We have 96 intervals of 15 minutes every day, meaning you have many opportunities to make a difference.  Each day this month, I’m giving you a 15-minute project idea. Pick your favorites to improve your day, yourself or your world. I promise you have time for this.

It takes me one hour to get ready each morning and it consists of four 15-minute increments. This saves me time and energy each morning because I know what needs to be done and I’ve got a system to make it as easy as possible to accomplish everything with low or no stress.

We’ll be reviewing each of the four 15-minute increments in the next few days:

• Gratifying Get-Ready Routine For You (7:00 am -7:10 am, 7:25 am-7:30 am)
• Fabulous Hair Every Day (7:10 am – 7:25 am)
• Everyone & Everything Else Ready Too (7:30 am – 7:40 am, 7:55 am – 8:00 am)
• Delicious Dinner Preparation (7:40 am – 7:55 am)

Start with the right tools.

You’ve heard me say before that homemade food is the healthier, time-saver.  And I still stand by that statement.  Once you get in the habit of making food yourself, you’ll find that it’s often quicker than grabbing fast-food. To prep dinner in 15 minutes, like I do every Monday morning, you’ll need your slow cooker and/or your bread machine. Keep these easily accessible to make your morning prep more convenient.

Magnificent Meal Planning: What’s great about prepping food in the morning is you don’t have to decide what to eat for dinner when you’re home in the evening and tired.  The decision–and the food–are already done.

Pick Easy Recipes.

Pick recipes that you can quickly gather and mix ingredients that you probably already own.  All of these recipes are adjustable, if you like more of one ingredient or you want to add something that isn’t listed below–add more!

Pulled BBQ Chicken Recipe: Morning Prep Time 10-15 minutes, total time 8 hours

• Fresh or frozen chicken breast
• Bottled BBQ Sauce (1/2 cup per chicken breast)
• Chicken stock (1/2 cup per chicken breast) or water/chicken bullion cubes (1/2 cup, 1 cube per chicken breast)

Add liquid and BBQ sauce to slow cooker and mix.  If using, add bullion cube.  Add chicken.  Turn on low and cook for about 8 hours.  When completed, remove chicken and let cool for 5-10 minutes.  Shred chicken using 2 forks. Serve on Hamburger Buns with more BBQ sauce and a side dish.

Creole Chicken: Morning Prep Time 10-15 minutes, total time 8 hours

• Fresh or frozen chicken breast or a whole chicken roaster
• Creole Seasoning (1 tsp 1 Tbsp per chicken breast)
• Chicken stock (1/2 cup per chicken breast) or water/chicken bullion cubes (1/2 cup, 1 cube per chicken breast).
• Potatoes (1-1 1/2 potato per person)–can cut into chunks
• Fresh or frozen carrots (1/2-1 cup per person)–can cut into chunks
• 2 Tbsp butter per chicken breast (optional)

Add liquid and seasoning to slow cooker and mix.  If using, add bullion cube.  Add chicken and vegetables.  Turn on low and cook for about 8 hours.  When completed, remove chicken and let cool for 5-10 minutes.  Carve chicken and serve with potatoes and carrots in soup bowls.  I always serve this with my favorite bread maker French Countryside  Bread.

Bread maker French Countryside Bread: Morning Prep Time 5-15 minutes, Bake time 4 hours (set delay timer up to 8 hours so it’s ready when dinner is ready)

• 1  3/8 cups water
• 1  1/2 Tbsp vegetable or olive oil
• 1  1/2 tsp salt
• 4 cups bread flour
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp active dry yeast

Add liquids to bread pan. Add dry ingredients to bread pan. Add yeast to a “valley” at the top of the dry ingredients. Start bread machine as directed for French Bread.  Set delay timer clock to read 8 hours, so bread is finished when dinner is ready.

Shredded Chicken Tacos: Morning Prep Time 10-15 minutes, total time 8 hours

• Fresh or frozen chicken breast
• Taco Seasoning (1/2 packet per chicken breast)
• Chicken stock (1/2 cup per chicken breast) or water/chicken bullion cubes (1/2 cup, 1 cube per chicken breast)

Add liquid and seasoning to slow cooker and mix.  If using, add bullion cube.  Add chicken.  Turn on low and cook for about 8 hours.  When completed, remove chicken and let cool for 5-10 minutes.  Shred chicken using 2 forks, add more taco seasoning to taste (1 tsp to 1/2 packet). Serve in tacos or tortillas with toppings.