Oriental Stir Fry
One of the simplest recipes that are incredibly satisfying is Oriental stir fry. You can make an Oriental stir fry with chicken, pork, beef or without any meat. Using one simple frying pan or wok, a variety of vegetables (fresh, canned or frozen), some stir fry sauces and a side of rice- you’ve got a great supper.

Ingredients:
1 pound of chicken breast (cut into cubes or strips)
2 cans of oriental style vegetables (usually includes water chestnuts, green beans, broccoli, baby corn, carrots, etc)
4 to 8 ounces of stir fry sauce (sweet or salty your choice)
4 servings of rice
Olive Oil

Directions:
Cook boil in bag rice on the side as directed. In an oiled frying pan or wok add cut chicken, cook moderately and then mix in vegetables. Stir frequently with a wooden spoon adding a few spoonfuls of sauce every few minutes. Stir fry for about 10 minutes or until cooked completely through. Serve on a bed of rice.

Maple Ham Steak
Ham steak is incredibly easy to make and for many families an awesome meal. You can buy individually cut ham steaks sold in many grocery stores. Or if you prefer, you can buy a big ham and slice it into ½ to ¾ inch thick steaks.

Ingredients:
4 Ham Steaks
4 ounces of brown sugar
8 ounces of maple syrup
4 Yams (sweet potatoes (fresh or canned)

Directions:
Rub 1 ounce of brown sugar into the ham and set it in an oven for about 25 to 30 minutes at 400 to 425 degrees F. (or as directed). A few minutes before the ham steak is complete, you can drizzle some maple syrup on top of the ham steak or cautiously warm the syrup in a microwave and serve as desired. Ham steaks go great with yams (sweet potatoes). You can cook them in an oven with your ham steak, starting them about 15 minutes before you begin cooking the ham.

BLT Sandwich
One of my family favorites is the BLT sandwich. While bacon is perhaps not the healthiest food available, you can choose to swap good old fashioned bacon with turkey bacon or even chicken bacon. These products have come a long way since they were introduced and your family may actually prefer them to traditional bacon.

Since the BLT sandwich is very easy and only includes bacon, lettuce, tomato, bread and mayo, make sure you buy only top quality ingredients including nice thick bread (my family loves “Dave’s Killer Bread”) and fresh lettuce and tomatoes.

Ingredients:
1 Loaf of White, Whole Wheat or Rye Bread
1 head of lettuce
4 beefsteak tomatoes
1 pound of bacon

Directions:
On a griddle cook one pound of bacon. Pat dry removing any excess grease. Now add mayo to two pieces of bread and then top with a sliced tomato and some lettuce. Garnish with a pickle, some olives and some pretzels or chips.

Christine Steendahl Is The Founder Of Dine Without Whine – A Family Friendly Weekly Menu Planner. Eliminate Your Dinner Hour Stress And Re-Discover The Pleasure Of The Dinner Hour! Get a Free Sample Menu at Christine’s site. Happy family eating!

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Simple Recipes Your Family Will Love

They have a complete Holiday Recipe Guide that you can download (email requested) or have mailed to you. If you don’t want to give that info, you can also download a few sample recipes and then decide.Grab your free recipes here..

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Sample Carnation Holiday Recipes Or Guide

Question: How can I save money on my groceries? Everytime I go to the store my bill seems higher and higher! ~ Melanie

Answer: Everyone wants to save money, but few want to spend weeks eating nothing but beans and rice. You can cut your grocery bill without cutting your variety. One of the quickest way to cut your spending is by cutting out the meat. It’s amazing how many meat free meals you can find that your whole family can enjoy. Here are some suggestions:

1. Quiche can make a great dinner, especially when paired with a cup of fruit or applesauce. This is a dish made with just four eggs, some milk or cream, and whatever additions you may want to make. This is a great way to use up some of those “back of the fridge” items. I made one the other night with cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, fresh spinach and basil, mushrooms, onion, garlic, and some leftover asparagus. The kids ate it right up! Also good the next morning for breakfast.

2. Breakfast – it’s what’s for dinner. Not many moms have the time to put a large, hot breakfast on the table for the family. Save time and money by preparing pancakes and eggs, or French toast with a fruit topping for your family. Add in some frozen berries, bananas or apples.

3. Noodle and egg soup is a warm and satisfying meal for a cold day. Start with two cans of condensed chicken noodle soup. Add four cups of water and bring to a boil. Add two cups of egg noodles (preferably the short, thin soup variety). In a separate container, mix three eggs with a tablespoon of water. Slowly pour the mixture into the boiling soup so that the eggs cook up in strings. Serve with a grilled cheese layered with sliced tomatoes for the perfect meal.

4. Manicotti is an easy meal that looks like you spent hours cooking. Mix together a 12 oz container of ricotta cheese, two eggs, a tablespoon of sugar, and a teaspoon each of garlic and onion powder (you can also add any precooked veggies you might have, like spinach, mushrooms, or roasted red bell peppers – finely chopped). Spoon the mixture into uncooked manicotti shells, and then place the stuffed shells in a casserole dish that has a thin layer of spaghetti sauce already in the bottom. Cover the shells with the remaining spaghetti sauce, top the whole dish with shredded mozzarella cheese and cover it with aluminum foil. Bake in a 375 degree oven until the shells are tender (about 35 minutes). For a change of pace, you can use the giant shells instead — even easier to stuff than manicotti shells.

5. Refrigerator vegetable soup can serve up a quick and nutritious meal that’s different every time. Get out all the vegetebles in your fridge (check the freezer, too) and dump them into a large pot. Cover with water (or use chicken broth), add some italian spices, a can or two of beans and your family will be well fed. Bake up some biscuits or rolls and make a salad while the soup is cooking and dinner will be ready in a flash.

6. Fried rice to the rescue. Heat 1 Tbl of oil in a skillet or wok, add an egg or two plus leftover rice and pasta chopped vegetables for a quick and satisfying fried rice dinner.

You can save a lot on groceries by staying away from the meat department. Keep your variety by making meatless versions of your favorite meals, and you will probably never even notice that the meat is gone.

Warmly, Cindy Morus

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Cheap and Easy Meals