This giveaway is now closed. The winners are Syndi, Amy, Leah, Jenevra, Jenn, LeeAnn, Katherine, Toiling Ant, Lauren, and Charissa – congratulations!
Next up is a great new ebook called “A Month of Meals.” Jamie Ussher has written a fabulous, easy to read compilation of everything you’d need to feed your family for an entire month.
Jamie uncomplicates the entire process by breaking down every little thing you might need, from recipes to ingredients. First, she explains why healthy eating is so important, that reading the ingredients instead of the calorie count matters more for long-term health. To be honest, reading this meant, to me, that her recipes are quality and dependable. I can trust that everything in this ebook has passed the health test.
Yours truly, at my neighborhood farmer’s market.
All the recipes are easily organized, and they are so easy. She also includes recipes for side dishes that tie in with the main dishes, recipes for salad dressings and mixes, and provides a simple plan that breaks down when to do it all.
Also included are weekly grocery lists, lists of healthy foods, tips for getting kids to eat healthier, and a guide for helping you keep track of your nutritional intake.
Jamie then ends with a reminder about world hunger, and how living simply and eating well means positively impacting the world’s hungry. I love that she ends on this note.
Seriously, readers, this is a fabulous ebook, chock full of useful information and practical ideas. If you like reading Simple Mom, then you’ll like this ebook! I plan on using her ideas in my own home.
Cherries in season at my market.
Ten readers will win a copy of A Month of Meals! This ebook is currently on sale at $6.95 – it normally retails for $19.95.
Here’s How To Win:
1. Leave a comment on this post, answering this question – What’s your standby family meal on a busy day?
2. To get a second entry – and a second entry on all the giveaways this week – subscribe to the Simple Mom feed and email me the movie quote at the bottom of any post in your feed reader or email inbox (there is only one quote for all the giveaways). Send it to simplemomblog (at) gmail (dot) com, and put the quote directly in the subject line. The body of the email won’t be read. And you only need to email me the quote once in order to get a second entry for all the week’s giveaways.
3. Finally, to get a third entry, post or tweet about this giveaway – if you use the URL of this post, I’ll receive it – no need to email me.
This giveaway will end this Friday, January 30 at noon EST. I hope you win!
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bbq chicken
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup… comfort food at its finest!
Our standby is usually spaghetti or stir fry. The stir fry is good because you can use up all your about to go bad veggies. I usually have some frozen shrimp in the frig and a bottle of stir fry sauce. Then just throw in lots of veggies and cook up some rice.
french toast
As bad as it is, our stand by is a frozen pizza.
I would love to have a month of meal planning in front of me!!!
Some form of pasta for us. Most likely spaghetti!
We love doing breakfast for dinner, so if dinner plans fall through for whatever reason, we’ll make waffles, pancakes, french toast or omelettes. We still do them from scratch (no mixes) and I always keep Winder bacon in the freezer as a side. We top it off with a touch of pure grade B maple syrup – a yummy recommendation we got from Alton Brown.
Amanda Bytheway´s last blog post…Mommy cards
Smoothies and muffins!
Standby meal………..frozen homemade waffles. Yes, we love them any time of day.
bean and cheese quesadillas!! the kids LOVE them and they have more nutrition than macaroni ;D
Breakfast food. Eggs, bacon, and toast. Fast and easy.
Elizabeth´s last blog post…Black Bean Dip
scrambled eggs and homemade biscuits. bacon or sausage if I have it. O funny! I just looked up and saw Elizabeth said the same thing! I promise I wasn’t copying!
Stephanie’sMommyBrain´s last blog post…4th Photo and Ben’s thoughts on Heaven.
Orange Chicken from Trader Joe’s
Depends on what we have handy, but generally we have a frozen meal tucked away for busy times – either some dinner/casserole or frozen pizzas. When we don’t have that handy we scrounge.
Ideally we try to make enough of dishes that we have leftovers we can use.
Quesadillas!
