Fun Time! What Convenience Food or Item makes your Life Easier (& isn't too pricey!)

Parent Cafe
101

<p>MiamiDAP, making a good salad is a lot of work,</p>

<p>Yes, but there are still some time-saving steps that can be employed.</p>

<p>If when you’re cutting things up, you cut a few days worth at at time, and then baggie what you don’t need that day, it can help make quick salads later.</p>

<p>I pre-cut a few days worth of: radishes, cukes, and red onions.</p>

<p>I shred (or buy shredded) cheese for a few days.</p>

<p>I buy the grape tomatoes, so no cutting there.</p>

<p>I buy nice cold cuts or sliced roast beef to add if desired.</p>

<p>I buy the bagged “broccoli slaw” which is also a nice addition to throw on top of a salad. </p>

<p>I buy the bagged salads that already have some variety mixed in them.</p>

<p>With all these things done ahead of time, I can assemble a nice salad in no time. Seriously, like 5 minutes tops. </p>

<p>BTW…if you are only using a portion of a bagged salad at a time, put in a clean paper towel on each side of the bag. It keeps the lettuce MUCH fresher and it lasts longer.</p>

102

<p>^^^mafool-I want that Microwave ! What kind is it?</p>

103

<p>It’s a Sharp brand, 10 years old. The control panel looks like this one, but the reviews aren’t great
[Amazon.com:</a> Sharp R-530ES 2-Cubic-Foot 1200-Watt Microwave, Stainless Steel and Black: Kitchen & Dining](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-2-Cubic-Foot-1200-Watt-Microwave-Stainless/dp/B00009V3XT]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-2-Cubic-Foot-1200-Watt-Microwave-Stainless/dp/B00009V3XT)</p>

104

<p>jym626, re: your microwave and potatoes: do the potatoes taste “baked” or “steamed”?</p>

105

<p>We use our four slice toaster for toast, bagels, frozen waffles or toaster strudel.</p>

<p>However, I have to agree that the toaster oven is a nice option, our is also a convection oven and it is great for quick things like a frozen pizza, or garlic bread. Especially when it is really hot outside and I don’t want to heat up the house by cranking on the stove.</p>

106

<p>mafool, Thanks a bunch- you have made me realize I can make my microwave do this! Talk about unobservant. I guess I was in a microwave rut-thanks for pulling me out. I have been roasting vegetables in the oven which is very good but not quick.</p>

107

<p>We use our toaster oven several times a day. A few years ago, I broke down and bought a nice one - a Cuisinart Toaster Convection Oven with Broiler. Definitely our most used appliance.</p>

108

<p>Morevover: microwaving vegetable is NO replacement for roasting. I love, Love, LOVE roasted vegetables. </p>

<p>But the mocrowave is just another way to cook them, similar to steaming.</p>

<p>I usually roast root vegetables and winter squashes. Oh, and asparagus!!! Should I also be roasting green beans, spinach, broccoli?</p>

109

<p>mafool-
they tased baked! Really!! They are quite yummy!!</p>

110

<p>jym626- OK! tell me about that microwave, please! And please tell me that it cooks vegetables as perfectly as mine does.</p>

<p>P.S. as one who makes typos ALL the time, I love yours:
“they tased baked !”<br>
the notion of baking potatoes with a taser may have promise :)</p>

111

<p>It built in- part of our oven/microwave combo. I do see that its available as jsut a microwave, adn its not cheap, and the reviews I jsut read arent super kind, but for my limited cooking skills, its great!! My s;s used to cook those cinnamon roll that come out of a can in 12-15 mins in t4eh morning and they loved it!! Ditto of the ore0-ida waffle fried. Cook up wonderfully in a jiffy! its this [Good</a> but not ultimate - KitchenAid KBHC109J 900 Watts Convection / Microwave Oven - Epinions.com](<a href=“Shopping Online at Shopping.com | Price Comparison Site”>Shopping Online at Shopping.com | Price Comparison Site) heres a better review <a href=“Shopping Online at Shopping.com | Price Comparison Site”>Shopping Online at Shopping.com | Price Comparison Site;

<p>The reviews are old, so I don’t know if the microwave is still available individually. Too bad if it isnt-- I love it!</p>

112

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<p>I actually put a paper towel in the bottom of my salad bowl before filling it up. Keeps the entire salad crisper.</p>

113

<p>^^^ Agree…also made me think about placing a piece of bread in a cookie jar, tupperware or ziploc full of faked cookies, it will keep them very very SOFT and fresh.</p>

114

<p>*tupperware or ziploc full of **faked **cookies, it will keep them very very SOFT and fresh. *</p>

<p>Now, that’s what I need…faked cookies…they probably have faux calories. :)</p>

115

<p>*put in a clean paper towel on each side of the bag. It keeps the lettuce MUCH fresher and it lasts longer. </p>

<p>I actually put a paper towel in the bottom of my salad bowl before filling it up. Keeps the entire salad crisper. *</p>

<p>Do you then add your dressing after you’ve put your serving on your plate?</p>

116

<p>Yes, m2ck. In our house, we put out several dressings every night so everyone can choose.</p>

117

<p>mafool - I have roasted green beans with good results - same timing as asparagus. Also like to roast broccoli, cauliflower, onions, fennel, tomatoes and yellow summer squash. My kids would not eat squash or fennel until I started roasting it and now they gobble down a whole cookie sheet full. An assortment of roast vegetables on spaghetti noodles or rice can be dinner! I don’t think spinach would work but I might try it with just a few spinach leaves!</p>

118

<p>What’s the secret to roasting brussel sprouts? I tried it once and they turned black and unappetizing.</p>

119

<p>We’ve bought a lot of microwaveable Hot Pockets at this house. They breakfast ones (and other similar breakfast sandwiches) were great for getting my hs kids to eat before school.</p>

120

<p>Granola bars, individual packets of train mix, chocolate soy milk in individual packets are all excellent snacks on the go! The are very popular in this household & I feel they are pretty healthy.</p>