A Working Mom's Meal Plan

The hardest part of my day is when we get home and everyone is immediately hungry. I love to cook and prefer
home-cooked meals, but I don't like to cook much during the work week. And yet, dinner has to get on the table...
My solution: make-ahead meals, freeze-ahead meals and recipes so easy that I'll make them on a Monday. I cook
mostly on the weekends, always doubling recipes, and rely heavily on my extra freezer and a decently-stocked pantry.
This cooking style saves me time and money, and it makes my life simpler—so I can actually enjoy sitting down
to supper at 6 with my family. I hope these recipes will make the witching hour a little better at your house too.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Spinach Parmesan Balls

A longtime family favorite, and a good one to have in the freezer during the holiday season. I also end up serving these as a vegetable at dinner come January. (recipe from my mom)

two boxes frozen chopped spinach; thawed, squeezed and dried
2 cups Pepperidge Farms stuffing mix
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 stick butter, melted
4 scallions, chopped
3 eggs
dash of nutmeg
Maille Honey Dijon, for serving

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl until well mixed, easiest to do with clean hands. Shape into bite-size balls. (To freeze, place the uncooked balls on a cookie sheet and freeze until firm, then transfer to a ziploc bag.) Place on baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the edges start turning golden brown. Serve with honey dijon for dipping.

*Another quick appetizer from my friend Jenny: Sausage Rolls. Take one package of thawed puff pastry and roll out slightly. Cut into three long strips. Divide one package of Jimmy Dean sausage into three parts, then roll each into a log the length of the pastry. Roll pastry around sausage and seal edges tightly. Chill for one hour. Cut rolls into thin slices and bake on parchment-lined sheets at 400 for about 12 minutes. (Can be sliced and frozen ahead of time.)

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