Take 5: Easy Breakfasts, Part 2

1. Homemade Granola Bars - Freezer-Style

Make this granola bar recipe.  Cut into bars.  Wrap each bar in plastic wrap and place in freezer.  Thaw overnight and eat on the run!

2. Avocado Toasts

A good friend of mine introduced me to these simple, amazingly delicious toasts.  Spread half of an avocado on one slice of crusty bread that has been toasted briefly under the broiler, in the toaster oven, or in the toaster (you can also use two smaller toasts like shown above).  Top with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, a drizzle of freshly-squeezed lemon juice, crushed red pepper flakes, and a good-quality sea salt.  And then, enjoy.

3. Cottage Cheese "Doubles"

You could buy Breakstone's version for a buck a piece, or you could make your own with a tub of cottage cheese and some fruit preserves.  Make them up early in the week and enjoy over the course of the next week or two weeks... or even longer depending on the expiration date.

4. Classic Sunny-Side-Up Egg with English Muffin

Heat a small skillet over medium heat. When a drop of water sizzles on the pan, spray with nonstick spray and crack egg onto pan. One way to cook the yolk slightly without flipping, if desired, is to cover the skillet with a flat lid while cooking. Season with salt and pepper, or your favorite seasoning (I find traditional steak seasoning tastes great), and serve with a toasted and buttered English muffin.

5. Greek Yogurt Parfait

Scoop 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt into a bowl. Top with your favorite fruit preserves (I like raspberry) and sprinkle with granola.

Take 5: Easy Weeknight Meals, Part 2

Looking for Easy Weeknight Meals, Part 1?  Click here.

1. Morningstar Grillers Original

I eat A LOT of these.  They are quick and easy to make and have a lot of protein for a veggie burger.  I like them enough to eat them plain on a bun, but also like taking the time to cut up some fresh veggies to make it a complete sandwich.  They are also good with cheese and even The Mr. likes to have them from time to time.

2. Chicken Pad Thai

Every once in a while, you need a dinner-from-a-box.  It's homemade, but not really.  It's easy to follow the directions, and you only need to add a few extra ingredients. 

Here's what the box looks like:

Follow the directions and you'll be good to go!

3.  Oven Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

This is another staple from my childhood.  And don't stray from the Kraft Single!  For whatever reason, it's the Kraft Singles that make these sandwiches.  Sure, a fancier, nicer, unprocessed slice of cheese SOUNDS better, but the Kraft Singles melt ever so perfectly and keep these sandwiches the way they should be.  Simply build a ham and cheese sandwich on bun, wrap in foil, and place in the oven.  No need to preheat!  Pop them in, set the oven to 350 degrees, and after 30 minutes, your sandwiches will be ready to eat.

4. Cheese Quesadillas

Butter one side of a large tortilla. Lay it in a large skillet, butter side down, and place over medium heat. Immediately cover surface of tortilla with shredded Mexican-blend cheese. Butter one side of a second tortilla and lay on top of cheese, butter side up. When bottom tortilla has begun to brown and cheese has begun to melt, flip quesadilla to evenly brown the other side. If tortilla is browning too fast and cheese is not melting at the same speed, lower heat.

When cheese is fully melted and tortillas are golden brown, remove from heat, cut into wedges, and serve with taco sauce for dipping.

5. Doctored Up Pasta

In a saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup chopped onions and 2 teaspoons minced garlic; cook until fragrant and onions are tender. Add 1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce. Let simmer.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions on the box.

Top cooked pasta with sauce and freshly shredded mozzarella cheese; serve with a thick slice of buttery toasted Italian bread.

Take 5: Easy Breakfasts

I know you've heard it before, but breakfast is such an important meal of the day! Few of us have time to cook up a full-fledged breakfast, but there are plenty options out there that give you energy and nutrients without requiring much of your time.

1. Peanut Butter and Banana Wrap

This is my ultimate go-to. I have it at least once a week, every week.

On a whole wheat wrap, spread peanut butter (creamy or crunchy, your choice!) and then top with sliced banana (you'll only need 1/3-1/2 of a banana). Roll up and enjoy!

2. Cottage Cheese with (Homemade) Preserves and (Fresh) Fruit

Cottage cheese has tons of protein, did you know that? I was wary of it for a while. It looks funny, it's called cheese, but you mix it with fruit? Once I got over my hesitations, though, I realized it's a great addition to my line-up!

Top 1 cup of cottage cheese with fruit preserves and/or chopped fresh fruit. We are lucky enough to get homemade preserves from The Mr.'s grandmother, but Smucker's works just as well.

3. Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sammies

A diner classic. A prefect addition to your weekly line-up.

Scramble two eggs. Top with a slice of cheese and allow to melt. Transfer to a toasted sandwich bun (or croissant, English muffin, or bagel) and top with one crisp bacon slice, halved into two pieces. If your mornings are typically rushed, make this in the evening, refrigerate over night, and pop in the microwave in the morning. It's not quite as good, but it works!

4. Frozen Yoplait Smoothies

These are new on the market. Just blend the frozen chunks of smoothie, fruity goodness with milk and you've got yourself a fresh-tasting smoothie. Here's the Yoplait description. What's pictured is the Mixed Berry flavor.

5. PB & Banana on Toasted English Muffin

I, for one, can't get enough of the peanut butter and banana combination. And before you claim that this is a copy-cat of #1, please note that it's not! First of all, a toasted English muffin offers a slight crunch, and the fact that it's piping hot when you spread the peanut butter makes for an extra creamy, warm delight. And, with this breakfast, you kinda get two for the price of one. :)

Toast an English muffin; spread with peanut butter, and top with sliced banana (about 1/2 of one regular banana).

Take 5: Easy Weeknight Meals

Let's face it... not every night is a cooking night. I consider there to be three different types of nights, actually.

1) Full-blown cooking: A well-balanced meal that I spent a decent amount of time on

2) Half-hearted attempts: What you see here. Still kind of homemade, but surprising easy, and requiring few ingredients.

3) Cook? Me?: Lean Cuisines, Hot Pockets, cereal, etc.

1. BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Marinate one chicken breast in your favorite BBQ sauce for a few hours, or overnight. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for one hour. Remove from oven and shred chicken with two forks. Serve on buns with additional BBQ sauce.

2. Easy Chicken Tacos

Marinate one large chicken breast in taco sauce for at least a few hours. Grill or pan fry until fully cooked and no longer pink in the middle.

Serve with taco fixin's: lettuce, shredded cheddar, red onion, diced tomato, taco sauce, sour cream, and guacamole.

3. BBQ Chicken Salads:

Mixed greens topped with thinly sliced red onion, crumbled blue cheese, croutons, sliced BBQ chicken, and tossed in ranch dressing.

Marinate chicken in BBQ sauce for at least 30 minutes, preferably overnight, and then grill. I typically marinate and toss in the freezer so that the term "easy" weeknight meal actually takes effect.

4. Egg & Cheese breakfast sandwiches, with sausage

Scramble 2 eggs (or 3 egg whites) with minced green onion, salt, and pepper. Top with a slice of American cheese (preferably Kraft singles) and allow to melt. Transfer to a bun and serve with sausage or bacon.

5. Hot & Spicy Kung Pao Chicken Seasoning Mix:

Follow directions on the back of the packet. Makes a great meal and is quick and easy!

The finished product: