Forgetful Momma

Secular Homeschooling in Canada

Family Friendly Recipes

Do you love to cook and bake for your family? Or are you someone who only cooks because you have to feed your family and don’t want to order take out every night? No matter which category you fall into, I have you covered with these family friendly recipes.

Family Friendly Recipes

I love to cook most of the time. I do not love to cook supper every night. Thankfully I married a man who also loves to cook so we can switch off when the need arises. And I’m now rising a child who enjoys cooking. We all love food, and when you love food, learning to cook is natural.

Over the past eight or so years since I started Forgetful Momma I have been sharing recipes. It has honestly become my recipe book, just tonight I looked up the ingredients in my cheeseburger soup. I haven’t been adding them as often lately with my focus being on homeschooling but I am trying for one recipe a month now.

The types of recipes you can expect to find here are:

Breakfast – Sometimes something different is nice, often the breakfast recipes are something that I can make ahead of and let them get when they wake up.

Main Course – Main courses in our house can be almost anything from a 30 minute meal which is great for a week night when you are tired, and/or busy and just don’t want to spend a lot time cooking to meals that are better off made on the weekend when you have more time.

Slow Cooker – I love my low cookers, plural. I have 3 different sizes because we make many things in them. They are a favorite for both in the winter to make hot meals for warming up and for in the summer when you don’t want to heat up the house by running the oven.

Desserts – Everyone needs desserts and you aren’t going to find super fancy desserts, but ones that anyone can make and they are going to be delicious.

Snacks - Because everyone needs snacks in their life.

Condiments – Because Life needs flavor and why should you have to buy it?

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough for One

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This is my greatest weakness: peanut butter. When I want a treat in the evenings after the kids have gone to bed, and the husband and I are sitting down to watch TV, I want peanut butter cookie dough, single serve, and I don’t have to share. Dessert for one coming up.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough for One

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I’m not a brand snob, I buy store brand all the time, but there are a few things that just aren’t the same, peanut butter is one of them. For toast, we use the good stuff. For baking, we use store brand because once you add everything else you can’t tell the difference.

What you need:

  • 2 tbsp butter, softened
  • 3 tbsp peanut butter
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tbsp milk
  • 1/3 cup flour

How to make Peanut Butter Cookie Dough for One

Cream together your butter and peanut butter in a mug or small bowl. I love my soup bowl with its handles for my single serve desserts. It feels more comfortable while snacking on the couch.

Mix in your brown sugar.

Add in your milk and flour mixing really well. You don’t want clumps of flour.

And it is ready to eat.

You can also add in chocolate chips, or my personal favorite, almond slices when I have them, or anything else you like in a peanut butter cookie.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, Single Serve

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 6 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp butter, softened
  • 3 tbsp peanut butter
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tbsp milk
  • 1/3 cup flour

Instructions

    1. Cream together your butter and peanut butter in a mug or small bowl.
    2. Mix in your brown sugar.
    3. Add in your milk and flour mixing really well. You don't want clumps of flour.
© Ashley Mullen
Category: Dessert

Note:

Microwave your flour for 1 minute and 15 seconds on high, stirring after 15 second intervals to prevent any risk of problematic bacteria. Eating raw flour can lead to some serious problems that you don’t want to risk just to have a sweet treat.

More Single Serve Recipes:

I have a few other single serve desserts that you might want to try also, including apple crisp, S’more in a mug, and a brownie in a mug.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal

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It’s first thing in the morning and you realize you have nothing in the house for breakfast because yesterday was grocery day and something came up that you couldn’t get shopping. Or maybe, you just want to try something different for breakfast. This is it. Chocolate chip baked oatmeal, sweet and delicious, but filling and full of energy for you and your kids.

Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal on a blueplate

Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

This is super easy to make. You can make this with your eyes half open as you are gulping down your coffee. Which is how I did it, and everyone loved it, even my oldest who isn’t the biggest oatmeal fan.

What you need:

How to make Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal

Add all ingredients minus the chocolate chips into a bowl. You don’t need to use a mixer, there is nothing hard about mixing this together, I was just being lazy and drinking coffee.

Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal - in mixing bowl

Once the oats and everything is mixed together, add in your chocolate chips. Mix just enough to mix them in.

Spread into a greased 9X9 baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and center is set.

Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal on a blueplate

Chocolate chip Baked Oatmeal

Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes

An easy alternative to instant oatmeal in the morning, this chocolate chip bake oatmeal only takes minutes to put in the oven.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups quick oats
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ cup butter, melted
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ to ½ c. semi-sweet chocolate

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients together, minus the chocolate chips.
  2. Once all ingredients have been mixed, fold in chocolate chips and pour into a greased 9X9 pan.
  3. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and center is set.

Notes

You don't have to use chocolate chips, or not just chocolate chips even. You could use other add ins to make it a healthier breakfast for your family. some add ins could include:

  • raisins
  • apple, diced
  • banana, chopped
  • blueberries

You could try it topped with fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or peaches, or maybe a little homemade jam. I'm drooling now.

© Ashley Mullen
Category: Breakfast

You don’t have to use chocolate chips, or not just chocolate chips even. You could use other add ins to make it a healthier breakfast for your family. some add ins could include:

  • raisins
  • apple, diced
  • banana, chopped
  • blueberries, YUM!

You could try it topped with fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or peaches, or maybe a little homemade jam. I’m drooling now.

This is very similar to our cinnamon roll baked oatmeal, which is where I was going with these recipe, for that filling but delicious breakfast that was easy to make.

Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal - on plate

Similar post you may be interested in:

Cinnamon Roll Bake Oatmeal
cinnamon roll baked oatmeal
No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

5 Minute Single Serve Apple Crisp

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Mom needs a break, and a time out, and something sweet to snack on while she takes said time out. That’s why single serve desserts are so amazing. Let’s take the delicious treat that takes forever to make and then you have to share, and turn it a quick ready in less than five minute snack just for you.

Single Serve Apple Crisp

5 Minute Single Serve Apple Crisp

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

I have been making this for myself for a number of years now, and I don’t know why I didn’t share it here before. I love apple crisp, there are a few recipes already on here for different versions such as apple crisp made in the slow cooker and one made completely in the microwave.

Everyone deserves a break, and a sweet treat. It’s got fruit in it so that counts for something even if it is followed up by some sugar. I usually feel less guilt having this 5 minute single serve apple crisp than say, a single serve brownie.

What you need:

single serve apple crisp

How to make it:

  1. Chop your apple into small pieces. With 1 tsp of margarine put in microwave for 30 seconds. This is to start softening the apple.
  2. Add in 1 tsp cinnamon and flour, and mix.
  3. In another bowl mix the remaining ingredients.
  4. Spread it over your apple, I like to just drop spoonfuls on.
  5. Heat for 3 minutes in the microwave.
  6. Top with something delicious: ice cream, caramel sauce, whatever sweetness you’d like.

I know when I think apples I think of fall, but apple crisp is perfect anytime of the year. It is a sweet treat that can warm you up from the inside out, making it perfect for a cool spring or fall evening watching TV or reading a book. Or just because.

I have made these for each of us before. A dessert for one after supper one night.

single serve apple crisp

Single Serve Apple Crisp

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This single serve 5 minute single serve apple crisp is prefect for a quick break from everything that is going on.

Ingredients

  • an apple
  • flour
  • brown sugar
  • cinnamon
  • margarine
  • quick oats

Instructions

    1. Chop your apple into small pieces. With 1 tsp of margarine put in microwave for 30 seconds. This is to start softening the apple. 
    2. Add in 1 tsp cinnamon and flour, and mix. 
    3. In another bowl mix the remaining ingredients. 
    4. Spread it over your apple, I like to just drop spoonfuls on. 
    5. Heat for 3 minutes in the microwave. 
    6. Top with something delicious: ice cream, caramel sauce, whatever sweetness you'd like. 

© Ashley Mullen
Category: Snacks

Cajun Spiced Pork Chops

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Pork chops are not usually something I make. I tend to leave it to my husband to make them but when he’s away, someone needs to feed the kids, right? These Cajun spiced pork chops were so easy, and so quick to make that I have to share them with you.

Cajun Spiced Pork Chops on a plate

Cajun Spiced Pork Chops

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

Not everyone wants to spend all afternoon cooking no matter how much time you might have for cooking, I know I don’t. We have probably been spending way too much time watching TV and movies, but we have been doing to together and watching some educational programs. It’s all about balance.

