(Family Features) As you and your family embark on a mission to create delicious, nutritious meals all while saving money, it’s key to remember meal planning is essential for success. From tracking a list of ingredients you’ll need to noting your loved ones’ favorite foods, there are some easy steps you can take to make dinners at home enjoyable and budget friendly.

Getting on track with your own plan can start with these tips from Healthy Family Project’s Mission for Nutrition, which aims to help families find weekly meal success with an internationally inspired e-cookbook including grocery lists, recipe ideas and cooking hacks.

Work together. Before heading to the store or heating up the oven, sit down with your loved ones and make a list of easy-to-make recipes you all enjoy. Each time you discover a new favorite, add it to the list so you’ll have a reference guide when it’s time to plan a week’s worth of meals.

Stick to a schedule. Set a day and time each week your family can meet and plan out dinners. This also offers an opportunity to bring to light any newfound favorites or fresh ideas while bringing everyone to the same room for quality time together.

Plan time-saving processes. Think ahead while planning meals and consider the equipment you’ll need. Saving time while cooking can be as easy as sticking to recipes that call for hands-off appliances like a slow cooker or pressure cooker and using a food processor rather than a knife and cutting board.

Schedule a “leftovers night.” When you prep dinners that call for crossover ingredients, it’s easier to turn one meal into two. For example, buying sweet onions and chicken breast to make Chicken Apple Enchiladas means you’ll have those ingredients on hand for Greek Chicken Bowls later in the week.

Make a list. Once you’ve decided on recipes for the week, create a list of all the ingredients you’ll need. While you’re at the store, stick to your plan and avoid impulse buys to help stay on track while getting in and out quicker.

Find more recipes and meal planning tips by downloading the free e-cookbook at healthyfamilyproject.com/mission-for-nutrition and join the conversation by following #missionfornutrition on social media.

Chicken Apple Enchiladas

Recipe courtesy of Healthy Family Project's Mission for Nutrition

• 1/2 sweet onion, diced
• 1 jalapeno, diced
• 1 Envy or Jazz apple, diced
• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 8 flour tortillas
• 6 ounces shredded Mexican blend cheese, divided
• 1 can red enchilada sauce
• cilantro (optional)

1. Heat oven to 350 F.
2. In skillet, cook onions until translucent. Add jalapeno and apple; saute 2-3 minutes.
3. Add cooked chicken and mix well. Remove from heat.
4. Lay out tortillas and sprinkle cheese on each. Add chicken mixture and roll. Place in baking dish and cover with enchilada sauce.
5. Bake 20 minutes, or until heated throughout.

Greek Chicken Bowls

Recipe courtesy of Healthy Family Project's Mission for Nutrition

• 1 cup cooked white or brown rice
• 1 grilled chicken breast, sliced
• 1 RealSweet onion, sliced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 cucumber, cut into quarters
• 1/2 cup black olives
• 1 tablespoon feta cheese
• 2 tablespoons tzatziki sauce

1. Place cooked rice and chicken in bowls.
2. Top each bowl with sweet onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and black olives. Sprinkle each with feta cheese. Drizzle each with tzatziki sauce.

Source: Healthy Family Project

Going door to door for candy and treats is part of many families’ Halloween traditions, and the routine almost always ends with a kitchen loaded with treats. When the spooky season comes to a close, consider these ways to use up those delectable goodies.

Take Some to Work
A tried and true classic. It’s likely you won’t be the only person in your office bringing in leftovers a few days after Halloween, but there’s a good chance you have coworkers without kids who may not be as tired of treats as parents.

Freeze It
Certain candies like chocolates freeze better than others, so be conscious of what you’re putting in the freezer. This method keeps your sweets better longer and allows you to use them as ingredients in baking desserts throughout the year, or you can simply thaw a few at a time for snacking.

