Make Ahead Meals are my Favourite : Chicken Stew, Broccoli Salad, Creamy Cucumber & Puff Wheat Cake

It's true, we are all busy, we are all here there and everywhere and we definitely do not hav time to sit a make a meal last minute!  That's why I LOVE make ahead meals, instead of making everything the hour before suppertime.

I love using my crock pot on days I'm working, and these sales love to marinate plus puff wheat cake lasts for days... or does it?!?

Chicken Stew

This recipe is kind of a little of this a little of that, and a little more of those!  I don't really measure anything out, but guesstimate depending on what size of crock pot I'm using and how many I'm feeding.  So bare with me!

Ingredients:

Potatoes

Onion

Carrots

Chicken Thighs (breast work too)

Pre-Packaged Chicken Gravy

Frozen Peas

Salt & Pepper

Cooking Spray

Instructions:

1. Spray crock pot with cooking spray
2. Chop potatoes and cover bottom of crock pot.
3. Chop Onion, place over Potatoes.
4. Chop Carrots, place layer over Potatoes & Onion
5. Cut Chicken into bit-size pieces, place over vegetables.  Season with Salt & Pepper
6. Make Chicken Gravy according to package.  The kind I use, is just boil 1 cup of water and stick in powder until thickened.  Pour over Chicken & Vegetables.
7. Cook for 6-8 hours on low, or 4-6 hours on High.
8. Store in Frozen Peas last Half hour of Cooking.

I usually serve with Dinner Rolls, and Enjoy!

 

Broccoli Salad

Prep: 20 minutes   Chill 2+ hours   Makes: 12-16 side servings

Ingredients:

1 cup Mayonaise

1/2 cup Raisins or Craisins

1/4 cup Red Onion, finely chopped

3 Tablespoons Sugar

2 Tablespoons Vinegar

7 cups Fresh Broccoli Florets, chopped

2 Apples, chopped

1/2 cup Sunflower Seeds

1/2 cup Bacon Bits, I use the real pre-made bacon bits

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl combine Mayonnaise, Raisins, Red Onion, Sugar Vinegar.
2. Add Broccoli and Apple and stir to coat.
3. Cover and Chill in the fridge for 2+ hours.
4. Before serving stir in Sunflower Seeds and Bacon Bits.

Creamy Cucumbers

Prep: 15 minutes     Chill 4+ Hours   Makes: 6 side dishes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Sour Cream or Plain Yogurt

1 Tablespoon Vinegar

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1/4 Teaspoon Dried Dill

Pepper to taste

1 Large Cucumber, peeled cut lengthwise and thinly sliced

1/3 cup Onion, thinly sliced

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl combine Sor Cream, Vinegar, Salt, Dill and Pepper.
2. Add Cucumber and Onion, toss to coat.
3. Cover & Chill for 4+ hours, stirring Occasionally before serving.

Lorie Poulter's Puffed Wheat Cake

" She always said hers was better than mine, so here it is..." - Miss Nancy

Ingredients:

1 cup Brown Sugar

1/2 cup Margarine

1/3 cup Corn Syrup

3 Tablespoons Cocoa

2 Tablespoons Vanilla

9 cups Puffed Wheat

Instructions:

1. Boil first 4 ingredients for 2.5 minutes.  
2. Add Vanilla and pour over puffed wheat.
3. Press down into a greased 9x13 pan.