Back to school time is here, and most of us wonder, where did the summer go? Time has a way of slipping by quickly during the summer when kids are home and schedules are more relaxed. Despite this, the start of a new school year is a great time for students to develop a new routine, meeting new teachers and other students. A daily routine helps keep kids focused.

To get your children off on the right foot each morning, a good healthy breakfast is recommended. Breakfast gives kids the energy and nutrients to focus better in class, remember more easily and do better with their studies.

School mornings are often rushed, so it helps to plan ahead. Healthy breakfast suggestions include fresh fruit, hard-boiled eggs, breakfast cereals, and yogurt with granola.

Cooking an evening meal can be less stressful if the prep work is done ahead of time. Even school and non-school activities can cause a shortage of time. Planning a weekly menu — as well as using weekends to cook and prepare the meat, cut up vegetables, or prepare other ingredients — can help the week go more smoothly.

Microwave Breakfast

Breakfast is important for everyone, not just those heading off to school. This recipe has only four ingredients, but using precooked bacon can reduce the time it takes to prepare on a busy morning.

Ingredients

3 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes

2 eggs, beaten with 2 tablespoons milk

5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

4 slices cheese

Cook frozen hash browns in a 1-quart casserole for three minutes on high. Mix in eggs and milk mixture and return to the microwave. Cook and prepare the bacon. Cut up bacon into small crumbled pieces. Add in crumbled bacon and top with cheese. Microwave for 1 minute on high to melt the cheese. Yields: 2 generous servings.

Chicken Burgers

Having all of the ingredients available before preparing a meal, even a quick meal such as this one, is helpful. Preparing cooked, boneless chicken breast and shredding it and placing it in a resealable plastic bag will save time later.

Ingredients

1/2 pound cheddar cheese

*2 sweet pickles, chopped

2 cups chicken, cut up or canned

1 tablespoon grated onion

6 tablespoons mayonnaise

10 hamburger buns

*Pickle relish can be used, if desired, rather than chopping sweet pickles.

Instructions

Chop cheese and pickles. Add chicken, onion and mayonnaise. Season to taste. Mix well. Split and butter buns. Fill with chicken mixture. Wrap buns in foil. Place in the refrigerator to chill or serve at a later time. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place foil wrapped sandwiches on a cookie sheet and heat for 15 minutes. They also can be heated unwrapped in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes for 2 sandwiches.

Pizza Burgers

These Pizza Burger sandwiches can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve them. The pizza lover in your family will love these. Other ingredients can be added, such as mushrooms or green peppers, if you prefer.

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 large can tomato sauce

1 pound mozzarella cheese

3 tablespoons oil

1 teaspoon oregano

Instructions

Brown ground beef, onion, salt and pepper. Drain grease off of the meat. Set aside. Mix the rest of the ingredients listed and add to the hamburger mixture. Put 1 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture on each hamburger bun. Wrap in foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the cheese melts.

Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

Freshly baked cookies are always a great treat for a hungry school child to pack in their lunch box. Even adults like them and enjoy a treat now and then.

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup margarine, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

*1 3-ounce package chocolate instant pudding

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 12-ounce package chocolate chips

1 cup nuts

2 eggs

Instructions

Mix flour and baking soda together. Set aside. Combine butter, sugars, pudding mix and vanilla. Beat and add eggs. Add flour and soda. Stir in chips and nuts. Batter will be stiff. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

*Can use vanilla instant pudding rather than chocolate.

Loretta’s Tips

• Use yogurt instead of sour cream for dips and you will reduce the calorie content.

• When making hamburgers, mix a little flour with the meat and they will stay together better.

• Bacon will lie flat in your pan if you prick thoroughly with a fork as it fries.

Loretta Krahling is a columnist with over 39 years of newspaper experience. If you have a favorite recipe you would like to share or have any questions, email them to Loretta at krahling93@gmail.com.