As September comes to an end, here are some ideas for creating flavorful meals with less work. First, a few overall tips, then a few easy-peezy recipes to try.
Cook once, eat twice. If you’re making a casserole, make enough for two dishes. Bake both of them. Eat one now. Securely cover and freeze the other one for another night.
One main, more uses. For a larger piece of meat like a beef or pork roast that will make more than one meal, use the left overs in different ways to change things up a bit. You can have it another night that week or freeze and use it later. Here are some ideas:
Pork Loin: Slice and serve with veggies the first night, then shred the leftover meat and stir in your favorite barbeque sauce to make BBQ sliders for another meal.
Baked Chicken: Chop or shred leftover meat and use it to make any number of dishes – chicken enchiladas, chicken salad, chicken stir fry…
Spaghetti and meat sauce: mix together the leftover pasta and sauce, and pour half of it into a baking dish. For a 9 x 13 dish, mix together 8 oz of softened cream cheese, one cup of sour cream and ½ cup grated Parmesan and spread that over the pasta and sauce. (For a smaller baking dish, reduce proportionally.) Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. Pour on the rest of the pasta and sauce, and sprinkle more mozzarella on top. Bake at 350 for 20 – 30 minutes, until heated through and cheese on top is bubbly.
6 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 lb ground beef
2 cups chopped onion
2 – 16 oz cans diced tomatoes
1 – 16 oz can whole kernal corn
Dried basil
Salt and pepper
3 cups grated extra sharp cheddar cheese
4 – 6 baking potatoes, baked
Extra shredded cheddar cheese
Sliced green onions
Cook ground beef with onion in a heavy pot until meat is browned and onion is soft. Drain off the fat. Pour the tomatoes into the pot. Add the corn and basil, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in cooked bacon. Simmer mixture for 10 – 15 minutes until
thick. Add the cheese and stir until melted.
Cut baked potatoes in half and spoon meat mixture on top. Sprinkle with additional cheese and sliced green onions if desired.
Adaoted from a recipe by Paula Deen
1 lb. package of chicken tenders, sautéed and shredded (also use juices that cook out of chicken)
2 cans Mexi-corn
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cans Mexican stewed tomatoes
2 cans mushrooms – drained
1 soup can of milk
1 soup can diced potatoes
1 pk taco seasoning mix
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together and put in crock pot. Bring to boil, then turn down to simmer, stirring occasionally until potatoes are done. Spoon into bowls and serve.

2 packs of Ben’s Instant Rice Pilaf, prepared according to package directions
1 pack of smoked sausage
1 large onion, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped
6 – 8 baby bella mushrooms, sliced
20 cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
2 tbls olive oil
2 tbls balsamic vinegar
Drizzle olive oil into a large skillet. Slice sausage into 1/2 " pieces and add to skillet. Add onions and peppers and cook over medium heat until sausage is browned and vegetables are tender, stirring often.
Add mushrooms and tomatoes and continue cooking 3 – 4 minutes.
Add prepared rice and balsamic vinegar and cook until all is heated through, stirring often. Spoon onto plates and serve.