When our five kids were younger, we would often limit their sweets. We were outnumbered and didn’t want them hyped up on sugar.

Telling them they could have 2 cookies was usually met with groans and whining, so we changed our strategy. Instead of ‘just 2 cookies’ they were told they could have ‘up to two cookies’. So they could have two or one or none, it was their decision. It worked surprisingly well.

And now we use this same strategy with our grandchildren, but the limit is often higher, because grandchildren.

Our next meal idea is a slow cooked, flavorful roast served on toasted french bread with sauce for dipping.

You might be wondering what bread has to do with the mission of this blog. Well, everybody eats, right? By simplifying meals, you can simplify that part of the day and minimize stress and the chaos of last minute “what are we going to eat?”. I lived that way fro many years and i hate the thought of others struggling when I can possibly help out.

So up next in our short series, another meal idea.

For part two we get to explore some of my favorite foods.
French Toast! You will need sliced french bread(or any bread). Heat a skillet to medium high.
Mix in a shallow bowl:
8 eggs
1/2 cup milk
and a splash of vanilla
Dip each slice of bread in the mixture on both sides and place in the skillet . Let cook for 45 seconds or so then flip and let the other side cook. If you are making a whole loaf, keep them warm in a 300 degree oven on a baking sheet.
Serve with syrup, powdered sugar or fruit.

We love having breakfast for dinner!

A loaf of store-bought French, or Italian, bread can become so many things. It can be a main dish, as with French bread pizza;or a yummy side like garlic bread or even an appetizer, cubed and dipped in a dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Whatever you need, this bread can help you get a nice meal on the table for your hungry family. We will begin with a few recipes and add others soon.

French bread pizza is a great meal for first time visitors to our home. Everyone gets to pick their topping so there is no awkwardness surrounding personal likes and dislikes. We slice the loves in half lengthwise and vertically. The sauce and toppings are set out and everyone builds their pizza as desired. You can also do mini pizzas the same way but use slices instead of halves. After the pizzas are assembled, they get put on a parchment lined baking sheet then popped in a 350 oven for 15-20 minutes at 350, or until the bread is toasty and the cheese is melted.

Big Sandwiches is another family favorite around here. The original recipe comes from my sweet friend Gabrielle. This is a great way to use up leftover meats, like Thanksgiving turkey. We have this fairly often so I keep a good stock of lunch meat and sliced cheeses. Start by cutting your loaf in half lengthwise. Spread ranch dressing on one side and spicy or brown mustard on the other. Top one side with cheese and the other with meat. Place on a parchment covered baking sheet at 350 and toast in the oven until the cheese is melted. Take it out of the oven and cut into individual slices.

Garlic bread! Garlic bread can be done several ways, but we prefer the straightforward method. Cut the bread lengthwise and spread it with soft butter and sprinkle with garlic powder (not garlic salt!) and cheese. Place on a parchment covered baking sheet and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes. Mozzarella, Parmesan and Muenster are all good choices but are not the only options, do what works for you.

Over the next few posts we will be looking at more ways to use a basic loaf of bread. What are your favorite recipes?