This Weekend, Spend the Most Important Meal of the Day with the Most Important People in Your Life

(Family Features) Baseball practices, dance rehearsals, school work, and other weekday activities often make family mealtime seem like a thing of the past.

If you’re looking for ways your family can spend more quality time together, consider bringing back breakfast this weekend.

Enjoying each other’s company and a delicious breakfast is the perfect opportunity for your family to reconnect. Use the added time weekend mornings provide to prepare a wonderful, warm meal for your family to sit down and create lasting memories. Make your morning meal a weekend tradition the whole family can look forward to all week long.

Here are some easy tips to help make breakfast a family occasion:

Make Breakfast Special – Each week, request that a family member choose a fun theme for the breakfast table. From sports teams to movie themes to favorite colors - you’ll see that the choices are endless and they can inspire creative breakfast menus.

Find Some Breakfast Helpers – Let the whole family practice their cooking skills by helping you in the kitchen. Serve foods that are easy to dress up, like Hungry Jack® pancakes. Sometimes the simple pleasure of a warm plate of pancakes is all you need to create the perfect start to your weekend mornings together.

Create Breakfast Menu Magic – The sky is the limit when you have extra time to craft a hearty breakfast, so serve a variety of foods your family will love. You can’t go wrong with breakfast classics – from fresh veggie and egg dishes to the warm, fluffy goodness of a stack of Hungry Jack pancakes. Does your family enjoy creating breakfast masterpieces? Try these Upside-Down Breakfast Stacks, made with Hungry Jack pancakes, sausage patties, cheddar cheese and eggs, for a magical take on an ordinary meal.

For more recipes and breakfast tips to bring families together on the weekends, visit www.hungryjack.com.

Upside-Down Breakfast Stacks

Yield: 6 stacks
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 15 min

• Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 6 fully cooked sausage patties OR
• 6 vegetable sausage patties
• 3/4 cup Hungry Jack® Complete Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix
• 1/2 cup water
• Shredded sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheese (optional)
• Hungry Jack Original Syrup

1. HEAT oven to 375°F. Coat 6 muffin cups or glass custard cups generously with no-stick cooking spray.
2. DIVIDE eggs evenly into prepared muffin cups. Top with sausage patty. Whisk pancake mix and water together in medium bowl until smooth. Pour evenly over sausage.
3. BAKE 14 to 16 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 2 minutes. Invert onto baking sheet. Sprinkle immediately with cheese, if desired. Serve warm with syrup.

Source: Hungry Jack

(Family Features) No matter what the latest taste trend or hot new celebrity-endorsed recipe, you can always count on a few classic home-style standards to make a comeback around this time every year. Typically known as “comfort foods” for their ability to soothe and warm the soul, these familiar dishes not only taste delicious, but also make us feel warm and fuzzy all over — and are especially welcoming during the chill of the colder months.  Perhaps Grandma’s famed chicken noodle soup comes to mind, or Dad’s special meatballs with marinara. Maybe it’s Mom’s ultra-gooey, rich mac ’n’ cheese, your own fork-tender pot roast or delicious turkey and stuffing holiday leftovers.

Whatever the dish, though, all comfort foods have one thing in common — we turn to them for relief when we’re tired, stressed, under-the-weather or simply looking for a taste of home. They are typically simple, hearty, uncomplicated meals, informal and inexpensive to prepare, yet immensely satisfying to those lucky enough to be served them.
Three comfort classics that never seem to go out of style are pot roast, shepherd’s pie and beef stroganoff. The recipes included here require no extensive prep or unusual ingredients, so they’re easy to whip up, even on a weeknight.

The slow cooker pot roast offers a particularly convenient alternative to last-minute cooking, since the prep all occurs in the morning, leaving the roast to cook to tender perfection all day. By using some convenient comfort food shortcuts on your ingredient list, such as Heinz® HomeStyle Savory Beef Gravy and Wyler’s® Beef Bouillon cubes, you can add an extra layer of flavor to the roast, without the fuss of making gravy from scratch. The pot roast also includes a healthy helping of veggies, so it could easily become a complete meal with fresh bread or a green salad.

If you’re looking for a comfort food that doubles as a one-dish wonder — shepherd’s pie has it all. It includes the meat, vegetables and starch most of us associate with a complete home-style meal. Plus, using prepared Ore-Ida® Mashed Potatoes to top the pie eliminates the laborious task of making mashed potatoes from scratch.  Also, if you’re craving a comfort food with some added interest, try this creamy beef stroganoff. It’s simple to make and serves up a delicious plate of savory chunks of beef tenderloin, sautéed mushrooms and steaming noodles. And, if you want to add a little extra flare, try pairing it with a glass of merlot. That’s sure to offer some added warmth and a new level of sophistication.

