Simplify ready-to-serve snacks-

 It's always good to have something on hand if friends drop by or your family wants dessert after dinner. One simple snack is ice cream balls. 

Take an ice cream scooper and scoop out about 8 to 10 balls of softened ice cream.  Freeze till firm again. Then roll them with sprinkles or ready-chopped nuts and place in a covered plastic container. Immediately pop into the freezer until needed. 

To serve, place one ball into a dessert bowl, add some whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup if desired, and you have a great snack for friends or family.

 

Another variation is Mexican Ice Cream Balls which is simply crushed frosted cornflakes with some cinnamon mixed in. Roll the ice cream balls in the mixture and freeze. Serve with a drizzle of honey.

Prep-Free Salad

   Cutting and chopping to prepare a salad can sometimes discourage the endeavor, especially if tired, in pain or pressed for time.  This is when to take advantage of help from the supermarket. The produce department nowadays has a large variety of ready-to-eat chopped and sliced vegetables and greens.

Whole cherry and grape tomatoes. Baby carrots, shredded and chopped carrots, chopped and sliced  celery, onions and peppers, even sliced radishes, and more.

  The bagged salads are great too but be sure to wash and drain them because even though they state 'triple washed' bacteria can grow inside the bags. An alternative is to buy romaine hearts or red leaf lettuce and tear the leaves by hand. 

Prep-Free Salad

Not one thing to cut or chop.  Ready in minutes.

Serves 4    

 1 bag of pre-washed, pre-cut salad of choice or torn red leaf or romaine lettuce

 1 pint container of washed grape tomatoes

 1 cup drained black olives or ½ cup Spanish olives

 1 cup washed whole petite carrots

 1/3 cup ready-bought chopped red onions (or white if preferred.)

 Cheese and/or croutons as desired (optional.)

 Place all ingredients, except for cheese and/or croutons, into a large salad bowl.  Toss,

 then spoon into four serving bowls.  Top each with some bagged

 shredded cheese of choice, and/or croutons. If you are vegan, use plant-based cheese.

Have your favorite dressing on the side to add.

Note: Add other ready-to-eat vegetables and vary it from time to time.