We women have occasional get-togethers on Fridays, called FAC.  We started them 20 + years ago when our kids were younger.  It was a fun way to wrap up the week and see everyone in the neighborhood before the rush of the weekend.  Sometimes when FAC was at Sarah’s house, she had to have some quick and easy ways to have a meal ready for her family after we left around 5:30.  Thus, she was named “Shortcut Sarah”.  She always found tasty and easy substitutions for cooking.  Here are just a few!

• Cut up potatoes.   Cover with olive oil and Good Seasons Italian All Natural Salad Dressing & Recipe Mix.  Roast in a 425 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes.  Mix in fresh rosemary or parmesan cheese.
• Use Uncle Ben's Whole Grain Boil in a Bag Brown Rice in a microwave pouch.  It’s ready in 1 minute! 
• Add cut up veggies such as red peppers, green onion, artichokes, tomatoes, and black olives.  Also feta cheese and Good Seasons Italian dressing.
• Using Uncle Ben’s mix in fruit (mango), almonds, dried fruit (raisins), ginger, or cilantro.
• Another use of Uncle Ben’s:   Mix in green onions, garlic, a can of black-eyed peas (rinsed and drained), 2 T of olive oil, and Cajun seasoning.
• Mix in almonds, flake coconut, 1/2 tsp ground cumin and pinch of salt for another side dish.   Add pineapple, mango and cilantro.
• Idahoan Original Mashed Potatoes (a dry flaked potato) is good to have on hand in the pantry for a last minute meal filler.
• Mix in butter, different cheeses, sour cream, chives, and green onion.   No one will know that they are not the fresh version.

Make your own variation with Good Season’s, Uncle Ben’s or maybe you have another “shortcut favorite”.  
Send in your ideas!