Guest Post: Michelle on Home Cooking Fast!

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I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine, Michelle Dudley.  You may have noticed her button on the side bar:  5 Dinners in one Hour.    It’s an amazing idea perfect for those of us who’d like to try once a month cooking but don’t have a day to set aside for just cooking, and who never remember to thaw anything out. Read as she tells the story of how it all began and be sure to follow her link at the end for 10 school lunches in 15 minutes! Here’s Michelle: 
 
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Do you find yourself stressing out daily over “what’s for dinner” or feed your family fast food more than you would like to admit?   I used to be the same way until I created a plan to make 5 dinners in 1 hour!  You read that right, 5 family dinners in just 1 hour! 
My name is Michelle and I have 3 busy kids and a husband that works crazy hours.  We were always eating fast food or frozen dinners that are just not healthy.  I finally came up with a plan to make 5 dinners all at  once (in just one hour) for our busy weekdays of hockey practice, volleyball games and other various after school functions.  All the menu plans have family friendly meals that feed 4-6 people and no, they are not all casseroles. 🙂
Enjoy meals like:
Kid Friendly Coconut Chicken Strips
Breakfast for Dinner Quiche
The meals are fresh, not frozen. They keep in your refrigerator until ready to heat and eat.  I am able to fit all of mine on just one shelf.
The menus are easy to follow and include a detailed grocery list and kitchen tool list.
Along with making cooking much easier, this plan can help you save time & money!
A monthly subscription is only $1.25 per week!  You can read more about my plan on my blog which also includes a post on how to make 10 school lunches in 15 minutes.  While you are there,  you can sign up for a free trial menu and try it out for yourself! 
Slow cooked Beef & Broccoli

Overnight French Toast Casserole

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Here’s a make-ahead breakfast recipe for you.   I like to make it the night before and pop it into the oven right before I start my morning aerobics.  By the time I’m showered and dressed breakfast is ready to serve. 

1.  First cut a whole loaf of 100% whole grain day old bread into cubes and place in a greased 9 x 13 pan.

2.  Then mix 6 eggs, 3 cups of skim milk, a tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a teaspoon of vanilla and pour over the bread.

3.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

4.  In the morning dot with 2 tablespoons of butter cut into tiny bits and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar (about 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.)  Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes. 

5.  Cut into 12 squares and serve with maple syrup or fruited and yogurt. Yum!

Cream Cinnamon Rolls: Cooking With Brandon

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Cinnamon Roll Dough

1/2 cup warm milk

1 Tablespoon active dry yeast

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup honey

1 egg

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups whole wheat flour (you may need another 1/2 cup)

In a mixer, combine milk and yeast. Stir until yeast is soft.  Add butter and honey, mix well.  Add egg and mix well.  Add salt with the flour and stir until a soft dough forms that is not to sticky.  Knead well.  Let rise for 1 hour or until doubled.

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Punch down dough and roll into a rectangle.  (Our rectangle was the size of our silicone baking sheet.)

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Spread the dough with softened butter.  (We used 1/4 cup, but you could use more or less.)

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Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.  (We sprinkled until it looked good, but 1/2 cup sugar and a teaspoon of cinnamon should be about right.)

cinnamon rolls 5 Roll up the dough so that the dough ends up as long as possible.

cinnaomn rolls 4 Cut the log into 12 rolls.  Dental floss works great for this. 

cinnamon rolls 6Place the rolls in a greased 9 x 13 pan. cinnamon rolls 2 Let rise for 1 hour.

cinnamon rolls 9 Mix 1 cup of sour cream (This was raw cream skimmed off the top of farm fresh milk that soured after 7 days.  As a substitute, use buttermilk, cultured sour cream, or yogurt mixed with 2 Tablespoons of milk.)  1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.  Mix well and pour over rolls.

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Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes.  Check the rolls after 20 minutes by pulling 2 gently apart to see if they are still doughy.

Mix a thin frosting with 1 cup of powdered sugar and 2 Tablespoons of milk or cream.  Drizzle over the rolls.  Serve warm with milk–Yum!