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!
Our standby meal is whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce. Always quick and easy.
Our standby is grilled cheese & apple slices.
Mac and cheese!
Spaghetti is always our back-up!
I package fish fillets individually and freeze them. They thaw, in cold water, in a few minutes. Season with sea salt, pepper, a bit of olive oil and lemon juice. Microwave each fillet for 2-3 minutes. Pair with a green salad.
standby meal – something with a tortilla and beans (taco, quesadilla, burrito, etc.)
Our standby meal on a busy day is spaghetti…
Thanks for such a great blog…
So many good stand-bys, it’s hard to choose: Sometimes breakfast for dinner hits a good note. Scrambled eggs with vegetable add-ins, a side of turkey sausage and some homemade bread/toast, pancakes or waffles are easy and a treat in the evening. A soup like chili or turkey and wild rice is easy.
Our back up meal in a pinch is some sort of pasta with jarred sauce…
Sherri´s last blog post…Long Distance…
Taco Soup…with corn chips, of course!
Breakfast! Usually, eggs and pancakes.
I have a few standby meals: Breakfast for dinner, which is usually scrambled eggs, turkey sausage and toast; Black bean quesadillas and fruit and veggies on the side; or pasta with one of the many homemade sauces I’ve doubled and frozen for future use. Last night we tried a new standby that will be incorporated into my repertoire: Veggie pancakes! I shredded up some veggies (shallots, carrots and spinach) and sauteed them. I mixed pancake mix, added the sauteed veggies to the pancake mix along with some shredded parmesan and then made pancakes like one normally would. They were a hit (with a little ketchup on the side for dipping).
our standby meal is bread, cheese, fruit …it is easy and filling and good. The boys love the fact we can use our hands!!!
Julie´s last blog post…Update on our health
Heh…besides take out? A Knorr/Lipton pasta or rice sides mixed with chicken or beef. Or mac & cheese. Or frozen nuggets and fries. Or sandwiches. Or grilled cheese.
Wait…I just listed all of the meals we eat! I’ve really gotta get out of “crap it’s dinnertime what am I going to fix” mode!
Princess Leia´s last blog post…Thankful for a Happy Heart
Ours is, hands down, soft tacos.
Taco Soup- yummy. I might have to buy this e-book even before the contest is over- it sounds AMAZING
Erin´s last blog post…Go Cards!!! Free Burritos!!!
Either chicken/rice soup (I have a recipe that takes 30 min. start to finish and completely from scratch!) or pasta of some sort.
Kelli´s last blog post…Cold Remedies
Our standby is whole wheat pasta with a marinara sauce and some sweet Italian sausage thrown in.
Rotisserie chicken from Costco or Little Caesar’s pizza (only $5!)
Molly Piper´s last blog post…Abraham’s a blogging genius—go vote for him!
My favorite standby meal is spaghetti. I keep already browned burger and cooked spaghetti pasta in my freezer. I can thaw quickly in the microwave and add a can of spaghetti sauce. Not only is it quick, but one of my family favorites. thank you for the entry.
koinonia572001@yahoo.com
If I know it is going to be a busy day, then I plan on something in the crock pot!! If the day gets ahead of me and I don’t have something planned then we go with Tortilla Soup (SUPER EASY and delicious) or Nachos with Chicken and Black Beans.
Lorie´s last blog post…Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls
My standby meal is breakfast for dinner – eggs, sausage, applesauce and toast. Fast easy and filling on those nights I have no time, energy or thought-process left.
My standby is cracker crumb chicken. A few chicken breasts, butter & club cracker crumbs and 30-40 minutes later, yumminess!
Heather´s last blog post…33 weeks
My standby is spaghetti.
Alfredo sauce (from a jar), fettucini noodles & steamed broccoli… mixed together!
Spaghetti or waffles and sausage.
Our standby meal is turkey sausage, kale, and bean soup w/ cornbread : ) Super easy and good for ya! ; )
Shawnda´s last blog post…Strangely Encouraged
PiZzA!
Our standby meal is swiss grilled cheese on whole wheat toast with Trader Joe’s Organic Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper soup. YUM!
Rachel Fix´s last blog post…NYR #2, Dining Room Chairs Part One
I love menu planning, but am always short on time and looking for new ideas. My go to weeknight meal is sloppy joes and baked beans. We always have this stuff around.
Jill´s last blog post…Casey and Jenni: After-Shoot – Brainerd Lakes Area
My standby meal is cooked chicken, grilled in a tortilla with a little non-fat cheese. My daughter just loves this. Put this with some fruit and there ya have it. YUMMO.
I would love that book (should I not win… I will have to purchase it!)
