Short Of Time? These Amazing Cooking Hacks For Parents Will Save You A Lot Of Stress
31 Amazing Cooking Hacks For Time-Poor Parents
Amy Packham— The Huffington Post UK
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Let's be honest, time isn't always on your hands as a parent.
With everything else you have to consider before you even reach dinner time, it's unlikely there are going to be hours and hours to concoct an extravagant meal for your kids.
But you need to satisfy the hungry mouths that are no doubt hinting that they're hungry, so here are some amazing cooking hacks that will make dinner time a breeze.
Desperate to get your kids to eat their greens? One of the hacks involves putting greens into plastic bags, which means they will last a whole lot longer and can be grabbed at any point during cooking.
Hint: ice cube trays and muffin trays will come in handy, as will mugs and a straw.
Oh, and if you want to know how to bake on-call cookies well, it's all there for you.
30 Cooking Hacks For Time-Starved Parents
On-Call Cookies(01 of30)
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If you or your kids are suckers for freshly-baked cookies, have the dough on-call with this neat trick! Simply pack the dough in an ice cube tray to make even cookie portions when you're ready to bake. This is also a great way to store and freeze the cookie dough when you're not using it.Source: Good House Keeping (credit:Good House Keeping)
Quick Baked Potatoes(02 of30)
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Baking potatoes has never been easier! Cut a potato in half lengthwise and coat is with olive oil and salt. Place the halves on a baking sheet face down and bake at 400°F for 30-40 minutes. Use a fork to check if their done and voila! You’re ready to eat.
The trick here is to chop and rinse your veggies first, before placing them onto parchment paper undried (you’ll need that moisture!). Then seal your vegetables in by folding the parchment paper over it. Place the whole thing in the oven for 20-30 minutes (depending how soft you want your vegetables) and voila!
This is the best method for making multiple grilled cheeses at the same time! First, preheat two baking pans in the oven so they get nice and hot. Make your grilled cheese however you like before placing the sandwiches on one of the heated pans and placing the other on top and putting everything back in the oven. The hot pans will make the bread crispy and crunchy and the heat will melt the cheese.
These are the easiest cheese sticks you will ever make! Cut the crust off slices of bread and use a rolling pin to flatten it. Place a slice of processed cheese on top of each piece of bread and roll them. Fry the pieces in a pan until the bread is brown and the cheese has melted. Then dip and enjoy!
These “almost-instant” mashed potatoes are quick and easy. Just place whole, washed potatoes in the microwave for eight minutes. When done, you can mash them immediately to make delicious mashed potatoes for the family.
After slicing an apple, soak the pieces in a bowl of cold lemon water (1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 cup water). Soak the fruit for five minutes before drying off and placing in a plastic bag.
Use A Muffin Tin To Make Kid-Friendly Pasta(14 of30)
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This is a great way to use up leftover pasta and to get the kids to eat hidden vegetables. It’s quick, easy, and the kids will have a blast eating these bite-sized pieces!
This is a simple way to make bacon and eggs for the kids in the morning. Use a muffin tray and line the holes with bacon before filling with egg. Then bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees. The results are a wonderful bite-sized breakfast!
Believe it or not, you don’t need a rice cooker to make rice. Just place rice in a microwavable pot and add water (the water should be an inch above the rice). Then put the pot in the microwave and cook for nine minutes, or until all the water has evaporated. You should have perfect rice every time.
Spice up your kid’s glass of milk with Oreo ice cubes! Just make ice with milk and sprinkle in bits of Oreo before freezing. This fun treat is also great with chocolate milk or iced coffee for parents!
Make Greens Last Longer With A Plastic Bag(21 of30)
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Split your greens into smaller bags and blow into them before sealing. While this might take up more space in your fridge, it will make your greens last much longer!
Kids love mac and cheese so why not teach them to make it themselves using a mug and a mircowave? This simple cooking method cuts down on dishes and is a great way to make personalized portions.
Place warmed or hot chicken breast into a mixer and turn it to speed 4-6. In just a few seconds, you’ll have perfectly shredded chicken great for hamburgers and sandwiches!
That’s right! You don’t have to use a peeler to get the skin off your potatoes! Just boil your potatoes like normal and when they’re done, place them in ice water for a few seconds. When they are cool enough to handle, the skin should just slip right off!
This is a great idea if you’re planning a family brunch and all preparations can be done the night before. Simply dunk pieces of bread in a mixture of eggs, milk, cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla before placing the soaked pieces in the crock pot. Put the pot on the lowest setting and leave it for 6 hours. In the morning, you will have soft, fluffy French toast ready to eat!
Cut up tortillas into triangles, spray with oil, and sprinkle with salt. Then, place the tortillas in the oven at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Quick and easy!