Baked Ham + Cheese Wheels, They're What's For Dinner Tonight!

Momma Told Me: I don't have all day to stand around in the kitchen!

Some of my favorite childhood dishes were meals Momma whipped up with leftovers and a bit of ingenuity. They were haphazard, unlikely, meals that quickly became favorite weeknight solutions for their touch of gluttony and simple composition. There were the Tuesday night trash tacos made of just about any meat, veggie, or condiment Momma happened to have lying around in the fridge before doing the week's grocery shopping the following morning. Sometimes these 'tacos' included frozen chicken nuggets, flattened slices of bread ('tortillas') and even leftover Hamburger Helper. But my favorite was always the impromptu Bagel Pizza nights where I could build faces out of cheese and veggies under the premise we were having a family pizza night.

My point here, folks, is that meals are what you make of them, quite literally. Whether you're a busy mom just trying to serve 3 squares a day, or a laid back millennial trying to find the motivation to cook for just 2 when reaching for TV trays seems so much more simpler. It's nice to sit down to a fine dining experience at home, from time to time, but it's equally as rewarding to know you didn't slave over a meal and it still turned out amazingly delicious. The secret? Minimal ingredients- the less ingredients you have to handle the more you can enjoy the flavor of each individual ingredient, the less time you spend handling the food in the kitchen.

Refrigerated dough can be a lifesaver, providing countless meal hacks for the modern home cook. Did you know you can even get flat sheets of rolled 'pizza' dough in the cold case at your local supermarket? This past week Black Forest Honey Ham was on special at our neighborhood deli and I picked up a pound shaved extra thin for one of my favorite quick fix meals; Baked Ham + Cheese Wheels. I prefer the flavors of ham and Swiss, but you can also pair White Cheddar or even Provolone to suit your own tastes. Preparation is as simple as rolling out a refrigerated pizza crust into a rectangular shape, layering ham and cheese, and rolling tightly. Next cut 1.5" sections off of the roll and place your prepared wheels into a casserole baking dish.

The real magic to this recipe happens when you make the extra special glaze with Worcestershire Sauce, Butter, Dijon Mustard, Brown Sugar, and Poppy Seeds. Melt them together in a microwave safe measuring cup, stir well, and pour over the top of your prepared wheels. Let the glaze work it's way into the folds of the wheels and even pool down over the sides. Bake your Ham + Cheese Wheels in the oven for 20 MINS, or until the tops begin to turn a golden brown. We like our 'crust' a little chewy, don't be afraid to go extra golden for that flaky dough!

Not only do these Ham + Cheese Wheels look have a gourmet appearance, but they're incredibly easy to make ahead and freeze. One recipe's worth serves the two of us for several lunches when refrigerated, or they may be frozen after cooking and thawed at a later time. I would even wager that these would taste delicious over an egg with a cup of coffee the first thing in the morning. The possibilities are endless but your taste buds will thank you!

What Daughter Says:  Flawless food doesn't have to take 5 hours.

Baked Ham + Cheese Wheels

***Click here for printable Baked Ham + Cheese Wheels Recipe.

Consider Meals In A Jar for Easy Dinners This Busy Fall Season- With Recipes

Momma Told Me: 10 minutes now, 2 minutes later.

Growing up Momma always had a lot of tricks up her sleeve, especially when it came to easy dinners that could really stretch a dollar. One of her favorite things to do was to prepare our favorite family meals in bulk, then freeze additional portions for the upcoming month. She'd do this with fried rice, lasagana, stroganoff, and more; turning hot sales from the weekly ads into extended savings for our household. With the beginning of a new school year, and our family's decision to join 3 Winter bowling leagues, I've been looking for some time, and money saving, inspiration as well. One of the things you'll find sprinkled throughout my Pinterest boards as of late are creative ideas for meals in a jar. No, I'm not referring to Chef Boyardee or anchovies, I'm talking about hand layered ingredients that instantly transform into delicious meals with the simple addition of a few added ingredients.

It's hardly molecular gastronomy; creating a delicious meal in a jar is as simple as breaking down some of your favorite recipes; especially those that hinge on various dry ingredients. A year ago there was a nasty outbreak of the seasonal flu spreading through our neighborhood. As one of the few houses not 'hit' yet by the bug I felt compelled to soothe those around me, and prepare for the inevitable outbreak in our own home. I wanted to make the traditional 'Chicken Noodle Soup,' but processing such a large quantity in my small kitchen would have proved a challenge. Instead I purchased a package of food safe canning (mason) jars from my local Smart & Final, along with the dry ingredients necessary to turn my family recipe into a ready to make mix. By purchasing the chain's First Street brand of in house products I was able to buy the ingredients in bulk, for easy handling and extreme savings.

