Of all the things mothers aspire their day-to-day lives to be more of, one that’s heard most frequently is “easier”. It’s no secret that moms are the modern-day equivalent to super heroes. They work; they parent; they run a household—the list goes on and on and on. And, if they can find the time, they also maintain a small sense of normalcy from the lives they lead before caring for an entirely new human. Things like outings with close friends, “me time” to catch up on that critically-acclaimed novel, and the simple act of washing one’s hair (praise be to dry shampoo!).

One mother that knows just how busy life can get with kids in tow is Sarah Waldman, author of Feeding A Family and veteran contributor to Mother. Below, Sarah provides how-tos on four piece-of-cake recipes that are perfect for busy school nights. This collection of meals allows you to breeze through the work week of feeding your family, leaving one night for leftovers or your favorite Chinese takeout. So, fire up those crockpots and set your kitchen timers to an hour or less, because food’s on!