It's a battle my husband and I fight daily...whether to stay in and cook dinner, or head to the local restaurant and eat out.  The convenience of a hot, prepared meal and the restaurant atmosphere is alluring, especially when we all lead incredibly busy lives and don't feel up to the chore of cooking that day.  Unfortunately, saving money is also at the top of my family's priority list and eating out several times per week just doesn't fit the bill.

Gooseberry Patch understands this dilemma and has authored a brand new cookbook designed to deliver plenty of delicious family-friendly fare to your table in a short amount of time. They've also included many time-saving tips to really get the job done faster.  Keep reading to learn more!

Spend more time with your family and less time in the kitchen! Meals in Minutes, a 10th anniversary celebration of a Gooseberry Patch best-selling cookbook, is filled with a slew of easy, quick-to-fix dinner recipes that the  whole family will love.  With Meals in Minutes, you can bring the family together for satisfying weeknight meals.

You'll love easy market fresh and fast dishes like flavorful Vegetable Pizza, Zucchini-Tomato Casserole and Chile-Cheese 'Taters.  Serve up Chicken Club Pasta, Cheesy Ham Strata and many other one-dish dinners...simple to make and simply delicious!

The new 10th Anniversary Edition of Meals in Minutes has even been updated with some exciting, brand new dishes like Caramel Apple Pork Chops, Turkey Tortilla Soup, Beefy Tomato Rice Skillet and No-Bake Lasagna.  Of course, it also still has all those can't-miss favorites like Cheeseburger Pie, White Chicken Chili and Pepperoni Calzones.  Top it all off with some Chocolate Eclair Squares or Pecan Chippers and everyone will surely be stuffed!

Most recipes are ready in 30 minutes or less and use familiar pantry ingredients.  It was a typical busy night at my house and I was fighting the urge to head out to the restaurant.  That's when I grabbed the Gooseberry Patch Meals in Minutes cookbook and was thrilled to find several yummy options I already had the ingredients for, without going grocery shopping!

Here's the recipe for the dish I served my family that night:

Sour Cream-Beef Casserole

(from Gooseberry Patch's Meals in Minutes cookbook)

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. pkg. wide egg noodles
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 29 oz. can tomato sauce
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/8 t. pepper
• 1/8 t. dried oregano
• 1 c. sour cream
• 2/3 c. cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 green pepper, minced
• 2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Directions:

• Prepare noodles according to package directions; drain and set aside.
• Brown beef in a skillet over medium heat; drain.
• Stir in tomato sauce and seasonings.
• Combine noodles with sour cream, cream cheese, onion and green pepper; mix well.
• Spread half the noodle mixture in an ungreased 13" x 9" baking pan.
• Layer half the beef mixture over top; sprinkle with half the mozzarella cheese.  Repeat layers.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, until hot and bubbly.  Makes 12 servings.

Doesn't it look delicious?  I have to admit that it WAS!  My entire family raved over this recipe and my husband asked that we have this one again next week.  Even my three-year-old (picky eater) daughter wolfed this down with no complaints.  If you're a busy mom who would love to share your family meals at the dining room table instead of the drive-thru lane, then the Gooseberry Patch Meals in Minutes 10th Anniversary Edition cookbook should be the book you turn to again and again!