Make Trail Mix
The traditional recipe calls for peanuts, raisins and small chocolate pieces, but you can take matters into your own hands with a creative hodgepodge of just about anything you’re left with after Halloween passes. Candy corn, pretzels, chocolates and other sweets are perfect for mixing up as a snack to put in baggies for work or school – just choose your family’s favorites and toss together.

Set It Out for Guests
Leftover goodies don’t have to be hidden in the pantry. Grab a small glass dish, fill it with wrapped fun-size candies and place it on an end table, kitchen island or anywhere guests often gather and would feel invited to take one.

Create a Sweet Pairing
Although it’s (probably) your kids’ hard work that led to an abundance of candies, you can enjoy the fruits of their labor. For adults who enjoy a sweet chocolate treat (even if it isn’t fancy) with a glass of red wine or spiked hot chocolate, there are few better ways to wind down after Halloween than with a boozy pairing.

Visit Culinary.net for more Halloween treats and recipe ideas.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

(Family Features) During the hustle and bustle of a busy school week, juggling after-school activities, homework, dinners and next day lunch prep can be exhausting. Finding ways to simplify evenings while running a more efficient kitchen routine can make life more delicious for parents and children alike.

Consider these ways to make family meals work overtime for you.

Plan for leftovers. One easy way to make the most of your time in the evening is to make dinners that serve dual purpose – choosing recipes that shine when leftovers are reinvented for lunch the next day, like an all-time classic: chicken fingers. Making them at home is not only healthier than typical restaurant offerings, but leftovers can be used in a recipe like this Chicken Tender Smart Pocket, perfect for packing in your child’s lunchbox.

Use kid-friendly, better-for-you ingredients. It’s no secret it can be tough to serve smart choices your kids will actually reach for again and again. Set up a simple toppings bar with a favorite protein, chopped crunchy veggies and simple sauces alongside fun, do-it-yourself foods like stuff-able Toufayan Smart Pockets. Available in Original, 100% Whole Wheat, Everything and Organic Sprouted Whole Wheat varieties, they’re easy to hold, fun to stuff and only 80 calories each.   

Focus on family favorites. When you’re busy making a meal the whole family loves, your time spent in the kitchen may not feel so much like a drain on the evening. Throw it back to childhood with these Sloppy Joe Smart Pockets, an easier-to-eat version with the timeless taste of seasoned beef.

Discover more family meal solutions at Toufayan.com.

Chicken Tender Smart Pocket

Servings: 1

• 3          breaded chicken tenders
• 2          tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1          Toufayan Smart Pocket, any variety
• 2          pieces curly lettuce, washed and dried
• 2          thinly sliced tomatoes
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

1. Bake chicken tenders according to package instructions.
2. Spread mayonnaise evenly on insides of pita bread pocket.
3. Layer lettuce then tomatoes and place chicken tenders evenly across pita bread pocket. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
4. Serve immediately.

Sloppy Joe Smart Pockets

Servings: 4

• 1          pound ground beef
• 1/4       cup finely chopped celery
• 1/4       cup finely chopped onion
• 1/4       cup finely chopped carrot
• 1          clove minced garlic
• 1/2       teaspoon salt
• 1/8       teaspoon pepper
• 1/4       cup tomato paste
• 2          tablespoons brown sugar
• 2          teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/2       teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1          cup water
• 4          Toufayan Smart Pockets, any variety

1. In large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef, celery, onion, carrot, garlic, salt and pepper, breaking up beef until browned and no longer pink, approximately 6-8 minutes.
2. Add tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard and water; mix well.
3. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer and cook 15-20 minutes until sauce thickens and flavors meld.
4. Remove from heat; taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
5. Divide evenly among pita bread pockets and serve.

Source: Toufayan

Turn boring leftovers into exciting and delicious new dishes

(Family Features) What happens to the rest of the roast chicken that didn't get eaten at dinner? Or the extra rice or couscous the family couldn't finish? It might get pulled out a few days later for a meal of boring leftovers that will be met with groans. Or it could just be forgotten. In fact, nearly 15 percent of the food purchased for meals ends up being thrown away.

