Easy Peasy

A few weeks ago when we were in Sam's Club we spotted the ready made meals available in a refrigerator case.

The chicken enchiladas looked interesting, so a pan made its way into our cart and we enjoyed the entree for dinner that evening.   Hilary and the kids were here too, and I think they liked it as well.

Today we went to Sam's specifically to find the Pepperidge Farms stuffing mis.  When we purchased the television a few weeks ago, the lady who checked out behind us was buying a box of the stuffing mix and she said it was THE BEST she had ever made and she would never use anything else.  She said she added some celery and onion and it was absolutely the best.  I even took a picture of the box so I would remember it.

I take that back on the 'specifically for stuffing' statement  Gary renewed the Sam's Club memberships in person this time because last year we mailed the money and renewal in and there was such a mess that it took several visits to straighten it out.

In our cart today were several items:  chicken tenderloins, another bag of parmesan encrusted tilapia for Gary's air fryer, and a few bags of ready-to-eat popcorn.  A bag of caramel corm.  A bag of the chocolate drizzled variety.

While on the mission to find the box of stuffing mix, we came across the ready-to-pop-in-the-oven meals.  Hmmm....I planned to make stuffed shells for dinner tonight.  Lo and behold, there was a man of stuffed shells already to pop in the over. Into the cart it went. 

My intention for tomorrow night's dinner with the three Yaggie kiddos was to make a hamburger/tater tot casserole with lots of cheese on top.  In the same case as the stuffed shells we found a pan of macaroni and cheese, sprinkled with shredded cheddar.  Into the cart it went, plus another pan of those infamous chicken enchiladas.  Easy peasy dinner for tomorrow. Plus we have lots of shredded cheddar in the fridge which can be easily added to the top of the pan of mac and cheese.

After searching for the item we went in for, I asked a worker for assistance.  She directed me to Aisle 28 which was full of coffees and creamers.  Along one of the endcaps though a few rows away, we found it. Hooray!

Tonight I felt just a little bit guilty about not making the stuffed shells from scratch.  I haven't made them since we moved into the new house.  I really like the recipe and it is not very hard to make, even though it is much easier with Gary's help as I stuff the pasta with the meat and cheese mixture.

I also feel a little guilty for not making the tater tot casserole for the kiddos for tomorrow evening.  However, they probably will like the mac n cheese better, and I know they enjoyed the chicken enchiladas a few weeks ago. 

But the final thing is this ---for the cost of the entress, which all were under $10 each, we have two meals, with some leftovers besides.  Plus fixing the meal is extremely easy - take out of the wrapping, cover with foil, pop in the oven.  Done.

At this stage of my life, I am ready for the 'easy peasy' method of cooking.  I wish I had taken advantage of it when I was teaching, but we weren't close to Sam's Club then, and I am not sure the entrees were even an option then. 

While people are becoming more time conscious  and don't really want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, these types of meals will become more popular.

And I shall take advantage of the opportunities to enjoy them!

Bon appetit!