Make Ahead Meals

Today the topic of Teacher Week 2015-2016 on Blog Hoppin' is Make Ahead Meals.

I tend to only dedicate a couple nights a week to cooking. I think it is so much easier to make a big batch of what ever meat I choose and a variety of sides, so that I can mix it up.

Here are a few meals that I love.

Pot Roast - This is a slow cooker meal that you can set up before you go to work and eat when you come home. I usually make rice or mashed potatoes with this. You can even use it to make sandwiches.

Ingredients

• Ranch Powder Dressing - 1 1/2 packets
• Beef - whatever cut is your favorite - one with not a lot of fat
• 1 cup water
• Italian Dressing Powder - 1 1/2 packets
• Brown Gravy Mix - 1 packet

Directions

1. Put the meat (after you have seasoned it how you would normally do) into the slow cooker. 
2. Put the seasoning packets on top of the meat not around it.
3. Pour the water on top.
4. Do not stir it. You want the seasoning to sit on top an soak into the meat.
5. Cook on low until you get home from work or for about 8 hours.
6. Break apart meat and mix.

Caramelized Chipotle Chicken - This is for some of you who like the sweet and spicy side of life. (I advise you to take the seeds out of the chicken and to add 1 tbsp extra of brown sugar.)
When I make this I also make a pot of rice, vegetables and macaroni and cheese. That way I can change things up depending on my mood and I don't feel as if I am eating the same thing again and again.

That's how I avoid having to stand in a hot kitchen everyday after being at work for several days.