign-up for a meal and delivery time, make additions when new people want to join in and lots more! What a fabulous way to help out and keep everyone moving in the same direction. Best of all, it's FREE! Check it out and start helping your friends and family today! I have a friend who is expecting a baby in a few weeks--perhaps I'll be putting this tool to use soon!

UPDATED ON 1/31/10 to add......I just found another website that helps with the coordination of meals for those in need.  It is TakeThemAMeal.com.  Looks like it is pretty easy to use so check it out!

Cookbook Review: The Sneaky Chef

A lot of my readers and those who attend my workshops ask me about picky eaters. "How can I get them to eat a larger variety of foods?" While I'm no expert I am a mom and I've faced my own picky-eater challenges.

A couple of years ago when the book Deceptively Delicious came out (read my review of that book here) it received a lot of press. I was curious as were several of my friends whose kids were extra picky eaters. But in hearing about this book, I discovered the The Sneaky Chef which had a similar concept and had been published a few months before. So I checked it out.

There are things I like about both books and I think they actually complement each other well. What I love about this book is the section in the beginning where the author, Missy Lapine, talks honestly about "sneaking" healthy foods into our kids meals. No, she doesn't expect the whole process to be sneaky--serving fruits and vegetables and whole grains in their "usual" form along side the prepared dishes is not only suggested but encouraged.

If you think pureeing your foods takes too much time, think again. It's really simple and even a little fun seeing all the colors blend up into a yummy puree. I talked more about pureeing in a previous post. Lapine also gives simple ideas of what foods hide well in what dishes and how to help you think about hiding healthier foods in your meals. She also talks about simple ways to boost nutrition without adding calories. A handy key at the end of this section summarizes all the different methods of making meals more nutritious and delicious.

All the purees are made ahead and stored in the freezer ready to go. Each puree recipe includes a listing of all the recipes that it will be used it making it even easier to get started right away! Also included is a nutritional breakdown of what makes up the purees.

Fun recipes like Popeye's Eggs (with green puree), Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins, Tricky Taco Soup and Magic Meatballs are sure to appeal to even the pickiest of eaters. Be sure to include your children in the preparation and you've got a recipe for success! Many recipes also include a Sneaky Tip like making mini-meatballs instead of larger (and more puree-detectable) meatballs.

The Sneaky Chef is the secret weapon for any parent of a picky-eater to get a little more nutrition in those growing bodies! Coming soon....a review of Lapine's most recent book The Sneaky Chef to the Rescue: 101 All-New Recipes and "Sneaky" Tricks For Creating Healthy Meals Kids Will Love. Don't miss it!

Menu Plan Monday

If I don't get my Once-A-Month-Cooking session done soon, I'm not sure how I'm going to survive the holidays! Can you believe we are nearly to the middle of October already!? I can't! Here's what's on our menu this week:

Monday: Hamburgers & Sweet Potato Fries (mine were from the frozen section but you can make your own too!)
Tuesday: Chicken Garden Salad (with leftover chicken from fajitas this weekend)
Wednesday: special activity--no cooking for me!
Thursday: Rustic Italian Tortellini Soup
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Out to Eat
Sunday: Grilled Cheddar Panini with Apple Chutney

I've also got all the ingredients to make one of our favorite muffins--Apple Carrot Muffins! We need some good energy to keep us going this week--they make great breakfast or snack muffins!

What's on your menu this week? Happy cooking!

Cooking Fun With Kids!

We were at the library a couple of weeks ago and came upon a fun-looking DVD from ActivityTV. What treasure we had stumbled upon! We first picked up the Lunches & Desserts program. Each segment can stand alone or you can watch them all in a row. Each one sounded more appetizing than the next! Soon, we had a plan to make our Sunday dinner and dessert together. We decided on the Chicken Quesadillas and Baked Snowcaps.

What I love about this series is that the host clearly explains all the equipment and ingredients that will be used and also goes over kitchen safety rules before each segment. Then, she involves three kids in preparation of the recipe. The kid-helpers ask plenty of questions that help real kids understand the process (and sometimes the science) of what they are making.

I'm not sure if it's just because we made it together, but I have to say the quesadillas we made were some of the tastiest ever! We served ours with all the toppings--guacamole, sour cream, chopped tomatoes and salsa. Yum--it's making me hungry now. Even better, we had enough leftovers for us to send in the kids' lunch the next day (using one of our insulated lunch containers of course)! And it's no secret that when you involve your kids in cooking what you want them to eat they're more likely to actually eat it if they helped prepare it--yes, even for the pickiest eaters!