Our family shops at Smart and Final year round for cooking staples like flour, salt, cornmeal, pancake/waffle batter, and more. However, we also frequent the chain for it's extensive range of food service buys, such as ramekins, paper cups, plastic Souffle Cups with Lids, canning supplies and more. On my recent trip I even found I could include a 4oz ladle with each of my yearly flu season soup bundles for just over $2 a piece! Inspired, I set out to share just how simple a home-style meal in jars truly can be. A lot of people think this means 'canning,' and, in a sense it does, but you can often avoid the preserving process by handling dry ingredients in sterile environments, and making 'freezer friendly' pre-cooked dishes, like my Mini Apple Pies in a Jar.

People make meals in a jar for a variety of reasons; some are looking for easy family dinners they can prepare during the busy week, while others are looking for heartfelt gifts to give during the holidays. Regardless of your reason my Comfort Foods Trio (Chicken Noodle Soup, Country Corn Bread, and Mini Apple Pies) are sure to help the cool Fall months, and treacherous flu season pass all the more pleasant. Begin with ample canning jars to store your meals in a jar, and a large work space such as a dining table. Buy your ingredients in bulk at a big buy store such as Smart & Final, and look for in house brands like First Street, to really stretch your pennies. Measuring will be key, so be sure to have measuring spoons and cups handy, as well as the appropriate size jars for the content that will be going in. And finally, before you begin, sanitize all of your canning jars in the dishwasher, or a hot water bath.

Whether you are gifting your meals in a jar, or simply keeping them on hand in the pantry, you'll want to include the preparation instructions. Momma was always sure to pick out a decorative ribbon, and some scrap-booking sheets, from the local craft store, just for this purpose. If you have messy handwriting, or are making a large number of jars, you can print the simple instructions and paste them onto hand cut tags, though I prefer the personal touch of handwriting. Be sure to include a breakdown of the necessary added ingredients, and the ingredients already inside just in case your recipient has allergies! Cut a small slit at the edge of your handmade tags and run your ribbon through. Tie a gentle bow or not along the can's lid for decoration.

While you can find a variety of creative ideas for quick recipes in a jar, I've compiled the 3 featured above for easy reference. Chicken Noodle Soup, Country Corn Bread, and Mini Apple Pie in a jar recipes are perfect for the upcoming cool months and busy school nights. Creating affordable and flavorful meals in a jar doesn't have to be complicated; I've seen beautiful layered salads, and even instant oatmeal with dried fruit (just add water), you'd be surprised what can be pulled of with little ease. Just remember, the beauty in preparing these meals ahead of time is the money you can save when canning in bulk; buy quality brands like First Street and save money without compromising quality. See more of my great Smart and Final First Street finds in our Google + album.

Do you have a favorite Fall meal with a time/money saving twist?

What Daughter Says: Try a new method of advance meal preparation with meals in a jar to save money and time.

#KraftRecipeMakers Helped Me Juggle a Lemonade Stand + 2 Meals! #shop

Momma Told Me: I'm not a short order cook!

I try to be Wonder Woman; I really do.

I'm usually the first awake on the weekends, I plan elaborate shopping routes to pick up Jay's favorite shoe polish or the cat's preferred kitty litter, and I like to have meal plans laid out a week in advance. But I am not without flaw, for I am human, and every now and then the afternoon rolls by and I catch myself caught by that ticking clock, stopping to ask, "What's for dinner tonight?" It's times like those where quick family meals can make or break the success of our day. Where I once would have leaned on a quick swing through the drive through to satisfy the looming dinner slot, I now find comfort in inspiring meal helpers such as #KraftRecipeMakers.

There was a time with the 'Type A' inside me would have cringed at the thought of pulling out a box to help ease meal prep on a hectic weeknight. Unfortunately, my pride often lead to less healthy alternatives dished by the golden arches or one crowned burger mega-conglomerate. In recent years I've grown into my role as head of household, and executive chef to our humble family, and learned I can plan meals in a pinch with the help of the right meal kits. I try to avoid meal helpers that limit my options to ground beef, or include pasta as it's designated carb. Simmer sauces and marinades can be a great way to inspire the rushed home cook, while expanding protein and vegetable options that will best suit your family's tastes. After all, who wants to go through the effort of cooking a meal only half of those at the table will eat? That's why I was especially thrilled to discover Kraft's new Recipe Makers range.

