Where is Dinner? Are you ready?

"With Our Busy Schedules, What Are Your 3 Valid Tips for Getting Dinner Ready in a Flash?”

This is the $$$ Question isn't it? Samsung Home Appliances and TwitterMoms are asking us "How do we do it?"

If you knew me personally you would realize that keeping up with me is like an intense game of ping pong. Point A to Point B over to Point A again and a few times I am spinning out of control and bouncing off the floor!
I think I may have a free day on Thursday...this means I only have to leave the house three times and make it to one meeting and do a cooking demo before my brother in law shows up...so intense cleaning needed. Did I say free? Can you imagine if it was a busy day?

How am I able to get dinner ready in a flash? Here are my top three shortcuts:

1) Menu planning. I plan ahead most of the time and I know how long it takes to make a meal. I write it down on my recipe cards (on a day you have time). I can go to my plan and see what can be finished in 10 minutes and what will take an hour from start to finish. If I've been out in town and the kids are starting to whine I know it is a 10 min dinner like Taco Salad. While the hamburger is browning, my son sets gets the plates, chips and items from the fridge that require no work, I chop lettuce and tomatoes while stirring the meat, and my daughter uses an egg slicer to slice and hopefully not eat all of the olives.

2) Use pre-made to revamp dinner. I love to eat out but I hate the wait and trying to make it at home is frustrating. I stock up on frozen veggies, meats, and pizzas. I use my frozen pizzas as a vessel to a quick gourmet dinner. Asparagus to a Alfredo style pizza or smoked Gouda and olives on a pepperoni pizza. I use canned soup to make things creamier and more flavorful. I use Cheddar Cheese Soup instead of shredding/grating cheese and it's cheaper than pre-shredded cheese. I add this soup to Quesadillas, Baked Burritos, Grilled Cheese sandwiches.Pop the top and pour it on or in and your more than half way there.

3) Prep Work is key. I buy ground meat in bulk and break it down into 1 lb flattened bags for easy and quick defrost. I chop my chicken, slice it, or cube it and write on the baggies what I planned to use it for. When I can I will assemble most of the dinner ahead of time and freeze the ingredients together so all I have to do is reheat and assemble later. Having my vegetables washed and cut is also handy. I buy peppers in a large pack and slice them up and freeze them for fajitas or chop them for stir fry.

When the work is planned and done ahead of time then the evening rush doesn't come back to bite you in the you know where.

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