We love to make tacos here. I always have corn tortillas in the fridge and all the other ingredients on hand, too.
Hamburgers on the grill (George Forman, not outdoor) and steamed veggies or I make a “breakfast dinner” of scrambled eggs and pancakes.
Dawn´s last blog post…Math Time, Story Time
Anything with pasta is our stand by meal. Or soup and grilled cheese!
Spaghetti (we keep homemade sauce in the freezer) or pizza (either frozen or takeout). We clearly need this ebook!
For a busy day, breakfast–just eggs and toast or, if I have a little more time and/or planned ahead, a concoction with sausage, potatoes, cheese, whatever all together is even better.
Wendy´s last blog post…Wordless Wednesday
“One pot saucy-pasta” is a great kid-friendly standby: equal parts whole wheat past, pasta sauce and water – dump in a pot. Bring to boil, simmer 20 mins and it’s done. You can throw in a handful of grated cheese too and add veg on the side. So easy.
Our stand-by meal is soup – either clam chowder or chicken noodle. It cooks quickly, everyone devours it, and clean up is a breeze.
Wazz Mommy´s last blog post…This is just for me, for prosperity…
Filipino Chicken Adobo!
Eggs! I love eggs and they’re so easy. They are my favorite standby.
Pasta. Any kind.
Kelsey Behrend´s last blog post…
This sounds perfect for me right now! I have a newborn and planning meals has been more difficult than it has been for me in the past.
When we have “nothing” in the pantry/fridge, I’ll typically make some simple spaghetti with marinara . Out of the box and out of the jar with some extra touches if I’m inspired.
I have a few standby meals — but none of them are healthy! My newest is Pasta Puttanesca, which is super easy to make with a few ingredients from scratch so it’s probably my best one ….
This is a fabulous idea, thanks for the chance to win!
My standby is a very easy chicken recipe. Mix 8 oz Russian dressing, one can of cranberries and 1 envelope of onion soup mix. Pour over chicken. Cook until done. Serve over rice.
Christy@pipandsqueak´s last blog post…35 months
Our standby is breakfast for dinner!
My family’s favorite stand-by meal is spaghetti. Its quick, easy and still homemade, so its relatively good for you. We love it! =)
Sandwiches, either PB&J, grilled cheese, or turkey. Yum!
Lindsey´s last blog post…Craft Night
Almost without fail, the standby is some kind of stir fry. The meat that can defrost the fastest goes in, as well as whatever fresh veggies we have on hand… and the rice gets thrown in the cooker. Ta da.
We love spaghetti, so I always keep the ingredients on hand for a busy day!
Busy night dinners are definitely pizza or spaghetti in our house.
Jessica´s last blog post…Everyday Okinawa
Definitely cream of broccoli soup. It’s easy, fast, healthy (when made with milk and no cream), and everyone loves it!
Our stand-by meal is steack haché (basically french hamburger patties) with pasta. Of course we do it up right with olive oil, herbs de Provence and good Parmesan!
Francine´s last blog post…I gots the crud
Our standby meal is either pizza, pancakes (folded with cheese in the middle), sandwiches or 2-minute noodles with canned peas and fried or boiled egg.
I can whip together a pretty good linguine with marinara sauce in a matter of minutes.
One of our standby meals could be baked fish served with mashed potatoes and steamed peas. I always have some kind of fish and frozen peas in my freezer. Minimum effort from me to whip up a quick and healthy meal!
Domesticgoddess´s last blog post…The Curious Mind
Spaghetti!!
Our standby meal on busy days is usually scrambled eggs, and sometimes toast (if I have bread), because after a busy day dinner is usually late and that’s all I have energy for and I’m STARVING and eggs are F-A-S-T!
If I’m able to plan ahead for a busy day, I like to make chili ahead and freeze it, so I can pull out a bowl and nuke it and serve with crackers.
Soup or beans with rice/quinoa/pasta.
