May 29, 2010

5 Minute Meals

Colleen Langenfeld asked:

* Do you have a family?

* Do they like to eat?

* Are you tired of cooking?

If you've answered yes to any (or all) of these questions, you need 5 minute meals.

5 minute meals are simply meals that you really do cook, but they go together fast. They may not all be 5 minutes from beginning to eating, (you can't even do that with a frozen pizza) but these meals are extremely quick and convenient.

(Here's my personal definition of a 5 minute meal: it's all about the assembly time. If I let something cook in the crockpot all day, I don't count that towards my meal-prep time because I'm not standing over my crockpot. I count the food assembly time, because that's what really counts when you're busy.)

Wanting to improve the nutrition of the meals you serve your family? You can make 5 minute meals healthier in a snap.

So what's the catch? No catch, but there are some simple secrets you need to know to make 5 minute meals work for your busy life.

Start with standing in your grocery store's bottled sauce and dressing aisle. These are 5 minute meals waiting to happen! Pick out your favorite flavors. Try some new tastes. Look for the low-fat or non-fat varieties and you'll keep added fat and calories to a minimum.

Think in terms of adding cooked meat to these 5 minutes meals. You can buy precooked chicken, for example, or for more savings, you can buy hamburger or chicken parts (I prefer skinless, boneless chicken breasts) and cook all your month's meat at once, then refreeze in individual meal portions. This will save you a lot of time in the kitchen.

Precooking your meat makes whipping up 5 minute meals a snap. Simply grab a precooked meat packet from your freezer, add a bottled sauce you love and heat. If a bag of frozen veggies would work in your meal, add that, too (you may need more than one bottle of sauce depending upon how much food you are preparing). Otherwise choose a bag of premade salad as an easy add-on for healthy veggies.

If you would like more ways to whip up 5 minute meals, see the author's resource box at the end of this article.

Once you decide upon the flavors and 5 minute meals you enjoy most, keep a list of these fast meals in your pantry. Your job is to always keep the ingredients for these meals on hand. So whenever you pull one of your favorite sauces out of the pantry, be sure and write it down on your grocery list so you'll replace it on your next shopping trip.

5 minute meals are fast, easy, convenient and can be healthy, too. Your family will gobble up these yummy meals leaving you more time to do other things you love.

Digital Camera

	Hamilton Beach 33967 Set 'n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker List Price: $59.99 Sale Price: Too low to display Used From: $42.10
	3 choices for easy - automatic cooking: Probe - Program and ManualThermometer probe for meatClip-on spoonClip-tight gasket lidEasy - automatic cookingFull-grip handlesPower interrupt protection

	- Frigidaire FRA086AT7 8,000 BTU Window-Mounted Compact Air Conditioner with Temperature Sensing Remote List Price: $239.99 Sale Price: $220.94
	8000 BTU cooling capacity with variable speed fan Cools room sizes up to 350 sq. ft. 8-way air direction control Anti-bacterial mesh filter type tilt-out filter access Electronic controls

Frigidaire FRA054XT7 5,000 BTU Window-Mounted Mini Room Air Conditioner
Sale Price: $139.99

Frigidaire's FRA054XT7 Energy Star 5,000 BTU 115-Volt Window-Mounted Mini-Compact Air Conditioner is perfect for rooms up to 165 sq ft. It quickly cools the room on hot days and quiet operation keeps you cool without keeping you awake. Low voltage start-up and operation conserves energy and saves you money. Ready-Select electronic controls allow you to set the comfort level to your preference, while a convenient temperature-readout displays the set temperature. A full-function remote control allows you to precisely control the temperature and fan speed from across the room. The top, full-width, 2-way air direction control allows you to direct the air where you want it, plus, the antibacterial mesh filter reduces bacteria, room odors and airborne particles for a cool, comfortable environment. Features Mini-Compact Design This SpaceWise Adjustable Design includes optional pleated side panels that can extend so you have the ability to adjust the unit to fit your window. This Energy Star 5,000 BTU window-mounted mini-compact air conditioner can quickly cool a room on hot days and nights, the quiet operation keeps you cool without keeping you awake. The low voltage start-up conserves energy and saves you money. Plus, the Effortless Clean Filter is easily accessible from the right side, with the slide out filter. The antimicrobial mesh filter cleans the air by removing harmful bacteria, room odors, and other airborne particles to give you a cool, comfortable environment. Energy Efficient This Energy Star unit has an Energy Efficiency Ratio of 10.7 and is sure to provide you with savings, along with convenient, cool comfort. In Energy-saver mode the fan continues to run for 1 minute after the compressor shuts off. The fan then cycles on for 20 seconds at 10 minute intervals until the room temperature is above the set temperature, at which time the compressor turns back on. The low voltage operation and Energy Saver mode help to conserve energy and save you money. Full-Function Remote Control This full-function remote control gives you the ability to precisely control the temperature and fan speed from across the room. Plus, you have the advantage to see the temperature, timer and selected fan speeds directly from the remote as well. 2-Way Air Directional Control Ready-select electronic controls allow you to easily select your cooling options with the touch of a button. With the ability to cool an area up to 165 square feet and two different fan speeds you get more cooling flexibility for your space. Top, full-width, 2-way air direction control allows you to direct the air where you want it. The Auger Wheel gives you the option to easily rotate the air directional louvers Up or Down and Left or Right until the desired air flow direction is obtained. • Energy Star 5,000 BTU 115-volt window-mounted mini-compact air conditioner that cools a room size up to 165 sq. ft. • The effortless temperature control maintains your preset room temperature so you will remain at your comfort level • Auto cool mode allows the fan to adjust speeds as the room temperature changes • Ready-select electronic controls allow you to easily select options with the touch of a button • Dehumidification up to 1.1 pints per hour • Extra-long 6.5 ft. three-prong power cord makes extension cords unnecessary

Frigidaire Window%2DMounted Mini Room Air Conditioner

	Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater with Digital Display and Remote Control List Price: $62.99 Sale Price: $45.46 Used From: $29.99
	Oscillating Ceramic Heater with Digital Display. 2 Quiet Comfort settings 1500W 900W Auto. Remote Control Digital Thermostat and Timer