Tastier and actually quicker than fast food, this easy meal brings the family together for eye contact and conversation at home. It also freezes well as a make-ahead meal.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter or organic high-heat oil

2 pounds organic turkey franks

2 eggs

1½ cups milk

¼ teaspoon pepper

3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

2 8½-ounce packages cornbread muffin mix (or make your own)

Saute hot dogs in butter or oil until just starting to brown. While the hot dogs are cooking, stir together the muffin mix, eggs, milk, and half of the cheese. When mixed, add the hot dogs and butter.

Lightly coat a 3-quart (9”x13”) casserole dish, or two smaller baking dishes, with cooking spray or oil. Pour mixture into dish, spread evenly, top with remaining cheese, and bake at 400 degrees 20- 30 minutes until the edges are golden brown.

Serve with carrot sticks (not for babies and young toddlers, choking hazard) and apple slices.

Tips:

• Make the recipe in the baking dish to make cleanup even easier.
• Make two and freeze one for a ready-to-eat meal later.
• When I had kids in and out of the house after school and soccer, I kept a couple boxes of muffin mix in the pantry and turkey franks in the freezer so the ingredients for this meal were always on hand for a quick sit-down supper.