An egg on a whole grain waffle with a touch of syrup and a soy sausage patty. Oh, and the occasional tater tot.
tomato soup and grilled cheese
Pancakes or biscuits and gravy. I always have the ingredients for them no matter what and they are quick and easy. Maybe not the healthiest but they always do in a pinch!
Shalae´s last blog post…Let it Rain
Our stand-by is spaghetti. I’ll often freeze some meatballs, so I’ll just bake those and then get the noodles cooked. If I’m really pressed, I’ll just put the room temp sauce right over hot noodles.
Being almost 8 months pregnant, EASY has been the name of the game
On a good day it might be grilled cheese and tomato soup (which has been oh so good for these snowy/icy days in MD….but usually it looks more like scrambled eggs with toast and fruit…easy clean up and somewhat balanced…? 
Oh and not to mention the fact that I can’t get enough of eggs this pregnancy!
Laura´s last blog post…Another Giveaway!
Our standby is Sloppy Joes with corn and a green salad.
Steamed veggies and noodles! Thanks for the giveaway.
Our go-to meal is omelets and waffles:-)
Emily´s last blog post…Our First Muffin Tin Monday Submission
Well, I do Once A Month Cooking most months. So, everything is ready to be cooked for dinner with very little prep. However, sometimes I do run low, it is then I make Mac & Cheese or Hot Dogs….two of my kids favorites.
Bryssy´s last blog post…Hilarious
Our standby is a quick whole grain rice packet and frozen vegetables or beans!
Creamy pasta!!
amy salinger´s last blog post…Handprint Art
Standby family meal! Pasta and sauce!
Usually breakfast for dinner since I always have the breakfast foods on hand. Spaghetti would be a close second, though.
I would LOVE to visit your farmer’s market!! And I would love this book.
Thank you.
Unfortunately, our go-to meal is usually Subway… I really, really need to change that!
Standby: spaghetti or grilled cheese. Nothing homemade.
I’ve struggled with the meal planning for a long time now. I always get into it, only to find it taking so much time to kick it off the ground that it falls by the wayside before I get it finished. It sounds like this would help a lot!
Our standby is pasta. We make sauce from crushed tomatoes, and throw in some frozen onions, celery, and carrots that have already been cut up.
My favorite standby meal is always spaghetti. It is quick, easy and filling and everybody LOVES it!!
Sad to say, but our stand by meal is Spaghetti. Precooked hamburger meat from the freezer and the jar of sauce from the shelf. Thankfully though, we rarely have to fall back on this meal!
our standy-by is eggs & salsa in a tortilla, with lots of cheese – yum!
We try to always have some leftover homemade soup in the freezer and fresh salad ingredients. Quick, easy, and healthy!
Of course, I make spaghetti when time is of the essence. If I’m really lucky there are some frozen meatballs lying around.
Kelly´s last blog post…Whosawatczit?
Our standby is penne pasta with goat cheese sauce. The sauce only takes as long as it takes to cook the pasta. While these are going, I will make a salad. The sauce is also tasty on asparagus.
Kathy (O:
Our standby meal is fried egg sandwiches
We’re also big fans of spaghetti when I quick meal is needed, but also rely on beans and rice (and whatever else is on hand) regularly.
We have grilled italian sandwiches with salami, provolone cheese and sauce. My kids love it and I serve them with french fries sprinkled with parmasen cheese and a little garlic salt. Yummy
Our standby is pasta with marinara sauce.
Pizza or tacos
Our standby is usually bean burritos and Mexican rice
Jennifer Muth´s last blog post…flushing is its own reward
Usually some whole wheat pasta with sauce and either ground turkey or beef. Or hot dogs/hamburgers or this popcorn chicken from Costco along with applesauce and frozen veggies.
When in doubt, we make a frozen cheese pizza and dress it up to our heart’s content. Easy, and everyone’s happy.
spaghetti!
oh, i hope i win this!
emily anderson´s last blog post…hold onto your seats…
our standby meals are breakfast for dinner or simple pasta with red sauce!