My go to meal is usally delivery sushi – my daughter and I love it. If it has to be something I prepare, for Tara it would be pasta, with some parm cheese, and a veggie. For me something as simple as a bowl of cereal, or lately, I’m stocked with Lean Cuisines!
Martha´s last blog post…A Thousand Day Thursday – Spinning
Our standby is quesadillas. We always have tortillas and grated cheese in the fridge, salsa in the pantry.
I have a huge bag of lefotver BBQ pork right now so pork sandwiches are my standby. Otherwise, Cereal.
What a great resource! Our standby meal is quesadillas with whatever leftovers we have.
our stand by is pesto grilled cheese and raw veggies
Our stand by meal is Swiss Chicken or any variation of. I can use the flash frozen chicken, without thawing it and have this dinner made in 5 minutes, and on the table in 35. My 11 year old son also knows how to make this dish, and on days that I’m sick or just busy doing other things, he will fix our dinner.
Paige
Paige´s last blog post…A day at the Museum
Spaghetti and meatballs or wedding soup! I make a huge batch of meatballs at the beginning of the month and freeze them. Then I can throw them in a pot of sauce or a pot of chicken broth and add the necessary ingredients (which are staples here) to make either of those meals.
A quick pot of beef/veggie soup in the winter, some sort of sandwiches in the summer.
My favorite simple, quick meal is baked potatoes, green beans and frozen breaded chicken breasts. I put the potatoes in the microwave, chicken in the flavorwave and green beans on the stove. All is done in about 20 minutes.
Deanna´s last blog post…CPSIA BLOG-IN
Our quick standby meal is spaghetti with broccoli or green beans.
Kelly H´s last blog post…Look what I made!
Our favorite standby meal is breakfast either eggs and bagon or pancakes and sausage. Everyone in the house can pitch in and help with the making and the dishes!
BreannaS´s last blog post…Kiddio Giveaway
greek salad. quick and easy. healthy to boot.
My standy by meal would have to be pasta, any kind, with garlic, olive
oil, and locatelli cheese. It takes just minutes to do and is much better than fast food, not to mention a lot less expensive to feed the family.
Veggie burgers (almost always have buns and burgers in the freezer) and oven-roasted potatoes (if on hand) or Annie’s mac&cheese (always on hand!).
Spaghetti is an easy one. Macaroni and cheese. Grilled cheese and canned soup.
Our standby is either a quick homemade pizza (using tortillas) or a frozen pizza in the pizza oven. The pizza oven is really quick and is a life saver.
a good standby meal is something with eggs–a quick quiche, or french toast (my kids like the breakfast for dinner idea), or a quick egg salad with bread and greens.
anja´s last blog post…Bike/Bus Winter Commute Planning
Ours is any kind of pasta with a jar of Ragu!
If I’ve completely blown meal planning, we usually thaw some chicken in the (microwave) and throw it on the grill, open up a bag of frozen vegetables, and boil some pasta. When even that takes too long, scrambled eggs!
I would have to say scrambled eggs and I usually try to throw in some sort of extra in it…and we like to eat them like burritos, with tortillas or with “arepas” (sort of a corn “pita” like thing from Colombia/Venezuela).
Becky´s last blog post…Anybody need a Pedicure?
Whenever I make soup, I put the extra in the freezer. So that’s an easy thing to pull out and reheat on a crazy day! While it’s thawing I’ll bake biscuits or scones to make my husband happy.
Simply spaghetti w/sauce and possibly meat.
Tacos is our favorite last minute meal. Sometimes frozen pizza if we have it. Taco soup is also one that’s easy to throw together and the fam. loves it.
Our favorite meal in a hurry is to place frozen chicken breasts in a skillet with a little olive oil and lemon juice, salt and pepper. cook until done and browned. Add a frozen vegetable or salad and a pasta or rice and your are done.
thanks for sharing
ceashark at aol dot com
Spaghetti or pizza (homemade or nachos! All of these are quick and everyone likes them.
yellowsunnybear´s last blog post…Sleepy Monster – 26/365
Our standby meal for a busy day is probably “breakfast for dinner”, waffles, eggs, bacon, etc. We always have the ingredients and it’s fast!
Jimi´s last blog post…What Santa brought
Either tamales I have precooked and saved in the freezer or I’ll whip up some spaghetti.
Cynthia´s last blog post…Update – Chocolate and Gingerbread Cake
Pasta or hot breakfast items such as pancakes and eggs.
Our standby meal is usually baked chicken with Italian Dressing poured on top of it along with some veggies. Its quick and easy. The kids usually have bread and butter to add to the meal.
Noodles! We always have them, my son loves them, and you can put butter or just cheese on them! They are also filling enough and can be eaten with any bread or canned veggies in the pantry.
Pasta with broccoli and a butter/ricotta sauce.
