Julie
Minnetrista, MN
My wife is the meal time hero in my world. Empty nesters these days we’re still busy with careers and volunteering. To keep our rush towards mealtime from becoming fast food or worse we make a rough meal plan every Sunday. (I help, a little) On the winter weeknights we might have simple meals, soups and salads with some artisan breads. We decide in advance what nights we’ll be really rushed and opt for an emergency pizza from the freezer or rotisserie chicken. Every week we like to have a big finish. It’s often an idea from our Lunds store, a more complete meal, simple, but with some real preparation time involved. It’s the foresight to plan and be realistic and creative that makes my wife a meal time hero.

Mary
Lakeville, MN
Thanks for recognizing mealtime heros. I'd like to nominate my sister-in-law Mary. With three kids under the age of 7 and her own business consuming most of her time, she still always finds a way to put together great meals for her family (and relatives on frequent visits to her house). Here's a great example of what I'm talking about. Nearly 20 of us were recently celebrating a birthday at her house and instead of worrying about trying to make the entire meal herself, she decided she would prepare the main dish (pulled pork sandwiches). She completed the meal with some Byerly's hashbrowns and pasta salads from the deli. That's Mary...always serving up delicious meals regardless of how busy she is with everything else in her life.

Kathy
Mahtomedi, MN
My mom is my meal time hero!  Even when she had three little ones running around, she always found a way to get a hot meal on the table each and every night.  Whether she used left over mashed potatoes to make us fried potato pancakes for breakfast, or turned them into creamy potato soup, nothing went to waste in our house.  Over the years she has discovered things that make this task a lot simpler – a rotisserie chicken that becomes salad or tacos the next day.  She says she can’t even roast her own chicken for 5 bucks anymore!  Sitting at the table to share a meal as a family was a wonderful way to grow up and my mom made sure that table was always filled with great food

Michael
Minneapolis, MN
We've all got a friend or family member like this — someone who can open his or her fridge and cupboards, any time, and put together a meal. And a good meal.

My mealtime hero is my friend Michael, who I've known since college. He has treated me and a large circle of friends to countless fantastic meals. His "secret?" A trip once or twice a week to his neighborhood Lunds store. And usually without a list! Almost without fail, his answer is "Lunds" when we ask where he got a particular item on his menu, or the ingredients for it.

What's most amazing about Michael is how he can pull off a feast at the drop of a hat, any day of the week. He simply couldn't be happier than when he's whipping up a "Wow, is this good" meal for his pals. And if we're lucky, we get to help in the kitchen!