So, with these simple, home-cooking classics in your culinary arsenal this season, there’s no need to rush out and purchase the latest “cookbook du jour.” Just stick to the basics this season and you’ll be sure to find some classic convenience, comfort and good taste.

Beef Stroganoff

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Serves 6 to 8

• 1 pound sirloin steak (cut into thin strips) or 1 pound lean ground beef
• 2 cups (8 ounces) sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon Wyler’s Beef Flavored Granules or 3 bouillon cubes
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 8 ounces wide egg noodles, prepared according to package directions
• Chopped parsley, optional

1. In large skillet, over medium-high heat, cook and stir steak, mushrooms and onion in margarine until steak is browned and vegetables are tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add flour to thicken, if desired; cook and stir 1 minute. Add water and bouillon; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in sour cream; heat through. (Do not boil.) Serve with hot noodles. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Slow Cooker Savory Pot Roast

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 to 10 hours
Serves 6 to 8

• 3 pounds bottom round beef roast
• 1 Wyler’s Mrs. Grass Reduced Sodium Onion Recipe, Soup and Dip Mix pouch
• 1 jar (12 ounces) Heinz HomeStyle Savory Beef Gravy
• 2 Wyler’s Beef Bouillon Cubes or 2 teaspoons Wyler’s Beef Granules
• 1 can (14 1/2-ounces) diced tomato with basil, garlic and oregano
• 2 cups water
• 3 cups mixed vegetables, such as sliced carrots, cut green beans, diced redskin potatoes, green peas, sliced celery

1. In large skillet sprayed with nonstick spray, brown beef over medium-high heat 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally.
2. Combine soup mix, 1 jar of gravy, bouillon and diced tomato in 5-quart slow cooker. Add water and stir well. Add beef and turn until well coated. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 10 hours, turning occasionally.
3. Add mixed vegetables during last 2 hours, stirring occasionally. When vegetables are tender, remove beef from cooker. Slice or shred beef as desired, and serve with vegetables and sauce.

Shepherd’s Pie

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 to 30 minutes
Serves 4 to 6

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 jar (12 ounces) Heinz HomeStyle Savory Beef Gravy
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3 cups prepared Ore-Ida Mashed Potatoes
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. In large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned and thoroughly cooked. Carefully drain liquids and return to stovetop. Stir in gravy and vegetables and bring to boil.
2. Reduce heat and simmer 8 minutes, or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. While beef mixture is still in skillet, spoon mashed potatoes onto it, forming 8 mounds, and top with cheese. Continue to simmer until potatoes are hot and cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Source: Heinz Gravy / Ore-Ida Mashed Potatoes / Wyler’s Bouillon

Southwest Chicken and Rice Wraps

Serves 4

• 1 can (14 ounces) low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups Minute Brown Rice, uncooked
• 2 tablespoons Mrs. Dash® Salt-Free Extra Spicy Seasoning Blend
• 2 cups frozen southwest blend vegetables
• 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
• 4 whole wheat tortillas
• 1 cup low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded, optional
• 1/2 cup light sour cream, optional

1. Bring broth to a boil in a medium saucepan.
2. Add rice, seasoning blend, vegetables and chicken; stir. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes.
3. Warm tortillas and divide rice mixture evenly onto tortillas. Top with cheese and sour cream, if desired, and roll into desired shape.

Source: Mrs. Dash® Salt-Free Seasoning Blends and Minute Rice

With Jimmy Dean fully cooked Hearty Sausage Crumbles, you can whip up an Easy Egg Casserole in the morning – or even the night before – and pop it in the oven for a no-hassle breakfast that’s so comforting and delicious, they’ll be coming back for seconds.

Yield: 12 servings (1 square each)

• 8 eggs
• 3 cups milk
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 8 cups French bread cubes (3/4-inch pieces)
• 1 package Jimmy Dean Hearty Original Sausage Crumbles
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Beat eggs, milk and pepper in large bowl with a wire whisk until well blended. Add bread cubes; stir gently until evenly coated. Stir in sausage crumbles and 1 1/2 cups cheese.
3. Pour into lightly greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
4. Bake 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into 12 squares to serve.

