Okay so every once in a while I hit a road block on what to make for dinner. It seems like all the usuall stuff just doesn't sound good. A while back I put a list together with ideas and I pull it out when I need inspiration but even it isn't inspiring me tonight. Soo, just for fun put down ONE quick go to meal that everyone in the family will eat. Here is mine.
Pork Chops from Paula Dean
If chops I do them individually but it works for a loin too.
Lay out large square foil and layer Pork Chop, Pineapple slice, Red Pepper, Onion slice, Pad of butter, salt & Pepper and drizzle Teri yaki sause (I like Soy Vay Teriyaki) Wrap it up.
In another large square of foil I cut up potatoes large cubes drizzle with olive oil salt pepper and rosemary or parsley and losely wrap that up and bake 1 hour at 350. A Salad of chunked up watermellon, parsley, finely chopped white onion to taste, with feta cheese, drizzle olive oil and salt & pep - SO GOOD
Thanks for responding I was really looking for something to motivate me to not just do cereal (tee hee) There are some ideas on here that inspire me to make something new. THANKS
Cooked pasta , can of chopped tomatoes and 2-3 tsp pesto , 1-2 tsp cream cheese and a handful of baby spinach stirred in , if the kids will eat it you can also add some red pepper flakes to make it a little spicy.
this is almost as easy as cereal and is my quick standby for "those" nights:
CHILI MAC: make 2 boxes of mac and cheese, add 2 cans of chili, heat and serve. I serve with green salad and canned biscuits or sometimes just by itself! Hubby and kids love it.
Some nights a grilled cheese with some tomato soup is pretty awesome. Last night I made brocolli.. all by itself.. slathered in butter and salt and pepper. Cereal and sandwiches, or even eggs and bacon are fine for dinner. Every night doesnt have to be a 4 course meal... HELLO, what do you think has caused obesity in our nation? Keep dinner light. Lunch should be the big meal.
A new super easy non-fancy recipe a friend just gave me and was a hit at our house.
Spread tortilla chips out on foil-lined baking sheet. Top with shredded chicken. Drizzle with BBQ sauce and ranch. Top with shredded cheese. And, bake. Would probably taste good with green onions or onions as well.
I like this because I can make a salad and serve as dinner or even just make on a weekend for a snack.
Also. if you are on Facebook, like Flylady.net. She asks what's for dinner every day and there is usually hundreds of responses. I find it a great place to get ideas for dinner.
I have actually been having this for lunch (instead of dinner) for the past week. two different recipes actually. the first one is steamed brocolli and brown rice then I make a "dressing" of soy sauce, sesame seed oil, red pepper flakes and garlic pwder. so good. the other was an idea I got from my dad. he is a manager at a chilies restrauant and before I had my son I was a vegatarian so when I was still living with my parents he use to bring hom dinner all the time. but he had to change the recipe on mine around to be meatless. I LOVE the mushroom jack fajitas (without meat!) and make my own at home. my version is... sliced portabellos, brocolli florets, pepper oinion mix (I buy it in the frozen veggie section at krogers) I cook this in a pan with a little water (like 1/4 cup or you can sautee it in oil) when the veggies are almost done add taco seasoning (or make your own with chili powder garlic powder and onion powder) and once it is blended some pepper jack cheese. serve in tortillas with a little sourcream. takes 15minutes
We do a lot of mexican and mexican inspired around here, I think it's quick, easy, and delish!
Mexican Bake: one box jiffy corn bread mixed and spread out on bottom of a 13X9 pan. Brown meat with taco seasoning, dried onions, add a jar of salsa and a can of black beans. Spread over corn bread, top with cheese and bake in 350 oven for 30 mins. Top with sour cream and lettuce if you like and serve.
Taco Salad: Instead of tortillas I use baked pita chips. They offer a nice crunch and a bit of salt but are healthier. I layer the lettuce, pitas, meat, avocado, and some, all or none of the following: salsa, corn, beans, avocado, cheese and sour cream.
My fastest go to meal:
Basmati Rice in the microwave rice cooker: 1 cup rice, 1 3/4 cups water mixed with 1 small can V-8, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp Caldo chicken bouillon, fresh ground pepper. Cook on High for 10 minutes, stir, medium on 5 minutes, leave until ready to serve.
For a protein: I always keep frozen Salmon or Turkey or Beef burgers in the freezer. I just heat the rod iron skillet and cook with Lemon Pepper, or Garlic Pepper.
Add a frozen veggie like peas, or corn, or other leftover veggies from another night. Even just one large head of romaine lettuce tossed with EVOO and Balsamic.
The next easiest dinner: I keep those LIng-Ling potstickers in the freezer. I place them in a skillet with some water for steaming, then add sesame oil when the water has cooked off for browning. Serve with fresh washed lettuce leaves and the dipping sauce. Super easy and tasty.
