Make-Ahead Meals For Busy Moms by Jane Doiron came into my life a couple of weeks ago.  Jane emailed asking if I would be interested in reviewing her new book.  Of course I said, "ABSOLUTELY!"

This book, right off the bat, impressed me with it's large, clear, easy to read font. Maybe I'm telling off on my age a little, but I saw right away how nice it would be to work from this book as I assembled the recipes.

The book doesn't include mouth watering photos with the recipes, but that's quite alright.  The recipes call for commonly found pantry foods and spices, which makes it very easy to imagine how they will taste.  That was another reason I like this book; the ingredients listed are easy to find items that most of us already have in our pantry and spice cabinets.

The complexity of the recipes is easy enough for any level of cook to handle.  The instructions are well laid out and include directions for making ahead, before serving suggestions, and freezing and thawing directions.

Make-Ahead Meals For Busy Moms offers recipes we all know and love, as well as many new twists on old recipes. It covers

• Helpful Tips
• Appetizers
• Breakfast and Brunch
• Dessert
• Main Dishes
• Side Dishes
• Soup

Examples of recipes are

• Italian Bread Dipping Oil
• Italian Sub Spiral Wraps
• Bacon Tomato Mini Cups
• Blueberry Bread
• Bran Muffins
• Quiche Lorraine
• Chocolate Torte
• Freezable Lemon Bars
• Tiramisu
• Chicken Cannelloni (shown on the front cover)
• Chicken Stroganoff
• London Broil Strips
• Marinated Steak
• Mushroom Burgers
• Pork Florentine
• Sausage Quesadillas
• Stuffed Beef Tenderloin
• Taco Lasagna
• Turkey Burgers
• Broccoli Salad
• Hawaiian Coleslaw
• Layered Cheese Zucchini
• Strawberry Spinach Salad
• Zucchini Parmesan
• Chicken and Spinach Tortellini Soup
• Italian Wedding Soup
• Sausage Lentil Soup

That was just an example of the delicious recipes pouring out of this book.  Remember, even if you have cooked some of these recipes before, would you know the best way to make enough to freeze for make-ahead meals?  Would you know the best way to thaw the frozen meal to retain the best texture and taste?

Make-Ahead Meals For Busy Moms takes care to answer those cooking questions.  It's a handy dandy cookbook for any busy kitchen.  It makes a great book for anyone just starting out in the kitchen who wants to save money and who may not always have time to cook a meal every night.  Busy cooks from all walks can appreciate having Make-Ahead Meals For Busy Moms by Jane Doiron at their fingertips.

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

Here's a peek at the recipes I made, you'll need to CLICK ON THE IMAGE to go to each friend's blog to pick up the recipe.

Will you do me a sweet favor?
Will you let them know you visited their blog by leaving a comment under any of their recipes or the recipe I wrote for them?              THANK YOU!

Breakfast Soft Tacos on My Tasty Space

Homemade Almond Granola on Cranky Cakes.com

Potato Patties on Grumpy's Honeybunch

Duchess Potatoes on Cooking by the Seat of My Pants

Garlic Soup on French Cooking for Dummies

Spinach Quesadillas on Chef Tom Cooks.com

Zesty Egg Salad on Recipe Corner

Stock for Chinese Soups on Detroit Eats

Shrimp Salad on bcmom's kitchen

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

Find what you need & help support Simple Daily Recipes by shopping the Simple Daily Recipes' Kitchen Store.

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

Krista G. representing Lucky Leaf® gave me two full-size cans of Lucky Leaf® Apple Pie Filling and Strawberry Pie Filling as well as a Lucky Leaf® cook book—which contains contest-winning recipes that were tested and approved by the Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen.  She asked me to test the recipes out in my own kitchen, and tell her (and others) what I thought.

From the Lucky Leaf® cook book, I followed the idea of their Blueberry Galette with Lime Marscarpone Cream to create this Apple Galette with Maple Cream.  Why didn't I just make the Blueberry recipe?  Well, I didn't have the blueberry filling, nor the lime, whipping cream, or mascarpone cheese.  I did, however, have on hand, without any special trips to the store, the can of Lucky Leaf® Apple Pie Filling, cream cheese, half-n-half, and grade B Maple sirup.  So I went to work!

The Lucky Leaf® recipe called for one rolled refrigerated unbaked pie crust.  I didn't have one of those either, so I quickly stirred up my own.  It took me a whole 5 minutes to make enough dough for two crusts.