There are recipes for Beginners through Expert and really, I'd say even young children can tackle some of the more advanced recipes--they may just take a little longer and require a bit more hands-on help from a grown-up. The video gives you plenty of time to write down all the ingredients and instructions or you can just go to their website to print a copy of your recipe with everything you need to get started. Check out your own local library

We can't wait to try some of the other recipes! Be sure to check back soon (or better yet, subscribe to get my updates regularly) as I'll be reviewing some neat cookbooks for kids that we enjoy using in our own home.

Cookbook Review: Kitchen Life-Real Food for Real Families-Even Yours!

I first picked up this book more out of curiosity than anything else. Many of you may know the author, Art Smith, as Oprah Winfrey's personal chef. So I thought, hmmm..I wonder how complicated these recipes really are and will they have family appeal? As I began paging through the book the answer was a resounding yes in my mind!

The first part of the book talks about challenges busy families face today and some tips and trick to streamline our time in the kitchen and while shopping. Throughout the cookbook, there are "Ask Art" tips that relate to the recipe but apply to so much more. Things like " How do I pound a chicken breast?" or "Can I freeze a casserole that contains rice or pasta?" But the real gems of this cookbook are the spin-off recipes he provides for many of the recipes. For example, the Chunky Beef Chili has spin-off recipes like Soft Beef Tacos, Chili Shepard's Pie with Buttermilk Potato Topping or Chili and Macaroni Casserole. That's like getting four meals in one (when you make extras for the spin-off recipes that is!)

Each chapter has a description of the section and a handy index of all the recipes in that section. This is neat because if you want a chicken recipe you can just go to that section and not have to flip to the front of the book to find the one you were looking for or look it up in the back index. At the the end of the book, he has included a section that categorizes all the recipes. That way if you're looking for something to fit your family's needs or time constraints you can plan accordingly--categories like Make Ahead & Freeze or Food for Picky Kids or Very Easy Lunches.

I can't wait to try more of the recipes in this book and I bet you will too!

Menu Plan Monday

It seems like school activities are keeping us extra busy these days...so I'm keeping it simple! Here's what's on our menu this week:

Monday: Vietnamese sandwiches (from leftover grilled pork from last Sunday--ours were a lot simpler than this though with just carrots, cucumber, cilantro & jalapenos and garlic mayonnaise)
Tuesday: Sneaky Chef's Chicken Tenders; rice & garden salad
Wednesday: Beef Fried Rice (I'm using diced sirloin tip that I bought on markdown)
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: special activity-no cooking for me!
Saturday: Fajitas & fixins'
Sunday: Bell Pepper & Portabello Mushroom Panini (kids will have something else--not sure what yet!)

What's on your menu this week? Happy cooking!

October is National Eat Better, Eat Together Month!

Seems like these days everyone is on the go from work to school to activity to home and then back again. Finding time just to eat ANYTHING can be a challenge, much less eat TOGETHER with your family. But not only is it time to enjoy a yummy meal together, eating together is a time to connect with each other on so many levels. There is a lot of research that shows that children who eat together with their family regularly have fewer academic and behavioral problems in school. It can be a time to relax and just enjoy each other's company--no matter the age!

October is National Eat Better, Eat Together Month and I challenge each of you to try and eat at least one meal together as a family this week (better yet, try for at least five or more meals together this week!). For some of you, that may mean breakfasts are your time. Others, dinner time is it. Perhaps your time to connect is only one day a week--just pick a consistent day to make that your family meal day (say, every Sunday or Friday nights and add a movie or game night).

Eating together has many benefits: it provides stability, it is an opportunity for increased communication, it can relieve stress and best of all, it's fun!

Make it fun by choosing a theme or recipes that you can plan and cook together. Cooking with your kids teaches them so much! Besides spending quality time together, it teaches them patience (waiting their turn or for the food to cook), math (measuring ingredients), taking turns and much more! I have spoken in my workshops before how easy it is to get started-even with your toddler children or grandchildren! I'll be giving you some tips for that in an upcoming post. And the bonus--generally speaking, most kids are more willing to try a new food if they've made it themselves!

Is it just you and your significant other at home? Don't let your busy work or volunteer lives keep you from connecting with each other! Make a point to have a weekly date at home. Cooking the meal together can be a great time to "plug-in" and chat.

Need a little more convincing or ideas on how to get started? Check out the links a little ways down just to the right under Family Meal Ideas--Plan Together, Eat Together! and you'll find some more info. to help you!

Share your tips in the comments below on how you make family meal time together work for your family!