Melinda´s last blog post…The Coldest Day in 32 years
Spaghetti or Breakfast foods.
robyn´s last blog post…Robert Frost and a Snow Day…
Our stand by meal is either burritos (since most of the ingredients can be found in the freezer) or tomato soup with elbow maccaroni! Don’t knock it, till you tried it!
Shannon Angelos´s last blog post…Noah’s Dedications
Beans & rice are a quick (15 minutes) meal to throw together. A favorite at our house!
Breakfast foods – either omlets and toast or pancakes and fruit! Thanks for the giveaways!
our standby is chili. Thank you-
alisha´s last blog post…Man My Kid Can Snore
Cereal, waffles, pancakes, or quesedillas.
Our standby is raviola casserole.
Spaghetti. Sometimes with meatballs, if we have some frozen.
Breakfast for dinner. Scrambled eggs with toast or pancakes and bacon.
Our standby meal is definitely breakfast for dinner. We always have the makings for pancakes, eggs, and bacon or sausage, plus frozen fruit in the ‘fridge.
Mama C´s last blog post…New Swarovski Starfish Necklaces
Standby family meal….for a quick lunch we’ll often have noodles with grated cheddar cheese on top (with barbecue sauce for those so inclined)!
I have to go to meals. If I can get to the store I like to make stuffed salmon from the seafood counter and a veggie. If I can’t get to the store pantry chili or tortellini is a great go to meal.
Steph L´s last blog post…Lessons Learned in Week 1 with Daughter #2, Part I
Our standby meal is Rachael Ray’s Carbonara. We love it!
Unfortunately, our standby meal is frozen pizza or Subway subs. Of course, there is always the PB &J sandwich. . .
sandwiches or pizza . . . every once in a while is okay, right?
What’s your standby family meal on a busy day?
BBQ’d chicken or chili dogs…based on my husband’s preference because he is the cook.
Suzanne´s last blog post…Focus Challenge – Month 11
Our standby meals are either something that’s been tucked away in the freezer (if we’re lucky), or pasta with a simple tomato basil sauce. But then there’s always old faithful, breakfast for dinner!
sarah´s last blog post…A Taste of Springtime
Well, we have chickens, so quiche or some other egg related dish is a stand-by. We also love grilled cheese.
Melanie´s last blog post…The end for now…
Lasagna. It is so easy and so good!
Standby meal is anything that can and will be put on the grill. Sirloin burgs from the freezer – piece of fish – fruit – vegies – quick marinated onions (my fave) – balsamic garlic portabelloes – oh man, gotta go eat lunch now.
a few come to mind: tacos, spaghetti, grilled cheese with tomato soup. or cereal.
Ground beef tacos and I get my sweet husband to stop by our local Mexican food div and pick up fresh salsa and tortillas. YUMMY!!!
I’m in the breakfast for dinner category – if I don’t have dinner stuff available, I can always make breakfast!
Chicken legs with lemon pepper and garlic salt, take’n'bake bread, and a microwave steamed veggie or salad. Doesn’t get much easier than that.
Usually a simple stirfry. Gotta get those veggies!
Ours would be either tacos or mac n’ cheese, although every once in a while we’ll do chocolate chip pancakes
Chili or pizza!
Sadly, ours is microwaved baked potatoes with salad (just field greens and dressing). Should probably change this once the baby comes!
Brooke´s last blog post…Maybe it’s a Julian after all…
Our standby meal is Turkey spaghetti with bagged salad. Quick, easy and all 10 of my kids love it!!
My stand-by meal is taco salad. Super easy to brown up some ground beef and add seasonings, and I nearly always have a big salad in the fridge (I make it fresh as needed, and since it’s just hubby and I it usually lasts us a while). Add meat to salad, and ta da! Taco salad.
MommyAmy´s last blog post…My First Way Back When-esday
Chicken Ceazar salad
Our family standby is BFD – Breakfast for Dinner! When I am rushed at the end of a day, I throw on scrambled eggs and toast or whip up some pancakes. The kdis feel like it’s a huge treat AND it only takes a few minutes.
My standby family meal is Zatarans red beans and rice, I always keep a box on hand in the pantry, so easy, yet so tasty!
Pasta with red sauce or Alfredo sauce.
Spaghetti, with or without breadsticks.
Dara´s last blog post…
my go-to meal on a busy day is, like some of the others have said, breakfast-for-dinner. we love pancakes with fruit and syrup, or eggs and bacon. we don’t often eat a “big” breakfast like that in the mornings, so it’s kind of fun for a change!
Krista´s last blog post…Montreal-bound
My standby is sphagetti! It is quick and easy and I always have the ingredients in the pantry. DH thinks we have it too much though
Maybe I will have to try some of the other standbys….
Our standby meal is chicken fried rice – easy, quick and I always have the ingredients on hand.