HERE'S THE QUICK & FLAKY PIE CRUST

• 2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons salted butter, COLD, cut into cubes
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 5 tablespoons ice cold water

In a food processor, pulse the cold butter cubes and flour, for about 5 seconds.  DO NOT cut the butter into the flour until pea size clumps form.  That's too much.
Through the top feeder add the ice cold water, blend until dough ball forms and pulls away from the sides.  Transfer to lightly floured surface.  Use just enough flour to keep your hands from sticking to the dough but try not to work it into the dough; form a ball then flatten evenly to cut into half.  Wrap one half of the dough in freezer bag and store in frig or freezer for next time.

With the remaining dough, dust rolling pin with flour and roll dough to make a 10-inch circle or close enough.  You might notice my rolling is not perfect, but it won't matter in the end.  You'll see.

NEXT! YOU NEED...

• 1 (21 ounce) can Lucky Leaf® Apple Pie Filling
• 1/2 tablespoon half-n-half or milk
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• cinnamon to sprinkle over crust

Heat the oven to 400ºF.

Using your best baking sheet, take a cold stick of butter and rub a generous 10-inch baking area on the sheet.  Use your rolling pin to lift up crust and lay over greased baking area.

Spoon out half of a 21 ounce can of Lucky Leaf® Apple Pie Filling into the center of the crust, leaving a 2-inch border.  Fold edges of pie crust over filling, pleating as necessary, leaving center of filling exposed.  Brush edges of crust with milk and sprinkle crust with brown sugar and cinnamon.

BAKE for 25 to 30 minutes or until filling is bubbly and crust is golden.  Cover loosely with foil the last 10 minutes of baking time to prevent over-browning.  Remove and cool on baking sheet for at least 10 minutes. The cookbook says 30 minutes, but I wanted to eat it warm.

WHILE THAT'S BAKING, GET OUT...

• 1/4 cup half-n-half
• 3 ounces cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon Maple sirup

In a one-cup food processor or with an electric mixer, beat cream, cheese, sugar and sirup until blended and smooth.

BEEP!  BEEP!  BEEP! (that's the oven timer going off)

You See?  It didn't matter that my raw pie crust wasn't perfectly round.  Now for the moment of truth.  How does Lucky Leaf® Pie Fillings score?

To be very honest with myself and you, Lucky Leaf® Apple Pie Filling is surprisingly fresh tasting.  I was glad to feel the apple slices had a firm texture, as if I had baked with fresh apples. The apple glaze that adheres the whole dessert together was clean and had a naturally sweet flavor, not overly sweet at all.  I was worried at first bite that it would taste like a can or be masked with corn syrup icky-sweetness.  That wasn't the outcome at all! Shoo!  I could keep eating ;D  I did wish that I had added nutmeg or cinnamon to the filling, just because that's what I felt like tasting.  The filling tasted of fresh apples only.

The crust was flakey, just as I had expected. It held the filling in very well without being tough. Yeah!!!  Just as I was finishing the slice above, I realized I forgot the Maple Cream!  So for the sake of Simple Daily Recipes and all loyal readers, like yourself, I went back for another slice.  It was a small sacrifice, but it had to be done.

NOW WITH THE MAPLE CREAM...

This was my Sunday breakfast.  Tasted GREAT with fresh, hot coffee.  The Maple cream was good, but it did not take the dessert to a whole new level or anything.  For the calories, I'll skip it next time and just enjoy another slice.

Would I buy Lucky Leaf® Pie Filling in future? Yes, because they DO NOT use high-fructose corn syrup in their product.  The 8 ingredients on the can were real ingredients.  It has a fresh taste and it's a delicious time saving product.

I'm definitely baking this again with the other half of the can and pie crust.  It makes 4 to 5 servings, but that won't last long around my house.

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

For your viewing pleasure, here's Zoe Francois and Jeff Hertzberg demonstrating how incredibly simple it is prepare artisan bread in your kitchen. You've already read me going on and on about their first book Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day. Very, very soon, I'll have their NEW BOOK, Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day. And I'm looking forward to exploring new flavors with you.

Pick up your copy & help support Simple Daily Recipes by purchasing through this Amazon link:
Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day: 100 New Recipes Featuring Whole Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Gluten-Free Ingredients

Thank you!