Grilled cheese sandwiches are our quick and easy standby for busy days or days right before grocery shopping.
I would love this and could really use it. My husband’s favorite standby meals are spaghetti and mine is either chili or breakfast for dinner!
Fortunately we have loads of leftovers in our freezer so we can always grab something. I make my own 5 grain pancake mix in bulk and we’ve been known to eat pancakes too!
Our standby meal is either homemade mac n’ cheese or spaghetti and meatballs. Great comfort foods!
Our standby is making homemade chicken strips – either with bisquick on them or french fried onions – and broccoli.
On a very busy day we usually end up eating chicken and rice – throw it all in a pan with veggies – bake – and it is ready to go.
Rice, lentil soup and sauteed green vegetables.
Standby meal is pasta with sauce from a can, topped with shredded cheese and broiled for a minute to melt the cheese. It’s like topsy-turvy lasagna!
ToilingAnt´s last blog post…Bloggy Giveaway: Quilt Pattern!
Our standby is definitely spaghetti. It’s also my husband’s favorite meal, so that works out well. If not spaghetti, then, as many others have said, we do breakfast for dinner — pancakes or waffles. Can’t go wrong!
Stir-fry. I always keep brown rice, chicken, and vegetables on hand. I can throw this healthy meal together quickly.
Cheese quesdillas and fajita vegetables
Our standby would be toast and eggs, since we don’t eat breakfast, it is mighty good for supper.
Our stand by meal is cereal/breakfast food or sandwiches (grill cheese).
I hate to admit that ours is … pasta. With canned sauce. It doesn’t happen often but that is our last minute meal.
( I know – bad mom! How come I don’t have a month’s worth of meals frozen for last minute stuff??? 
)
My favorite quick meal is bunny pasta (Annie’s organic three cheese rotini) with frozen peas thrown in. It’s a healthy, quick and filling dinner for two
If the store is out of bunny pasta (which got so frequent that I ordered a case of the stuff from Amazon), I usually throw together cornbread and a few veggies. If my husband needs extra protein, I also throw in deviled eggs.
Moonbeam´s last blog post…Week of Giveaways at Simplemom
Our stand-by is spinach ricotta pasta–it has a special place in my heart because it was the first food that the whole family would eat. (Can I get an “amen”?)
To make it, you sautee a box of frozen chopped spinach in butter until it’s thawed and not too juicy, then puree it in your food processor with 3/4 cup ricotta and 1/4 cup grated parmesan. Use it as a sauce for penne or rotini.
Poppy Buxom´s last blog post…52 Things that annoy, displease or otherwise offend Poppy Buxom:
Our standby is cereal or pancakes and eggs!
Our stand by meal is spaghetti. Actually, I should say it is my husband’s stand by meal, because he does the majority of the cooking in our home.
Taylor at Household Management 101´s last blog post…Jan 29, Household Inventory – How to Create One Quickly And Easily
Cheese Tortellini and Marinara… from a bag and a jar!
Holly´s last blog post…Off to the Market!
Trader Joe’s vac-packed Indian food and frozen nan.
Our go to meal on a busy day is definitely spaghetti sauce from the freezer (chocked full of pureed veggies) and whole wheat pasta. So quick and it makes me so thankful for the prep work that was one before hand. Definitely makes busy days more enjoyable!
our current fall back seems to be kabobs. You put it on a stick and my kiddos love it.
pizza!
Amber D.´s last blog post…Through My Lens Photo Project DAY # 3
Quesadillas, of course! I take whatever leftover meat we have in the refrigerator (usually grilled chicken) and combine it with whatever cheese we have on hand, then grill on top of a wheat tortilla. A twist on this is to make “pizzas” by putting it open-faced in the toaster oven, instead of cooking it on the stove top.
I think ours would have to be either Kraft macaroni & cheese or spaghetti noodles with jarred sauce.
Amy Lemaniak´s last blog post…Sleepy Head
our standby meal is scrambled eggs with toast, butter and jelly
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