Spinach-Egg Casserole: Add 1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeeze dry, to egg mixture before pouring into prepared baking dish.

Make-Ahead Egg Casserole: Assemble casserole as directed; cover. Refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, uncover and bake 50 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Source: Jimmy Dean

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons Organic Valley Cultured Unsalted Butter, divided
• 1/2 cup homemade bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup Organic Valley Shredded Parmesan Cheese
• 1 pound organic dry pasta in elbow or other small tubular shape
• 4 tablespoons organic flour
• 4 cups Organic Valley Whole Milk
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 6 cups (24 ounces) grated Organic Valley Sharp and/or Mild Cheddar Cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400° F. Melt 1 tablespoon butter and combine with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl. Set aside.
2. Cook pasta per package directions, drain, and return to pot.
3. In large heavy saucepan, melt remaining butter over low to medium heat. Add flour and whisk until golden. Add milk; continue whisking and cooking until sauce thickens slightly. Add dry mustard and grated cheese, whisking until cheese melts into sauce. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired.
4. Pour sauce over pasta and stir to combine well. Transfer macaroni to a 4-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumb mixture.
5. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until lightly golden and bubbling.

Serves

6 to 8

Source Organic Valley

Ingredients

• 4 ounces bacon, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 small leeks, trimmed and chopped
• 1 large onion, diced (about 1 cup)
• 1 large carrot, diced (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 6 cups Wolfgang Puck Organic Free Range Chicken Broth
• 3 large Russet potatoes, cut into cubes (about 4 cups)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Chopped fresh chives

Preparation

1. Cook bacon in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from saucepan. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon drippings. Add butter to saucepan and cook and stir until melted.
2. Add leeks, onion, carrot and garlic to saucepan and cook until tender, stirring occasionally. Add flour and cook and stir for 2 minutes. Gradually stir in broth.
3. Add potatoes and heat to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender and the broth mixture is thickened.
4. Stir cream and cheese in saucepan and cook until cheese is melted. Season with black pepper. Crumble bacon. Sprinkle soup with bacon and chives before serving.

Preparation Time

35 minutes

Cook Time

40 minutes

Serves

Makes 6 servings

Source Wolfgang Puck Soup, Stock, Broth

Ingredients

• 2 (10.75-ounce) cans condensed tomato soup
• 3 cups water
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 11/2 cups dried elbow macaroni (or other short dried pasta such as ditalini or alphabets)
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed
• 1/3 cup diced pepperoni
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
• dried oregano

Preparation

1. Preheat broiler.
2. In large pan put soup, water, and garlic; bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in macaroni, green onion, oregano, and pepperoni; cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until macaroni is almost done.
3. Pour soup into 4 oven-proof bowls. Top each with 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, and some oregano. Broil for 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
4. Or serve soup in a small round, crusty loaf of bread. Cut top off bread and scoop out insides. Fill with soup, top with cheeses, and broil as directed above. Try different "toppings" as well, such as mushrooms, onions, and sausage.

Preparation Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

6 minutes Broil: 3 minutes

Serves

Makes 4 servings

Source Meredith Corporation

Ingredients

• Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 cup Hungry Jack Buttermilk Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix (Just Add Water)
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Paprika

Preparation

1. HEAT oven to 400°F. Spray cookie sheet with no-stick cooking spray.
2. MIX sour cream and water in medium bowl until well combined. Add pancake mix, cheese and bacon pieces. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheet.
3. BAKE 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with paprika. Serve warm.

Preparation Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

10 minutes

Serves

Makes 24 appetizers

Source Hungry Jack

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 (1.25-ounce) package taco seasoning mix
• 1 (19-ounce) can ready-to-serve tomato soup
• 1 (16.3-ounce) can Pillsbury Grands! Refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits
• 8 ounces (2 cups) shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2 cups shredded lettuce
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 cup thick and chunky salsa
• 1 (2.25-ounce) can sliced ripe olives, drained
• 1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
• 3 green onions, sliced, if desired

Preparation

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Brown ground beef in large skillet over medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain. Add taco seasoning mix and soup; mix well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
2. Separate dough into 8 biscuits. Cut each biscuit into 8 pieces. Add pieces to ground beef mixture; stir gently. Spoon mixture into ungreased 13x9-inch pan.
3. Bake at 375°F. for 18 to 23 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and biscuits are golden brown. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with cheese. Return to oven; bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.
4. Cut pizza into 8 squares. Top each with lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, olives, sour cream and onions.

Source: Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits