by Sheila Watson Kraklow

Created on: March 07, 2008

Whether you are a stay-at-home parent or a work-all-day couple; at the end of the day, everyone in your family wants to know, "What's cookin'?"

In this article we offer you; the over-worked and hungry cooks, tips on how to jump start any evening and remove meal-time stress.

Prepare a few make-ahead meals and cut the stress out of dinnertime.

All meals can be make-ahead, even breakfast.

Lets say one Saturday morning your kids would love those banana waffles you make. If you are thinking on your feet, whip up a double recipe. Cook enough for your family's breakfast today, pop those into the oven on 200oF to stay warm and toasty. Now, keep making waffles until you are out of batter. Set these last 6 or so off to one side to cool, go eat with your family.

After your meal, whip out your trusty vacuum sealer, place one serving in each bag, run them through the machine and slap them into the freezer.

Ever hear of chicken and waffles? For a quick, fun and super easy meal; add a piece of fried chicken on top of a crispy waffle, with warm maple syrup! This quirky and simple supper, served with some fresh mouth-watering fruit for a bit of color is sure to please your children!

If you have in mind making a casserole,such as Chicken Pot Pie or Shepherds Pie, prepare enough fillings for two. Use one today! Then make individual casseroles!

Using small brightly colored dishes, prepare each family member his/her very own casserole!Simply cover each one tightly in foil and freeze. When you need them at dinner-time simply pull these out and pop into a hot oven until hot and bubbly. Remove the foil for the last 10 minutes to allow the tops to get brown and crunchy. Your family will love this!

Making meatloaf? Mix up enough for two. Bake one in a loaf pan for today's meal.

Shape the rest of that meatloaf mixture into patties, place between two sheets of aluminum foil and freeze. Now you are ready to thaw and grill these, at a moments notice! Serve these kicked up burgers on Kaiser Rolls with all the trimmings, along with deli-potato salad.

If you are going to bake one fillet of salmon or cod, why not bake two? Bake them at the same time in separate pans. In one pan; top with cream, dill and seasoned bread crumbs, for dinner.

In the other pan; dot with butter, do not season this fillet. Cover fillet with foil and bake. When it is done allow to cool, slip it into a freezer bag. (vacuum sealers are great for this kind of make-ahead cooking) Use this second fillet next Friday night in a creamy fish chowder served with hot crusty bread.

Almost any meal can be doubled. You could call it POGO, (prepare one get one!)

Roasting a chicken? Double up and roast two, use some tonight, combining meat in a cream sauce with mixed vegetables, serve over toast points for a quick hot meal!

Now freeze one in a zippered bag or use your vacuum sealer. Before sealing the bag, add about 1/2 of a bottle of your favorite Bar-B-Que Sauce. Stow-away in your freezer. This can be used for an easy Monday night supper with Oven French Fries and a crisp tossed salad.

Give yourself a break; with a few hours of well planned cooking and little effort a wise cook will take the frenzy out of dinner time and be free from worry because you WILL know "What's for Dinner?"

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