Cook once, eat twice

Practically a rule around here.  Especially during a busy school year.

I love to plan my meals on Saturday when I go shopping then organize things on Sunday so the rest of the week is a breeze.

So whenever I can cook once and eat twice or even three times, it's a win.

A crock pot full of chicken fits the bill.  When I cook up 3-4 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts (purchased in crazy quantities whenever my favorite store puts them on sale) I can generally get 3-4 meals out of one afternoon of cooking.

And it's just that simple--put the chicken in the pot, pour in a can of chicken or vegetable broth or stock then set that baby on low for the day (anywhere from 6-10 hours, as the cooking times vary from one crock pot to another).

You will know it's done when you go to get it out of the pot and it falls apart.  And you will have then have the  ability to produce several meals with great ease..

Easy favorite--Shredded BBQ chicken.  Shred chicken, put in a pan, drizzle your favorite BBQ over it and call it a meal.

Second easy favorite--Chicken Salad.  Shred chicken in a bowl.  Salt and pepper lightly.  Add Miracle Whip and mix.  For 1 chicken breast I would guesstimate 1/3 cup of Miracle Whip to start.  You can always add more as needed but once you get too much, you are just stuck with it unless you have more chicken to add.

Slightly more work--Chicken n Cheese Casserole.  This one isn't a completely shredded chicken meal.  Put 2-3 chicken breasts that are in pieces (but not shredded) into a square glass baking dish.  Mix 1 can cream of potato soup and 1 can of milk together and pour it over the chicken.  Then slice Jarlsberg cheese to place over the top.  This can go in the oven for 30-45 minutes at 325 degrees.

We had that casserole last night.  We are going to take the leftovers from that casserole and turn them into hot hoagies tonight.  We just need to shred the meat a little more, add a little sour cream and a little mayo (probably not even a 1/2 cup of each), some garlic and onion then spread it onto French bread.  Once it's topped with just a bit of shredded cheese, it goes into the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Favorite sides for the meals?  Well, a simple Cucumber Salad would fit with any of the meals above.  Steamed carrots are another easy addition to the meal.  In our family, peas and or corn are the usual go-to vegetables when we are in a hurry.  It's not fancy eating but it fills the tummies of a hungry family.