Ingredients you need:

Cajun Spiced Pork Chops

What you need to do:

Mix together the dry ingredients. Once mix together, pour them onto a plate so you can easily coat both sides of your pork chops in the seasoning.

On medium heat, heat your olive oil in a stainless steel pan. Once the oil is hot, add your pork chops. I only turned my pork chops once while cooking because I wanted that nice crisp coating.

(This is the stainless steel set of pots and pans that we have. I wish we had bought them years before because there is nothing like them. They come clean like a dream with Bar Keepers Friend.)

The length of time it takes to cook your pork chops will depend on how thick your pork chops are, but for me it took about 4 minutes per side. I took them off when they reached a temperature of 145.

I served our Cajun spiced pork chops with a side of potato salad because I am needing Spring, and salads, and BBQs. While most of us love potato salad here, but a certain wild child doesn’t like eggs and won’t eat potato salad, so she had a side of white rice.

Cajun Spiced Pork Chops
Cajun Spiced Pork Chops

Cajun Spiced Pork Chops

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes

Quick and Easy Cajun Spiced Pork Chop Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 1/4 tsp oregano
  • 1 1/4 tsp thyme
  • 1/2 tsp table salt
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red peppers, optional
  • 6 pork chops, boneless

Instructions

  1. Mix together the dry ingredients.
  2. Once mix together, pour them onto a plate so you can easily coat both sides of your pork chops in the seasoning.
  3. On medium heat, heat your olive oil in a stainless steel pan.
  4. Once the oil is hot, add your pork chops. Try to only flip the pork chops once while cooking to get the nice crisp coating.
  5. The length of time it takes to cook your pork chops will depend on how thick your pork chops are, roughly 4 minutes per side.
  6. Remove from heat when they reach a temperature of 145.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
© Ashley Mullen
Category: Main Course

Bang Bang Chicken Pasta – 30 Minute Meal

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This has to be my favorite budget meal ever! This bang bang chicken pasta is delicious and so easy to customize to your taste. You can also customize it to your budget and whatever you have in your house. This recipe is fast and easy to make and one to keep around for busy days.

Bang Bang Chicken Pasta

Bang Bang Chicken Pasta – 30 Minute Meal

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

Pasta is a favorite around here, the kids love to eat it and it is very budget friendly, perfect for when you are running low on groceries or maybe your grocery budget is low this week.

What you need:

  • 12 oz pasta
  • 1 lbs chicken breast, boiled and cut up, optional

Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp sriracha sauce
  • 1 tbsp lime juice

How to make Bang Bang Chicken Pasta

When you are looking for something for supper and you’re digging around in the freezer to see what you have and you find one lonely chicken breast, you get creative. And cut it up quite small so it goes farther.

Cook your pasta according to the instructions on the package, or by tossing into a pot and forgetting about it for a bit while doing other things like me. You can use whatever pasta you have on hand, I used penne this time but have also use spaghetti and spirals.

Bang Bang Chicken Pasta - 30 Minute Meal

I also boiled the lonely chicken breast I found in my freezer and diced it up. This is optional, you don’t have to add chicken, it tastes amazing without it, and pasta is great at filing up without adding meat to it.

In a bowl or large measuring cup mix together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, honey, sriracha sauce, and lime juice. I do add a splash of hot sauce because we like a little more heat to ours.

Once the pasta and chicken are cooked, I dice up the chicken breast, and mix everything – chicken, pasta, and sauce – together in a large bowl.

Bang Bang Chicken Pasta

Bang Bang Chicken Pasta

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 12 oz pasta
  • 1 lbs chicken breast, boiled and cut up, optional

Sauce

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp sriracha sauce
  • 1 tbsp lime juice

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
  2. Once pasta and chicken are ready, toss together in a large.
  3. Mix together the sauce in a bowl or measuring cup and pour over and mix into the chicken and pasta.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
© Ashley Mullen
Category: Main Course

Look at that recipe, super easy to make. And easy to customize to your taste. I like to add a splash of hot sauce as we like a little more heat in ours.

We top our bang bang chicken pasta with crispy fried onions that I get from Costco. We top a lot of our meals with these because they are that yummy, not healthy, but yummy.

Bang Bang Chicken Pasta

Recommended Products for making this recipe:

Similar post you may be interested in:

Chicken Fajita Pasta Skillet

Easy Balsamic Veggie Pasta

Slow Cooker Chicken Stew