Minute Meal for Moms on-the-go

Our pal, Carmen M. Holiday of Mocha Moms offers busy, moms on-the-go surefire tips and recipes to maximize their kitchen and family time

Let’s face it – being busy and a mom seem to be synonymous terms these days. With the increasing demands of parenting, it’s a wonder that moms can juggle a husband, job, an active role in the community, personal interests and family responsibilities all at once. Most moms know that meal time can be one of the most challenging parts of the day. After all, who has time to pull off a gourmet meal at every turn?

With a little planning, moms can make the most of their time in the kitchen and keep the stress of mealtime down to a simmer, so there’s plenty of time to spend with the family.

As a busy mom, I always try to keep my time in the kitchen quick and simple. I have a foolproof method for almost any dish, but in particular, my favorite meal to make is Grilled Barbeque Chicken Breast with baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and spinach salad.

Now that you’ve chosen the meal, save yourself a headache with these quick, time-saving tips:

o With a meal like BBQ chicken, your kitchen is bound to get a little messy. Cut down on last minute cleaning by soaking dishes and utensils after use.

o Don’t leave caked-on spills for the end of your meal, clean it immediately. Tackle any surface and revitalize the room with an all-in-one product like the Mr. Clean Multi-Surface Spray with Febreze.

o For a mess that extends beyond the countertop, use two-in-one products such as the new Swiffer Sweeper, which uses Dry and Wet Cloths to completely clean spills.

o One of the best things about this meal is that it is a meal for more than one day. For example, leftover salad and chicken become the filling to a chicken wrap or burrito for lunch or dinner the next day. Just add sour cream. (Salsa, taco sauce and any other ingredient are optional.)

Carmen M. Holiday is a wife, mother, co-founder of Effective Living Ministries, founder of Choices a Christian, Illinois State Coordinator of Mocha Moms Inc., and City Representative for the 18th Ward.

Mocha Moms is for moms who work part-time, have home-based businesses, consult or freelance from home or have chosen alternative, less demanding career paths so that they are more available to their families and communities. The women in Mocha Moms Inc. have learned the secret to the balance between their professional and personal lives and are happy to share it with members and non-members alike.