Bag Meal Lemon Bars

Winter got you down? Tired of swirling clouds of snow flurries and torrents of rain when it should be spring? Yeah, so are we. However, The Bag Lady is a problem solver. Nothing says spring like the playful dance of lemon zinging across your palette. Close your eyes and bite into these babies--the burst of lemon goodness will usher in the sweet assurance of the coming spring. Indeed, there is a light at the end of that wintery tunnel.

Bag Meal Lemon Bars

1- 15 oz. can of lemon pie filling
2 pkg graham crackers
3/4 cup canned butter, melted
Optional resealable bag:2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Directions: Break crackers into crumbs. Add melted butter and press firmly into 9 x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Cool. When crust is cool top with 1- 15 oz. can of lemon pie filling. Refrigerate for 4 hours. Cut into squares. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

Death by Chocolate Brownies

Yes, I skipped a weekly post. I know. BUT there was a good reason. You see, we often think of disasters as earthquakes, floods, and week long power outages. However, this past week there was a crisis. Truly. And guess what? Bag meals saved the day. You see, it was the first week of law school finals. That qualifies as dangerous to one's health, happiness, and well being. How did bag meals save the day? 3 words: Mexican. Chicken. Soup. (page 24 in the book) It was warm. It was zesty. It only took 20 minutes of precious study time to make. It lasted longer and was more nourishing than a hot pocket and there was enough that the study group got be comforted, nourished, and sustained in the face of impending doom too. Make it in your next crisis. Make it the next time you're crunched for time. Make it for yourself, or your neighbor that just had a baby. You'll be glad you did.

Speaking of stress and impending doom: what spells comfort better than BROWNIES?!?!? Nothing, that's what. If I was banished to a desert island and could only take one baked good with me. It would be brownies. I love them. Periodically I ponder other desserts, but brownies always come out on top. (Sometimes on my birthday, I have brownies instead of cake.) There is nothing more blissful than the chewy chocolate explosion of freshly-baked-warm-brownie-goodness on your tongue. A warm, fudgey base, hugging chips of perfectly melted silky chocolate, dissipates any trace of stress or anxiety that you may harbor. (Yes, I have eaten a whole pan of brownies this past week of finals, why do you ask?) SO of course, it is only natural that the world needs a recipe for bag meal brownies.


These brownies fall into the fudgey camp, which is the only true brownie. If you're in the cakey brownie camp, its time you converted. Fudgey is the more excellent way. You don't have time for homemade brownies? Well, these puppies aren't going to take much longer than a box: dump, stir, pour, bake. See, it's the same steps. You can even repeat if you're feeling extra hungry. Go whip some up. Don't you want the power of brownies in the palm of your hand during the next disaster?

Death by Chocolate Brownies

2/3 cup canned butter, melted
3/4 cup bottled water

Resealable bag:
3/4 cup cocoa
1/2 teas. baking soda
2 tablespoons powdered eggs
1 1/3 cup flour
1/4 teas salt
2 cup sugar
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions: Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add water and melted butter. Add chocolate chips. Bake in greased 13 x 9 pan for 30 minutes at 350.

BAG MEAL PIZZA!!

I know what you're thinking right now: "Bag meal pizza? Food storage PIZZA?! What?! It's not possible. It defies the laws of nature, food storage, and all that is wholesome and good in the world! You're teasing us Bagette and its not a very nice joke."

Well friends, I'm here to tell you that this is neither an intergalactic phenomenon the likes of which mere mortals can only hope to attain, nor is it a bad joke. It is in fact a reality. Oh yes. You too can have fresh, hot, cheesy, pepperoni-ee, goodness in the midst of a disaster, crisis, conundrum, or on a busy weekday night.

So, without further ado we're pleased to present the bag meal that children have dreamed of and parents have waited for! The one that teenagers everywhere are sure to eat! The one that brought dinnertime tranquility to homes around the world! Yes, the bag meal that changed a nation! (Or at least expanded your repertoire.)

THE PIZZA BAG MEAL (Makes 1 large pizza)


1 individual package of yeast (you will only use 1/2 of the package)
1- 15 oz can pizza sauce (you will use about 1/2 the can)
2- cans canned cheese, grated
Canned toppings of choice- olives, mushrooms, pineapple, sausage, hamburger, canned ham, re-hydrated onions and bell peppers, OR pepperoni*

Resealable bag:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt

Resealable bag: 2 tablespoons corn meal for pizza stone

1 1/4 cup bottled water (hot water)

Pantry:
2 tablespoons oil

Directions: Place pizza stone in oven and pre-heat to 500. Mix all dry ingredients. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add warm water and oil. Mix. Knead for 3-5 minutes. Turn into an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in a warm spot until double in size. Roll out and place on a prepared pizza stone (pre-heated and sprinkled with corn meal (sprinkle the corn meal onto the hot stone right before you place the dough on it.)) Top with pizza sauce, grated canned cheese, and toppings of choice. Lower heat to 425 and bake for 15 minutes or until crust is thoroughly baked. Allow to cool 5- 10 minutes before cutting or cheese will slide off. ENJOY!!!

Remember, if your pizza topping includes pepperoni the bag meal will only last until the expiration date--typically 6 months.

*YES YOU CAN USE PEPPERONI! Most pepperoni is shelf stable for 6 months until opened. Once opened it MUST be refrigerated. Look for your favorite brand and see if it gives a date and then states that it must be refrigerated once opened. Grocery stores often place shelf stable pepperoni in the refrigerator section even though it doesn't need to be refrigerated until after opening. Why? Its purely psychological. People think it is better for them if it must be refrigerated! WORD OF WARNING- Even though the packaging is similar, CANADIAN BACON MUST BE REFRIGERATED AT ALL TIMES!