With 9 exclusive recipe starter kits, across three methods of preparation (oven, skillet, slow cooker), Kraft Recipe Makers also include alternate preparation idea right on the inside of the packaging. That's 3 recipe ideas with 2 simple to incorporate preparation sauces. Last week was a pretty hectic one for our family, with back-to-school shopping, several birthday preparations, and our long awaited Lemonade and Cupcake Stand kick off. All meal plans somehow got thrown out the window, and I was left without a lunch or dinner plan, rounding 1PM on Thursday.

Verde Chicken Enchiladas

***Printable chicken enchilada recipe here

Ingredients:

* 1 Box Kraft Verde Chicken Enchiladas Recipe Makers

* 4C Shredded, Cooked, Chicken (about 1.5lbs)

* 12 Corn Tortillas (6-8 inch)

* 1C KRAFT Mexican Style Four Cheese Shredded Cheese

Directions:

Heat oven to 350F

1.) Prepare 13" x 9" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Combine shredded chicken and Filling Sauce (Kraft Recipe Makers bottle).

2.) Stack tortillas; wrap in damp paper towel and microwave on HIGH 30 sec- 1 MIN, or until warmed through. Pour half the Finishing Sauce (1 pouch) into prepared baking dish.

3.) Spoon 1/4 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place seam-side down, in prepared baking dish. Repeat until baking dish is full.

4.) Cover with remaining (1 pouch) Verde Finishing Sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 15-20 MIN, until heated through.

****Note: The fresher and warmer the corn tortillas, the easier they will roll without splitting. If you encounter an issue with your tortillas splitting, you may layer tortilla, meat, and tortilla in casserole fashion, as shown above. I do not recommend substituting flour tortillas, which can become chewy and hard to cut when damp and cooked.

I resisted the urge to pick up the phone for discount Large pizzas, or to swing through the drive through for dollar burgers and salty fries. Instead I visited my pantry shelf where I had 4 flavorful Kraft recipe Makers options waiting to inspire me. These innovative new meal helps are much more than fancy sauces; they are the freedom to create restaurant quality meals at home, in 30 minutes prep or less. Don't believe me? Each variety clearly labels the suggested prep method, recommended ingredient must haves to create the desired dish, and a full break down of prep and cook times to easily work into your schedule. I knew right away I wanted to make Verde Chicken Enchilada for lunch, and Chicken Cacciatore for dinner. Best of all, I was able to do both of these things at the same time! Verde Chicken Enchilada took 8 minutes of prep time, with 1.5lbs of shredded pre-cooked chicken, and I was able to set up my Chicken Cacciatore in the slow cooker while I was waiting for our lunch to heat (15 MINS) in the oven!

No sooner had the last of the paintbrush Sharpies been scooped from our dining table did a delicious Mexican inspired dish hit the Lazy Susan. We scarfed down the Verde Chicken Enchilada, leaving no leftovers, then hit the park for a few hours of educational, and profitable, cupcake and lemonade selling. By the time we arrived home our dinner was well underway and on it's way to the final stages of preparation. After 5 hours on high in the slow cooker, our Kraft Chicken Cacciatore only required 10 minutes of pasta prep over the stove top. Because the recipes are so easy to mold, I substituted peppers with fresh mushrooms (an ingredient more popular within our family), and was able to make a second home cooked meal worthy of raving. I actually feel like I cheated a little, it was really that easy!

Thankfully, it's hard to feel guilty on the back of a successful lemonade stand and 2 delicious meals (complete with compliments from the 'customers'.) While I wasn't ambitious enough to try some of the alternate recipes this go-around, I can't wait to have an excuse to hit my shelf again and further explore the time saving and delicious #KraftRecipeMakers range. For a more in depth look at my time saving meal prep, check out my Walmart shopping trip Google + where I consider the range of meal kits available to today's consumer.

Chicken Cacciatore

***Printable Chicken Cacciatore recipe here.

Ingredients:

* 1 KRAFT Chicken Cacciatore Recipe Starters

* 2lb Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Breasts

* 1 Green Pepper, Cut Into Strips

* 2C Fresh Sliced Mushrooms

* 3C Rotini Pasta, Uncooked

Directions:

1.) Add Simmer Sauce to slow cooker; top with chicken and vegetables. Turn chicken to coat in sauce.

2.) TOP with cooking sauce; cover. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or HIGH 4-6 hours.

3.) 15 MIN before serving, cook 3C Rotini pasta as directed on package (no salt). Drain.

4.) Serve chicken mixture over pasta.

***Frozen, ready sliced vegetables can help cut prep time and costs.

What Daughter Says: Bring delicious family meals back to your table without the extra stress. Lean on quality meal kits to help inspire busy weeknight meals.

I'm not the only Blogger who has experienced Kraft Recipe Makers, see more of the product range, and get exclusive recipe ideas by following along on the Blog Hop below!