Need Ideas for Dinners (Just Regular - Not Special :)

Tonight I'm making Mac & Cheese Dog Casserole by Rachael Ray. I've made it before with a few changes (no ketchup, subbed 1 small brick of Velveeta for 1 of the bags of shredded cheese called for). http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/mac-and-ch...
It's not the healthiest thing in the world, but I make stuff like this only once in a while & always with a giant tossed salad on the side. ;)

Fun cheap and fast, French Bread Pizza
1 loaf french bread
1 can pizza sauce
Cheese
any left over meat or favorite pizza toppings
Cut bread in half length wise and commence on filling.
The kids love helping they can make their own
Open a can of biscuits and inside a 9" round cake pan flatten 4 biscuits or however many it takes to cover the bottom. Poke a few holes in the bottom with a fork and bake for 7 minutes. Not quiet done all the way. Then top and finish baking until cheese is melted.
Grilled pork chops
Coat each pork chop with italian salad dressing just enough to cover. The longer you let them set the better they taste. Cook on grill until done all the way thru. Then add a veggie or mac n cheese.
My own Hamburger Helper. A box of Macaroni and Hamburger meat.
I use the family size box and 2 lbs of hamburger. Spice the meat up like for tacos. Make the macaroni then combine it all together.
Meat and Corn. 2 lbs Hamburger meat spiced up and add a can of corn. You can make the spices mexican or italian both ways taste good. My kids are crazy about that one!
Hope this help!
Good luck!
D.

What about chili, meatball subs, baked breaded boneless chicken, pork chops...

O. of our faves (super easy) is pulled Beef BBQ in the crock pot.
Put O. 3-4 lb. chuck roast and a quartered onion in the crock (spray pot first).
Cook on Hi 4 hrs, or low 8 hrs.
Drain all liquid out.
Shred beef with 2 large forks
Mix 1.5 c. BBQ sauce with a cup of apricot preserves.
Pour over meat.
Mix.
Heat another 10 min.
Serve on yummy buns!

I made stuffed shells the other night, and it actually went over fairly well. I just boiled some of those big shells, mixed some cream cheese, mozzarella cheese and seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder) together. I put the cheese mixture into a ziplock bag, but a corner off, and used it to pipe the cheese mixture into the shells. I covered the shells with spaghetti sauce and more mozzarella, and put it in the over for about 10 minutes, until the sauce is hot and the cheese has melted. I also cooked some frozen broccoli in the hot water from the noodles, and made up some garlic toast. I did leave a few shells plain for the two kids that don't like cream cheese.

You can make fun things to entice them to eat - also let them help. When my son was young, he learned to make jello and I gave him choices of different fruits to put in it (mandarin oranges, pineapple, apple slices, cherries,etc.). When he made it himself, he always wanted to eat it.

Something fun: slice either hotdogs or sausage links in 1-2 inch chunks. Push uncooked spaghetti noodles through the chunks (4-5 in each chunk). Then drop into boiling water and cook. End result is amusing! Add spaghetti sauce or cheese. Kids love this.

i love this website! http://eatathomecooks.com/
meal ideas for each week, for free. i don't like everything, so i just pick and choose, but we've been happy with what we get! and the recipes make a ton for us, so they would probably be good for your family size.

Fast, cheap, super easy, feeds a family of 5 for $5 and takes 10 minutes:

-1 green bell pepper, diced
-1 box Uncle Ben's long grain and wild Fast cook rice
-1 (1lb) beef sausage

Cook rice, cook sausage, cut sausage, dice pepper, throw it all together, done and yum!!

I am a big fan of frozen dinners. Most of the companies are cutting back on salt and fat and almost all of them are portioned correctly. I look for sales. When I can get them for a buck, I buy a LOT of them. It gives us some variety and keeps me away from McDonald's.

That last sentenced made me smile. =)

I go through this every once in a while. I want to revamp everything.

Marinate chicken breasts (or thighs or whatever cut you want) in your fave marinade or itallian dressing. Bake boneless meat uncovered for 30 minutes at 375 or bone in at 350 for an hour. While meat is cooking put some potatoes in the microwave to "bake" and put a salad together. Pretty quick, inexpensive, and super easy.

Taco soup - brown hamburger and drain. Add a can each of kidney beans, black beans, navy or pinto beans, niblet corn, diced green chiles (small can), 28 oz can of diced tomatos, rotel. Stir in a packet of hidden valley ranch dressing powder and taco seasoning. Cook until heated through. You can serve with cornbread, tortilla chips, whatever. Easy, yummy and warm on a cold fall or winter night.

Potato soup. It really isn't just potatoes anymore. Loaded has bacon, chives, cheese, and broccoli. Breakfast has sausage, carrots, onions and cellery. You can litterally make a million kinds and it's great for crockpots. Cook meat, put all the stuff in except cheese, add dairy (milk, or evap milk) and chicken broth to cover and let cook until veggies are done. Add cheese in to melt.

Fetuccini alfredo make pasta and while it's cooking put the sauce together. Melt a stick of butter (or half) add in a cup and a half of parm and stir until melted. Add in 2 cups of cream or 1/2 & 1/2. Stir until combined, add 1/4 tsp or less of garlic powder and then heat on low for 10 minutes. Serve over noodles with meat of your choice (I like chicken or shrimp), with garlic bread and a salad.

Hope these help.

meatloaf--mashed potatoes-veggies and salad

pot roast with potatoes and carrots in the crock pot--roast is really yummy and tender

tuna noodle casserole my whole family loves this I like it best with potato chips on top

You can peel and cut enough potatoes for a couple of meals and keep in the fridge just be sure they are covered in water. And I buy the baby carrots already peeled just toss them in the crock pot. I put the meat in add about 1/2- 1 cup water season meat then add carrots and potatoes. Cover set on low cook all day.

You know what I've just started recently doing was compiling a list of meals that my family likes. Next to each entree I put down initials of who liked it so if I want to make dinner. If someone didn't like it but wouldn't be home for dinner that night, I would make it for the 3 remaining members who love it but rarely get it. 3 of 4 of us need to like it to get it on the "list". I now have a rotating menu of 26 meals. I'm starting to add side dishes and desserts the same way. I should make shopping much easier as I can pick 4 meals and shop accordingly. The other 3 meals are eaten out, at church etc. Anyway, works for me. Just start your arsenol of entrees, scour cookbooks etc. and get started. Now when I cook, there is variety and I'm sure who I cook it for will like it! Happy TG!

Schwan's! I don't like to cook, so we have Schwan's delivered every other Wednesday. I still have to cook Schwan's food, but it's easy and tastes great! Also, my boys are almost the same ages as your kids (7 and 13), and my 13 year old loves to cook. He helps with dinner almost every night, and sometimes cooks the whole meal himself. I love those nights! Check out Schwan's online. It's not expensive, and we live in the same town, so I know they will deliver to you. :)

Check out this website by Ellen Gray.

http://www.healthy-quick-meals.com/

She's a real mom, who makes healthy, fast, real meals, time tested, kid approved.

I love her fish recipes.

Looking at what you listed, I would recommend more ethnic variety, like a curry and rice, add Salmon, rice and lamb to your diet too.

Happy cooking!

My kids' all time favorite is breakfast for dinner. Whether it's pancakes, french toast, eggs w/bacon or saugage, etc. They love it. I am also a big fan of anything that can cook in a crock pot or slow cook in the oven while I'm at work...roast w/potatoes, chili, brisket, etc.