We are a busy family & one of my most trusted kitchen gadgets it my crock pot. So when I need a hearty family favorite with little effort I turn to my old friend crocky & whip up some french dips paired Fries, or salad, or whatever is in the fridge & my family thinks I am the coolest!

Jenna French Dip

One roast any kind

One can beef broth

One package pot roast seasoning (I likeMckormic )

One can water

Throw all in the crock pot  minus the rolls & cheese & cook on low for 8 hours

When done shred meat & return to liquid. Fill each hoagie roll with meat & cheese. broil for a few seconds, you can also serve with onions or your mushrooms for some added kick.

 Use liquid from crock for dipping!

I serve this dish with fries & it’s always a hit You can serve french dips with just about anything, and since the bread fills the plate you will most likely have left over meat you can reinvent for a new meal like beef pot pie, or beef quesadillas.

Whether you have a child heading back to school or you’re looking for a way to save a buck & eat healthier, sacked lunches don’t have to mean pb&j! Taking your lunch saves money & your waist line, and can be fun too.

Check out some of these recepies  from www.parenting.comfor a wonderful brown bag surprise!

A colorful, super-healthy lunch choice. Spread white bean dip on a whole-wheat or spinach tortilla wrap. Layer with lettuce, sliced tomato, cheese, thinly sliced cucumber (or pickle if your child is a fan), avocado and other favorite vegetables. Roll up the tortilla. Then slice into 4 1-inch cross-sections to make the wheels.

While your child would no doubt enjoy diving into a meal of sticky sweet fruit leather, this guilt-free version offers nutrients and energy to keep her going for the second half of the school day.

Spread blueberry or strawberry-flavored cream cheese on a whole-wheat tortilla wrap. Top with fresh blueberries or sliced strawberries and roll tortilla.

This kid-favorite gets a healthy makeover to fuel your child’s busy body all day long. Make these the night before to save time in the morning. Top English muffin halves with jarred marinara sauce (if your child won’t object, add chopped steamed broccoli or spinach to the sauce.) Sprinkle pre-shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Let cool, then wrap up.

My family loves my chicken pot pie! I get rave reviews every time I make it. It is so simple to throw together I often make it for new moms or sick friend, and get asked for the recipe every time.

So I have decided to share it with you. Sharing this will certainly strip me of my credibility as a” cook “because it is just so simple, but I am willing to risk it!

You will need:

Two store bought refrigerator pie crusts 9″

Can each of cream of Mushroom & cream of chicken

1/4 cup milk or water

Cooked chicken or turkey left over or purchased from the deli

Bag of frozen mixed veggies

One onion small & diced up

S&P

To make:

Pre  heat oven to 425

Place one pie crust in pie plate on bottom set aside

Mix soups , milk, veggies, onion, chicken & s&p to taste in bowl

Fill Pie crust

Top with second crust

Cut steam slits in top crust

Bake at 425 for 20 min or so (until crust is done & inside is bubbly)

Tips:

Use a cookie cutter to cut shapes in top crust before putting it on top

Also try Cajun seasoning instead of s&p mmmm with a kick

Mix it up & try any filling you like, you cannot go wrong when its warm & creamy between pie crust

This cooking method practiced by top chefs is the latest rage, and I had never heard of it till I watched the how-to video that came with my Foodsaver vacuum sealer appliance (which I LOVE! See my other blog post on the topic).

What a convenient, time-saving way to plan and prepare meals. It’s so much easier and they taste incredible.

Basically the process is this: you place your food and ingredients in airtight plastic bags and then simmer them  in hot water below boiling point till done. The result is a tasty, juicy, flavor-infused dish that doesn’t doesn’t lose any of its original appearance or texture.

The drawback is that you need to keep an eye on the water temperature and make sure it stays constant.

But a plus is you can prepare a bunch of meals in advance (vacuum sealing seals out air, so they stay fresh) and have them ready when you are.

I’ll scout out some good recipes and let you know the results I’ve gotten soon.