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As the weather warms, I spend less time in the kitchen and more time outside after work playing with the kids. One of my fast, easy and affordable meals to feed my family on nights like this are Gold N’ Plump Chickens that come seasoned and cook in a bag. I stock up on the chickens when they go on sale at our local grocery store, keeping a couple in the fridge and a few in the freezer. I learned this from my mom and she shares on GriggsDakota about Chicken In A Bag. I put two in the oven for 1 1/2 hours at 350F and they are ready to eat. From frozen it takes 2 1/2 hours to bake them. My husband has learned to do these also and knows he can quick stop at home to do this in the afternoon when I am gone and by 6:30PM we can be sitting down for a meal together. One chicken would easily feed a “normal” sized family. They are the most flavorful and moist chickens. I use leftovers for chicken salad, casseroles and of course soup.
I always make two chickens. One feeds our starving like a pack of wolves teenager and the other feeds the remaining family members. Do you see what I am dealing with? He eats a whole chicken, a few potatoes, a healthy portion of green beans, fruit salad and a couple glasses of skim milk. Our little girls have plates like the above that include potatoes, green beans, sliced mango and chicken. I don’t cook any differently for a 1 year than I do for a 13 year old which I think adds to them liking a variety of foods. Chicken in a bag is a my go-to feed my family in an easy and affordable way. While the chicken bakes, I get time outside to walk, bike ride and play in the park with the kids.
As I was venting to my husband this past weekend about the 15 lbs. I have gained in a year, which I attribute to lack of regular exercise, my work routine and eating more…he pointed out that we all eat more because I cook more to feed our hungry boy.
A happy and fed family makes me smile. I’ll take my weight gain and figure out a way to exercise more again while still feeding healthy and growing kids.
What are some fast and easy meals ideas you do? I need plenty to keep my hungry and growing kids happy.
Linking up today for Hunk of Meat Monday with Beyer Beware. She shares Working Mom Meals and Tips today.


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