heatherk's Profile

Isn't the Snap N Go pretty much that? Maybe you are looking for something less bulky than that.

LOL, when I first started "cooking" 15 years ago, it was Tuna Helper, etc., boxed mac and cheese, or large pieces of meat (i.e., chicken breast or pork chop) overcooked and served with a starch. Occasionally I attempted something (a meat roll or lasagna) from the massive Betty Crocker or Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks I received as wedding gifts. I then graduated to making "sauces" with Campbell's soup. Eventually, I discovered Martha Stewart and am happy to say that today I cook a variety of interesting dishes, mostly meatless, inspired by many cultures, with mainly fresh and healthy ingredients, and nary a "seasoning packet" in sight. Of course, it helps that you can buy a wider variety of produce at the grocery store now, and I live in a big metro area. I've always enjoyed cooking though, even when it was tuna mac.

Also, it is frustrating for people to always assume that people are even covered by FMLA-- there are a number of exemptions from FMLA, some of which are due to the size of the employer, length of time employed, etc. There are even statutory exclusions for positions within the federal government-- in these cases your boss must request that you be covered. So, along with many people getting no paid time off, many people also get no protected time off.

@Iona: a "snack" is not necessarily the same as a "sweet." For my body and blood sugar, 5-6 small meals a day (what you would consider "skimping") works far better to maintain my energy than eating a "filling" breakfast at 5:45 a.m. and starving my body until 1 p.m. "Snacks" can simply be components of what you would consider a "well-balanced lunch" spread throughout the morning and afternoon. I think "three squares" is an antiquated way to eat.

I made the borlotti beans with polenta recipe and could not figure out why the fennel would not soften after 2 hours of cooking. This explains it.

Everything has been pretty much covered: flour, sugar, canned beans of all varieties, granola, nuts, organic apples for far less than the grocery store, milk, yogurt, eggs, onions, pizza sauce (FAT FREE!!), frozen edamame, chocolate cat cookies, cheese, 3-buck-chuck.

Ah, thanks. Learn something new every day. I figured it had something to do with carcinogens.

I don't understand how eggs can be future chickens if they are unfertilized. I mean, not that I'm advocating eating it, but is rooster sperm meat? It's the other half of what makes a fertilized egg fertilized, right? Though admittedly and probably obviously I'm not a chicken reproduction expert. Unfertilized eggs are not future chickens and they are also not meat.

I have a Cuisinart Brick Oven toaster oven (the only I could find that went to 500 degrees). You can hardly call this thing a toaster oven. We are a family of two and I do most of my baking in it. It is fantastic for an 8 inch square pan or a quarter sheet, not to mention homemade pizza. It was not cheap but it is worth the money. I was so resistant to getting one but my husband pushed for it and I'm glad he did. Don't have to wait 20 minutes for the entire oven to heat up any more-- which then heats up the kitchen and the rest of the house.

The question posted is mine-- thanks everyone! These are some GREAT suggestions. I have not tried the non-dairy cheeses out there because I didn't think they would melt properly but I will try them now, along with all of the other fantastic suggestions. Am a big fan of caramelized onions on my pizza already. Thank you, thank you!