More Great Make-Ahead Meals

 

A couple of months ago, I wrote an article http://www.momseasyrecipes.com/2011/12/great-make-ahead-dishes.html about make-ahead meals-dishes you can make ahead of time and freeze so you can save time and effort later on. If you know someone who is going to have surgery or otherwise will be unable to make meals for themselves, make-ahead meals are essential. They are also very good to make for times when you have guests you want to impress or just want to serve your family something that is quick and good at the same time. Just warm up and you're done!

I think we can all agree that chicken is one of the most versatile foods out there. Here are a couple of chicken recipes that are sure to be a hit.

Chicken and Rice Casserole

Topping-

1 cup Ritz cracker crumbs or Cornflakes

3 tbsp melted butter

¼ cup almonds, slivered

The casserole itself-

2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped

1 cup rice

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

1 onion, chopped

4-8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 cup celery, finely chopped

¼ cup light mayonnaise

2 tbsp lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Sauté onion, mushrooms and celery in olive oil. Then, combine all of the casserole ingredients, place in a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes. Cover with topping and bake until heated through. If you think it is too dry, you can add the broth from the cooked chicken.

Here's a recipe a church friend of mine came up with back in the '70s. Apparently some things never go out of style!

Sherry's Chicken

5 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

1 pkg fresh mushrooms

1 packet Lipton onion soup mix (an equivalent brand will do)

1 ¼ cups cooking sherry

½ stick butter

First, sauté the mushrooms in butter in a large skillet. Then, add everything else except for the Cream of Mushroom soup and simmer until the chicken is tender. Now, add the Cream of Mushroom soup and simmer for 10 more minutes.

There, now you have a couple of recipes for make-ahead meals. If you break out one of these dishes next time your mother-in-law comes over, she'll think you slaved in the kitchen all day. In areas like that, some of us need all the help we can get!