Why toss out perfectly good food - and potentially hundreds of dollars each year - when you can use those ingredients to create a whole new recipe?

Once cooked, many remains of a meal will stay fresh for up to a week - and some even taste better the second time around. These recipes use common extra ingredients, along with Pompeian olive oils and vinegars, to turn them into exciting new recipes.

For more recipe ideas and coupons, visit www.pompeian.com.

Herbed Olive Chicken Pasta

Serves 4

• 6 ounces dry whole grain penne or rotini pasta
• 1 cup cooked chicken breast meat, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
• 24 pitted Kalamata olives, or your favorite variety, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 4 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped, fresh basil leaves or 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves, crumbled
• 1 tablespoon chopped, fresh rosemary leaves or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crumbled
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (1/2 cup)

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Remove pan from heat. Place chicken in a colander; pour pasta over chicken and shake off excess liquid. Return pasta and chicken to pan. Stir in remaining ingredients, except feta. Top with feta and toss gently, if desired.

Couscous Cakes with Fresh Mango-Ginger Chutney

Serves 4

Chutney:

• 2 tablespoons Pompeian Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1 cup diced fresh or frozen, thawed mango
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons Pompeian Red Wine Vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger

Couscous Cakes:

• 1 1/3 cups water
• 2/3 cup original couscous
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
• 2 large egg whites
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup Pompeian Classic Mediterranean Olive Oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Chutney: Heat 2 tablespoons oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook onions 2 minutes. Stir in remaining chutney ingredients, except ginger, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, cool and stir in ginger.
2. Couscous Cakes: Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Remove from heat, stir in couscous and salt, cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let stand 5 minutes to cool. Combine couscous, cilantro, egg whites, flour, and lemon zest in a medium bowl.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Working with half of the couscous mixture, spoon about 2 tablespoons into skillet to make a mound, repeat, making 8 mounds total. Flatten slightly using the back of a spoon and cook for 3 minutes each side or until golden.
   Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining oil and couscous mixture.
4. Serve the couscous cakes with mango chutney.

Basil-Rosemary Turkey Panini

Serves 4

• 12 ounces Italian bread, cut in half lengthwise

Dressing:

• 1/3 cup Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 tablespoons Pompeian Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crumbled
• 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon dried pepper flakes, optional
• 1/2 cup chopped, fresh basil or 2 1/2 tablespoons dried basil leaves

Filling:

• 1 cup thinly sliced leftover cooked turkey or chicken (about 5 ounces)
• 1 large tomato, thinly sliced
• 4 slices Monterey Jack cheese with peppers, provolone, or mozzarella (about 3 ounces total)

1. Whisk all dressing ingredients, except basil, in small bowl. Lightly brush outside of bread halves with 1 tablespoon dressing mixture and place, cut side up, on a clean work surface. Stir basil into dressing mixture and spoon over bottom half of bread. Arrange turkey, tomato, and cheese on top. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper, if desired. Top with remaining bread half and press down firmly to adhere.
2. Heat large, nonstick skillet over medium low heat until hot. Place sandwich in skillet, cover with a sheet of foil, top with a dinner plate and several bread plates (This will weigh the sandwiches down, to help cook evenly and absorb flavors.) Cook 8 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cheese is beginning to melt.
3. Place on cutting board, and using a serrated knife, cut into four equal pieces.

Source:

(Family Features) Long on ingenuity, but short on prep, these recipes elevate holiday leftovers to celebrity status.  Leftovers ... whether you love ’em, or hate ’em, everyone seems to ponder one thing: What do you do with them, especially after the holidays? You could eat turkey sandwiches every day for a week, or just give up and toss it out altogether. Better yet, you could transform those mounds of turkey, gravy and stuffing into something new and exciting.

Consider a recipe for Turkey Tetrazzini. It puts a new twist on this perennial Italian favorite. This luxurious dish combines Wyler’s Chicken Bouillon granules, butter, cream, white wine and freshly grated Parmesan cheese with your leftover turkey for a dish that’s simple to make but elegant enough to serve for company.

