A few simple recipes and a few ideas to help with meals.

We all want to spend time with our guests no matter the age, instead of spending lots of time in the kitchen.
Here are some simple things to do to get you out of the kitchen and into the fun stuff.

Pancakes for breakfast can be a fast and easy meal.
Make your pancake batter from scratch or a mix as you normally do.
Now instead of frying them on the stove pour the batter into an edged cookie sheet.
You can sprinkle the top with fresh fruit or bacon and shredded ham and you know it will be in all the pancakes evenly.
Bake them at 375 for about 15 minutes to make sure they brown a bit on the top.
They will puff up a bit and that incorporates the berries into the cake.
When done simply cut them into nice size pieces serve with any topping you like.
You will be out of the kitchen while they bake and the mixing and prep time is 5 min.

Here is one for cooking bacon. Not faster to cook but easier on the clean up.
Put bacon in a single layer on a tin foil covered cookie sheet.
Cook in a 375 -400 degree oven and bake until crispy.
No spatters on stove and you have freed up about 10 minutes to do other things.
The bacon isn't all curled up so it makes nice sandwiches especially toasted bacon and tomatoe ones.

When you know you are having company for say a week before they arrive make up a pot of potatoes and another of  macaroni. Keep these in the fridge and you can quickly make up potatoe salad or use them for homefries for a breakfast.
The macaroni can be made for macaroni salad or into macaroni and cheese casserole.
Quick and easy as you don't have to wait to cook it and then cool it before you can use them.
Do the same with rice and it can be part of a chinese meal or added to a soup.
Fried rice is better with day old rice. Less moisture and it absorbs the flavours better.
One dish for the meal is almost ready before you start.

Now I am sure that everyone has heard of sloppy joes.
Here is a different recipe with no tomatoe sauce.
Brown the hamburger in a skillet and when browned add a can of mushroom soup. Just half a can of water.
Mix this and lay out the bottom half of the buns in a shallow roaster. Put the meat mixture on the buns add the tops cover the pan with tin foil after you have used up all the meat even putting it on the top of the sandwiches. Turn oven to 350 and bake for about 10 min. This is just to let the steam warm the buns really.
Serve it with what ever you like but french fries go great with youngsters.
Messy as all get out but a great meal. Ketchup is the only topping you really need. But a lot of napkins is a good idea.

So when feeding youngsters think back to what you and your own children enjoyed. Add a few changes and go for it.
Children never really change so what yours liked will probably be a hit.
If you have any you would care to share please feel free to add them in the comments box.