The key to getting a quick meal on the table on a busy night is planning ahead. Choose your menu’s in advance and do any preparations ahead that you can to limit last minute kitchen time. Each evening, as you clean up the dinner mess, take a look at the menu for the next night and get as much done in advance as possible. Put the meat on to marinate, cut up the vegetables, and make sure you have everything you need to get dinner on the table quickly.
Time saving appliances like the crockpot and pressure cooker can help cut the evening rush. Cutting meat and vegetables into small pieces for stir frying will also help.
On nights when you need to be out of the house again for sports or evening events, use the crockpot. Put together all of your ingredients in the morning, or even the night before. When you arrive home, dinner will be ready, saving you time and money and helping you avoid the fast food line.
My best crockpot recipes is a growing database of recipes to help you discover the crockpot recipes that your family will love.
This orange glazed chicken recipe cooks in the crock pot and is ready to eat in 8 hours. Put it on to cook before leaving for work. Dinner will be ready when you are.
Orange Glazed Chicken
- 6 ounces orange juice, frozen concentrate, thawed
- 6 chicken breast halves
- 1/2 teaspoon marjoram
- 1 dash ground nutmeg
- 1 dash garlic powder
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 package baby carrots, optional
Combine thawed orange juice concentrate in a bowl with the marjoram, garlic powder and nutmeg.
Dip each chicken breast half into the orange juice to coat completely. Place in slow cooker/Crock Pot. Add the carrots.
Pour the remaining orange juice mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for about 4 hours.
Mix the cornstarch with the 1/4 cup water and stir in. Allow it to heat while you make the rice, or until the sauce is thickened.
Serve over a bed of minute rice with a quick side salad for a nutritious family meal.
Another site that specializes in solving the dinner time rush is Easy Quick Meals. This site focuses on easy family meals that can be cooked in 30 minutes or less.