Back to School: Cooking and Fundraising

As the school year gets under way, parents are asked to contribute at seemingly every turn. One way I don’t feel nickel and dimed during back to school is to make sure I save up and turn in my Box Tops for Education.

Betty Crocker just released a Special Edition cookbook with new recipes using Box Tops products, plus a certificate for 10 bonus Box Tops.

The cookbook is pretty basic, with great visuals like how to tell if your risotto or polenta is cooked properly. But it also has a vegetarian section; the baked chimichangas were a big hit in my family.

And that recipe was also one of the lower calorie recipes, with a tweak so they are baked, not deep-fried.

The healthier remakes are offered on desserts (lower cal brownies, a must) and savory dishes. And ‘heirloom’ recipes, Betty Crocker classics like baked brie, with cranberries, are presented along with more modern ones; here, the brie is topped with walnuts and fig preserves.

And there are many options for busy back to school nights, with slow cooker recipes that you can start in the morning, or 20 minute recipes you can throw together at night.

Best of all, when you get that phone call during dinner asking if you can give some money to school, you can say you already did.