If you want to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary and like to flex your culinary muscles, try Turkey Croquettes. Your friends and family will never guess that the origin of these tasty French delicacies was your own humble turkey dinner. The recipe can add flair to any meal as hors d’oeuvres, a side dish or an entree. Just add Heinz HomeStyle Roasted Turkey Gravy for dipping and a side of cranberry sauce — then sit back, relax, and call it a holiday.

Looking for something the kids or grandkids will love? A savory Leftover Turkey Casserole wins the prize for ease and convenience. Pull up a chair and let your little ones spread the mashed potatoes. They can also help you stir leftover turkey, gravy and stuffing together and spoon it on top of the potatoes. And, if you don’t have any of your famous, home- made gravy left, a jar of Heinz HomeStyle Roasted Turkey Gravy has a taste that’s so close to homemade your guests won’t know the difference. Thirty minutes later you have a leftover holiday dinner reinvented into a new one-dish meal.

Leftover Turkey Casserole

Serves: 4 to 6

• 2 1/2 cups prepared mashed potatoes
• 2 cups cooked, shredded turkey
• 1 12-ounce jar Heinz HomeStyle Roasted Turkey Gravy
• 1 cup prepared stuffing
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and spread prepared mashed potatoes in the bottom.
2. Combine turkey and gravy in large skillet and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in stuffing until thoroughly combined. Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired. Spoon turkey mixture on top of potatoes and spread evenly.
3. Cover and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until heated through.

Turkey Tetrazzini

Serves: 8

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups hot water, combined with 1 tablespoon Wyler’s® Chicken Bouillon granules
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• Salt and freshly ground
• black pepper to taste
• 1 pound fettuccini, cooked al dente
• 1 pound fresh mushrooms, halved and sautéed until tender
• 3 cups leftover turkey cubes
• 1 cup freshly grated
• Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
• Toasted almonds for garnish

1. Blend butter and flour in saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring constantly, 3 to 4 minutes. Add chicken broth, milk and wine. Cook until thickened. Add cream and parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper. Combine with cooked fettuccini, mushrooms and turkey. Mix in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
2. Grease 9- by 13-inch glass baking dish; pour tetrazzini mixture into dish. Sprinkle liberally with breadcrumbs and top with remaining Parmesan cheese and toasted almonds.
3. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven until bubbly, about 30 minutes.

Turkey Croquettes

Makes: 8 croquettes

Croquettes

• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour plus 1/2 cup additional for dredging
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup water plus 1/2 teaspoon Wyler’s® Chicken Bouillon granules
• 2 cups finely chopped, cooked turkey
• 3/4 cup mashed potatoes
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley

Coating

• 2 large eggs beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• 1 1/2 cups dry seasoned bread crumbs
• Vegetable oil for deep-frying
• Heinz HomeStyle Roasted Turkey Gravy
• Leftover cranberry sauce

1. In small saucepan, cook onion in butter over moderately low heat, stirring 5 minutes. Mix in 1/4 cup flour, and cook, stirring constantly, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in milk and bouillon. Cook mixture, stirring until it forms a paste. Continue to stir and cook paste 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat, stir in turkey, potatoes, paprika, poultry seasoning, nutmeg, salt, pepper and parsley. Combine mixture well.
2. Chill turkey mixture, covered, 2 hours or until firm. Divide into 8 portions; roll or mold into desired shape. Dredge balls in additional 1/2 cup flour, shaking off excess. Coat balls thoroughly with egg wash, letting excess drip off; then dredge in bread crumbs. Transfer croquettes to parchment paper. Allow them to dry at room temperature for 30 minutes before frying.
3. In large saucepan, heat 2 inches of oil until deep-fat thermometer registers 365°F. Fry croquettes in batches 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Serve croquettes with gravy and cranberry sauce.

Source: Heinz Gravy / Wyler’s Bouillon

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