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When I had my wedding shower back in 1981, my best friend’s mother gave me this practical piece of matrimonial advice on easy recipes for new brides:

She said, “When you get home from work in the evening, go directly to the kitchen. Pick out an onion from the pantry, peel off its outer layer and place it on your cutting board. Now, slice it in half and place both halves in a Pyrex baking dish. Slip the baking dish into a 300-degree, preheated oven. Now kick off your shoes, sit down in your husband’s easy chair and rest for half an hour before you return to the kitchen to start making dinner.

When your husband walks in from a hard day at work, he will think that you are performing miracles in the kitchen.”

The Learning Curve 

When learning how to cook for two, it is best to start with easy recipes for new brides and work your way up from there. With the Internet and social networking, you will be able to find more recipes than you know what to do with.

Also, purchase a Betty Crocker Cookbook. Old Betty has been progressively updating since she emerged on the cooking landscape in 1921. She offers many, many helps on measuring, equivalents and all the cooking knowledge and tricks that it takes a decade or two for a bride to perfect.

Crock-pot Kielbasa Casserole

Ingredients:

•1 package of low-fat kielbasa, cut into 3/4-inch slices

•1 package of pre-shredded sharp cheddar cheese. (You can also shred your own cheese. You will need at least 3 cups of shredded cheese.)

•1 package of frozen Ore-Ida potatoes O’Brien hash browns with bell peppers and onion

•2 cans of tomato soup

Directions:

•In a large crock-pot layer all ingredients individually several times until you have used everything.

•Cover

•Turn crock-pot on low

•Simmer all day, checking periodically.

* Serve with a green salad.

“No-Time-to-Cook” Beef & Mushroom Dinner

Here is an easy, easy meal. You can make it in 15 minutes.

Ingredients:

•Minute Rice

•1 lb. of lean ground beef

•2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup

Directions:

•Start Minute Rice per box instructions.

•Sautee hamburger in a no-stick pan.

•Drain off the grease.

•Add both cans of cream of mushroom soup (but no water) to the hamburger.

•Sir and simmer for 5 – 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

•Serve hamburger mixture over Minute Rice.

You could prepare a salad in the morning to go with dinner that night.

Catalina Baked Chicken

Ingredients:

•Chicken – cut up and washed (with or without skin)

•1 Bottle of Craft Catalina Dressing (either regular or non-fat)

Directions:

•Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

•Arrange chicken pieces in a Pyrex baking dish.

•Brush on Catalina Dressing.

•Cover with aluminum foil.

•Bake on middle oven shelf at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

•Drain off grease.

•Turn over chicken pieces.

•Brush on more Catalina dressing and pour remaining dressing evenly over chicken.

•Cover again with aluminum foil and bake for 20 more minutes.

•Drain off grease.

•Cook chicken (uncovered) for 5 more minutes to brown it a little.

* Serve with steamed, fresh green beans and orange wedges on the side.

Catalina Chicken Leftover Salad

Ingredients:

•Refrigerated, cubed Catalina chicken (from night before)

•Romaine lettuce (washed, towel-blotted and torn into bite-sized pieces)

•1 package of sliced almonds

•1 cup frozen peas

•1 small can of Mandarin orange slices

•1 can Garbanzo beans (drained)

•Garlic or parmesan croutons

•Salad dressing of choice

Directions:

•Combine all ingredients (except for dressing)

•Refrigerate for at least an hour.

•Toss salad greens.

•Enjoy!

Serve with brown-and-serve rolls and mint ice tea.

Auntie Julie’s Potato Salad

Ingredients:

•6 Peeled, cooked potatoes — cut into bite-sized pieces

•3/4 cup Low-fat Miracle Whip

•1 8-ounce can garbanzo beans — drained

•1 8-ounce can red beans — drained

•6 chopped scallions (ends only — not stems)

•1 cup chopped celery

•1 hard-boiled egg — diced

•Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste

Directions:

•Combine all ingredients

•Refrigerate for 2 hours

•Enjoy!

* You can serve Auntie Julie’s Potato Salad with Bratwurst, Italian Sausage, hamburgers or any other main dish.

Once you are accomplished at your easy recipes for new brides, you will feel more confident in your cooking skills and can tackle more complicated cooking tasks.