Easy Meals for Back to School

It always seems too early, doesn’t it? It’s August and it still feels like summer outside, but school is back in session. You may be elated or depressed, but there are stacks of forms waiting to be filled out, supplies to purchase, buses to catch, lunch boxes to fill and kids who need to brush their teeth and find their shoes. Why is it always the shoes?!

With all the activity and planning, you’ll want to keep everyone well-fed so they have plenty of energy. Here are some quick, fun, and most importantly, delicious meal ideas for August: 

Breakfast: Need a filling breakfast recipe? Try these delicious sausage balls. You can make a big batch to freeze or store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to four days. Add some fruit, yogurt or toast on the side for a balanced meal. These also smell amazing, which will help wake everyone up.

Breakfast Sausage Balls (28 balls)

3 Cups Baking Mix (like Bisquick)

1 Pound Breakfast Sausage

16 Ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Grated

1/2 Cup Milk

1 1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Using a cookie scoop, shape into one-inch balls. Place onto a greased baking sheet. Cook for 20 minutes. 

Lunch: These ranch-flavored ham and cheese wraps are super easy to make and fit neatly in a lunch box. They can be customized based on your favorite meats and cheeses, but the ranch and cream cheese combination gives the meat a tangy kick and adds enough moisture to keep the wrap secure and soft. Use these for lunch boxes or keep them in the fridge as an after-school snack. 

Cool Ranch Ham & Cheese Wraps (2 servings)

4 oz Cream Cheese (softened)

2 tsp. Ranch Seasoning 

2 Cheese Slices

2 Deli Ham Slices

2 Large Tortillas

Mix the cream cheese with ranch seasoning until creamy. Lay out the tortillas. Spread the cream cheese onto the tortillas. Add a slice of ham and a slice of cheese. Fold tightly and place in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for one hour. After one hour, remove the wraps and slice into one-inch pieces.

Dinner: When school starts back, the best dinners are easy to prepare, filling, and of course, delicious. Check out this summer bratwurst dish you can cook in the oven or grill. Adjust quantities for your needs. 

Summer Brats (4 servings)

1 Pound Uncooked Bratwurst Links

1 Pound Baby Potatoes

1 Small Bag of Baby Carrots

½ a Red Onion, Sliced and Separated into Rings

1 Cup Chopped Mushrooms

1/2 Packet Onion Soup Mix

2 tbs. Butter 

1 tbs. Soy Sauce

1/2 tsp. Pepper

Chop all ingredients and place on a large piece of heavy-duty, double-layer foil (large enough to close). Drizzle with butter, then sprinkle onion mix, soy sauce and pepper. Ensure all ingredients are saturated. Close the foil tightly to seal. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender and sausage is no longer pink. Open the foil carefully to allow steam to escape. Enjoy!