- Jill
SimpleDailyRecipes.com

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

This recipe has been sponsored by the cool folks over at One2One Network in partnership with Nestle Carnation The Cooking Milk. This is my own twist on the Pepper Jack Cheesy Mac recipe from the free CARNATION - Holiday Guide.pdf I received from Carnation Cooking Milk.

I'm a big, BIG fan of spinach.  Anytime I can get away with mixing it into a dish, I do it!  This particular dish had my interest because it I knew it would work for both my cheesy-noodle-lovin-kids, my not-so-crazy-about-spinach-husband and me. ;D  It had the thick, creamy texture we want from a baked macaroni dish.  And the iron rich spinach made it guilt-free when I went back for seconds.  This recipe goes into the monthly rotation under the comfort food category for sure!

HERE'S ALL IT TAKES

• 1 bunch fresh spinach, washed and stems removed
• 2 cups dry elbow macaroni
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups shredded smoked Gouda cheese
• 1 can (12 oz.) CARNATION Evaporated Milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Fill a large saucepan 3/4 full of water and bring to a boil.  Blanch spinach in boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes.  Drain spinach in a strainer set inside a bowl.  Set aside.  When cool enough to touch, roughly chop the spinach.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease 2 1/2 quart casserole dish.

In the same boiling water with heat set to medium, pour in dry macaroni and cook until tender to the tooth, 7 to 9 minutes. Drain well.  Return to saucepan.

Toss in the chopped, blanched spinach. Add the cheddar cheese and Gouda cheese, evaporated milk, salt and pepper.  Stir until combined.  Pour into prepared casserole dish.  Cover tightly with foil.

BAKE for 20 minutes.  Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until lightly brown.

Download your own free copy of the CARNATION-Holiday Guide
for more savory dishes like this one.
Click here: CARNATION - Holiday Guide.pdf

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

This recipe has been sponsored by the cool crowd over at One2One Network in partnership with Nestle Carnation The Cooking Milk.

Can I just tell you this is the CREAMIEST potato recipe I have ever made? When Cassie from One2One Network asked me to make two recipes using Nestle Carnation Evaporated Milk in place of regular milk, I didn't think it would make much of a difference.  I was wrong.  It made a WORLD of difference to the texture of the recipes.  All my years growing up, watching my Memaw add Carnation cooking milk to her recipes, I never put the two together.  It was the secret ingredient that wasn't really a secret at all.  Memaw knew; she kept several cans of cooking milk in her pantry year round.

We, generally, think of using cooking milk in holiday recipes, more specifically, dessert recipes.  Pumpkin Pie is the first recipe that comes to mind for me.  But after thumbing through the Nestle Carnation Holiday Recipe Booklet, I was up to trying this recipe, Loaded Potato Potluck Favorite.  I knew my family would dig it.  Who doesn't love mashed potatoes with cheddar cheese and bacon bits? What I didn't expect was the incredibly creamy texture.  It was what I've always wanted my mashed potatoes to taste like, but never did.  I knew right away it was because I used the cooking milk instead of regular milk.

HERE'S ALL IT TAKES

• 8 medium potatoes (about 2 1/2 to 3 lb. total), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 cup CARNATION Evaporated Milk
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 2 cups (8-oz. pkg.) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled, divided
• Sliced green onions (optional)

Place potatoes in large saucepan.  Cover with water; bring to a boil.  Cook over medium-high heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender; drain.

Preheat oven to 350ºF.  Grease 3-quart casserole dish.

Return potatoes to saucepan; add evaporated milk, sour cream, salt and pepper.  Beat with hand held mixer or mash by hand until smooth.  Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese and half of bacon.  Spoon mixture into prepared casserole dish.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through.  Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, remaining bacon and green onions.  Bake for an additional 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Makes 16 servings.

COOK'S TIP
This casserole can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated.  Cover with foil and bake at 350ºF for 40 to 45 minutes or until heated.  Uncover; top with cheese, bacon and green onions; bake for an additional 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

EXTRA BONUS!
Download your own free copy of the CARNATION-Holiday Guide
for more savory dishes like this one.
Click here: CARNATION - Holiday Guide.pdf

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

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Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

Well, what do you think?

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

HEADS UP! I know of a Mother's Day Giveaway that starts today.

A Mother's Day Giveaway Bonanza

Today's prize giveaway is a One Year Subscription to Cook's Illustrated Magazine sponsored by yours truly. Click on the banner above to go there now!

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.