Cooking at home is better for our health and our waistlines, but let’s face it: if a meal isn’t easy, it’s just not going to get made as planned in the midst of a hectic week. We’ve pulled together a cozy selection of hearty fall meals that work well for life-simplifying approaches like make-ahead meals and slow cooking.
Cooking at home is better for our health and our waistlines, but let’s face it: if a meal isn’t easy, it’s just not going to get made as planned in the midst of a hectic week. We’ve pulled together a cozy selection of hearty fall meals that work well for life-simplifying approaches like make-ahead meals and slow cooking.Minestrone Soup
The trick to making this hearty soup in no time flat is to rely on frozen ingredients and low-sodium canned options. Prep your onions and garlic for the week when you come home from grocery shopping – all that remains is to combine everything and let it simmer. (3 Guiding Stars)
Quick Southwest Skillet
This yummy dish also relies on the freezer and/or can openers for speedy prep. Let the family customize it by serving salsa, hot sauce and plain Greek yogurt as optional toppings. (3 Guiding Stars)
Bean and Cheese Quesadilla
Make this dish even simpler with the help of a Guiding Stars-earning fresh salsa from your produce section, or chop the veggies in advance. If your ingredients have been prepped, this is a yummy 5-minute meal that everyone will love. (2 Guiding Stars)
Chicken Sausage Hobo Packets
This meal pairs particularly well with the Minestrone Soup about – prep the cabbage all at once for both meals. If you’re not camping out, just toss everything into a casserole dish or even a slow cooker so you don’t have to mess around with making individual packets. (2 Guiding Stars)
Black-Eyed Pea Curry
Make this curry ahead in a big enough batch to get 2-3 meals out of it–this is one that tastes better if it sits for a day or so anyway. Make a big batch of brown rice at the same time and you’ve got a delicious, comforting meal that can be reheated in minutes. (2 Guiding Stars)
Slow Cooker Mushroom Bolognese
Slow-cooked food affords the decadence of flavor long cook times provide with the convenience of a microwave. If you buy pre-sliced mushrooms and have prepped your savory veg for the week in advance, this dish will take five minutes to assemble. (2 Guiding Stars)
Skillet Chicken with Apples and Sage
Once again, this dish takes good advantage of prepared onions and peppers. Apples are cooked with their peels on – definitely a time saver. And with the savory apple pie lusciousness of this skillet, you’ll be well pleased with this simple meal. (1 Guiding Star)