Reprinted with permission by Hoffman Media, LLC. www.semihomemademag.com

Well, it’s Sandra Lee time again.  And, the title says it all.  I had big plans for this post.  I also had some pre-conceived notions about this meal.  My big plans were that I was going to let the little darlings help me cook.  They beg all the time to help me in the kitchen and I am just too darn Lazy to let them.  When they help in the kitchen, it makes a bigger mess for me to clean up.  I know you are all probably shaking your heads at me right now, but I’m just keeping it real.  I would rather “get in, get out and get on with my life”!

So, I invite the little darlings to help out in the kitchen and I get not one, not two, but three “nos”. (no’s?  nose?  knows?)  I couldn’t believe it.  This was going to be the bulk of my post.  I was to post cute pictures of them cooking and I would look like the perfect Mom as we prepared a delectable dinner. 

But, it didn’t happen!

In fact, two of them ditched me for dinner!

But, I picked up a neighbor friend!  Hooray!

I’m getting ahead of myself.  This month’s Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade meal is Sloppy Joes and Fast Spicy Fries. 

Reprinted with permission by Hoffman Media, LLC. www.semihomemademag.com

Sloppy Joes

Makes 4 servings

1 pound ground beef

1 cup water

4 tablespoons tomato paste

3 tablespoons barbecue sauce,

Bull’s Eye®

2 tablespoons onion soup mix, Lipton®

4 sesame seed hamburger buns

2 cups prepared coleslaw

1. In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high heat for 4 to 6 minutes, or until browned and crumbly; drain. Stir in 1 cup water, tomato paste, barbecue sauce, and soup mix until combined. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, or until thickened.

2. To serve, spoon ground beef mixture evenly over bottom halves of buns. Top each with 1?2 cup coleslaw. Cover with top halves of buns. Serve immediately.

Here is the meat simmering while I wait on the fries to be finished:

While the meat was simmering the fries were cooking.  Here is the recipe for the fries:

Fast Spicy Fries

Makes 4 servings

5 cups frozen thin-cut french fries, Ore-Ida®

1 tablespoon Montreal steak seasoning, McCormick®

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1. Preheat oven to 450?.

2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray with nonstick cooking spray. Spread fries in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 7 minutes; stir. Spray fries with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with steak seasoning and salt. Bake 7 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

Ok, girls.  This is the best tip ever!  In fact, it’s the tip of the day!  Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean-up.  Brilliant!  After 7 minutes of cooking, take the fries out of the oven, spray with cooking spray and spread steak seasoning and salt evenly.  I used a brush to spread it on the fries.

Back into the oven they go for about another 7 minutes.  And, then this is what you get:

Can you say, “yum”?

So, here is my creation.  How does it look compared to Sandra’s?  That’s always the million dollar question around here!

I think it looks pretty darn good!  And, you know what else?  It tasted great!  So, I guess I can ‘fess up about my pre-conceived notions.  I just didn’t think this was going to go over well in my house!  Now, granted, I was missing two of my kids, but the neighbor’s kid ate over here.  Big D and Hannah even had seconds.  Simply delicious!!! I’m not pulling your leg!  You must try.  And then let me know what you think!  Enjoy!!!

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Courtesy of Sandra Lee Semi Homemade Magazine; reprinted with permission from Hoffman Media, LLC

In honor of the fact that the Lazy Moms have been trying to save a little cash, we are giving away an autographed copy of Sandra Lee’s Money Saving Meals.  All you have to do to win is leave a comment telling us what you are making for dinner tonight.  It’s that easy!  Good luck!

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Beef Stroganoff was something that my Mom made  quite often when we were growing up.  I have only made it a few times and I’ve been trying to figure out why.  I’m torn between I forget about it and all that sour cream is not good for a girl’s figure, but, nonetheless I made it today.

My Mom’s recipe was actually hamburger stroganoff and it called for lots of things I’m too lazy to go get out of my pantry…it’s such a long 3 steps from my crockpot to the pantry.  I used beef tips, the kind you use in stew and I omitted things like onions (’cause my kids don’t like them) and paprika (’cause I wasn’t sure it was worth the 3 steps).  So, my recipe is truly a Lazy Mom’s recipe and my measurements aren’t precise.  You can’t go wrong here.

First, I browned 2 pounds of beef tips and put them in the crockpot.

Second, I sauteed 1 package of fresh sliced mushrooms.  My kids won’t be happy about this.  They will take a great big bite thinking that it is beef and then tell me the meat tastes funny.  You might want to leave these out, but I think it helps tremendously with the flavor.  Tell your kids to pick around them.  It’s good for their character! Go ahead, dump them in the crockpot.

Next I dumped about 12 oz. or so of sour cream on top along with 2 cans cream of chicken soup.  You could use cream of mushroom if you omit the fresh mushrooms.

Cook on low for 4 hours or so.

Serve over egg noodles. 

Throw some canned peaches next to them and you’ve got yourself a meal!!!

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

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When I was cutting up all that chicken the other night in preparation for our Sandra Lee day I had a few extra chicken breasts thawed out so I started thinking about dinner for the next night. I wanted to put them in the crock pot so I could just plug it in the next morning and know that dinner would be ready. I looked through a few cook books and couldn’t find a recipe that sounded good. I also couldn’t find one that would not require me going to the store.

This was the motivation behind Chicken a la Can. I basically looked in my pantry and grabbed a few canned items that sounded like they would taste good together. Here it is after I mixed it all together and poured it over the chicken in my crock pot. I took a picture in the hopes that it would be edible and I could share it with you all.

It turned out really well! Here is the recipe. Note: A can opener is required!

4 chicken breasts

1 can artichoke hearts

1 can chopped tomatoes

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can olives

Mix everything together and pour mixture over the chicken breasts in your crock pot. Cook on low for six hours.

I also boiled some pasta to go with it. It was so easy and really good! The chicken was very tender, and like any recipe we share here on Lazy Moms, my kids loved it! Enjoy!

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This is what my kids named last night.  It was indeed Lazy!  We are blessed to have a swimming pool in our backyard.  We all put on our suits and yes Mom got her hair wet. 

I bought pre-packaged seasoned fajita meat from my local Kroger store.  I also purchased the pre-made guacamole, fresh salsa and cheese dip.  My kids love any food they can dip!  The best part about this meal is that Big D is in charge of the grill so he does most of work.  All I had to do was open a bunch of packages.

The Lazy Mom sets up her food buffet style so the kids can fix their own plates.

Oh, I almost forgot.  Big D made us margaritas.  That make for the best Lazy night of all!

We finished the night off by going out for ice-cream.  The kids absolutely had a ball.  Family nights don’t have to be expensive.  The kids just want undivided attention.  And, cooking for the family doesn’t have to be hard! 

What do you like to do for family nights at your house?

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