I do a pesto gnocchi once a week. SO easy and so yummy.
In a blender or food processor add:
4 cups basil leaves, stems removed
1/2 cup good olive oil
1/2 cup grated/shredded parmesan cheese (I use a parmesan/asiago blend)
1/3 cup roasted walnuts, chopped
2-3 cloves fresh garlic chopped
salt & pepper to taste
Blend well until you have a creamy consistency. Transfer to saute pan and heat over low until the cheese melts. In the meantime, cook your gnocchi according to the directions - the best brand imo to use is Rising Moon's garlic & basil gnocchi (from Whole Foods). Once it's cooked (gnocchi cooks fast, like 4-5 minutes), transfer with a slotted spoon into the saute pan with the pesto and stir to coat. Top with a few more roasted chopped walnuts and serve with a salad on the side.
fyi I use 2 packages of the rising moon gnocchi with this pesto recipe and we never have leftovers. :)
Yum... I'm going to try that one.
Tonights 15 minute meal:
- Seared Shrimp w/ garlic & pepperman
- Roasted Veggies w/ Balsamic Butter (teehee... in a bag for $3 from trader joes!)
- Sauteed Spinach
I have frozen uncooked devein shrimp from whole foods... so just yank out of the freezer, pour into a collander and run cold water over for 5 min/ defrosted. Drain. Put in bowl with olive oil, chopped garlic, salt, & pepperman (a pepper mixture from heaven http://www.amazon.com/Pepperman-All-Purpose-Seasoning-Ble... here's a picture, but it's only $3.50 from whole foods). I also usually toss in an italian herb blend (NO rosemary, icky... you know I have YET to find rosemary in any herb blend while in Italy, but over here for some reason; rosemary glaore. ANYHOW just straight parsley and red pepper flakes works in a pinch).
So shrimp, oil, salt, pepperman, herbs. Sit.
Meanwhile, 1 sautee pan goes onto high heat until it starts smoking, and frozen veggies go in a 2nd sautee pan with a lid and do their thang. Scoop the shrimp out of the marinade and toss on the searingly hot pan (leave doors open for the smoke). Let them sit a minute so they get all crispy, flip. Shake. Pull them off.
Remember I forgot the spinach, say screw it (or actually just sautee them really fast with some olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper). 2 guesses on what I did tonight and the first doesn't count.
Wash the 2 sautee pans (ha, see... knew you'd guess right), wash the collander.
Serve.
Mmmmmm.... grilled cheese and tomato soup. THAT'S on the menu this week, too. ((BTW a TOTALLY weird thing kids tend to love is putting cottage cheese in tomato soup. Anyone else ever do that?))
My go to quick easy meal when I don't feel like cooking:
Anything in a crock pot.
Or, last night I made Thai Green Curry.
chicken in bite sizes (I use boneless thighs, about 9 pieces)
Garlic
Ginger
Shoyu
Thai Green Curry paste (found in a bottle at grocery store)
Potatoes
Coconut milk (found frozen in juice aisle at grocery store)
Onions sliced up
Put 2 T cooking oil in pot.
Heat up
Mix chicken in ziploc w/ Shoyu dribbling it on
Toss chicken with flour to coat
Put in pot
Cook until brown
take chicken out and leave on side temporarily
Put in same pot Thai Green Curry paste and stir
Add 1 tsp. fresh minced ginger
Add 2 cloves minced garlic
stir all together
Put chicken back in pot
Add in coconut milk (about 2 cups)
Mix all together
Add in potatoes and onions
Stir
Add in 1-2 T sugar (up to you 1 or 2 Tablespoons)
Cook all together and stir occasionally until all is cooked.
My family loves this. No leftovers after.
Even though the first is personally not my choice of a meal..I absolutely hate when I fix something and my husband goes out and buys some fast food, that turd.
Fried chicken and mac n cheese...he'll eat all day at home then.
My choice: (My son is always game)
Spaghetti with Italian sausage, green peppers and onions. A side of salad or garlic bread.
Chicken and Dumplings
Minestrone
White bean chicken chili
beef tacos
Our Easy family fave is:
CHICKEN CEASAR PITAS
Bag of Romaine Lettuce
Chopped Cooked Chicken (I either made extra or bought it at Trader Joes)
Parmesan Cheese (shredded, not grated)
Ceasar Salad Dressing
Pita Bread
I chop up the romaine to make it smaller than how it comes in a salad bag. I put in plenty of cheese and also add pepper.
I usually make my own Ceasar dressing that is super oily and garlicky rather than buying the creamy kind (mash a few cloves of garlic up with a 1/2 tsp of salt. Whisk in Tbsp Lemon juice and Tbsp Worcestershire. Mix with a bunch of EVOO (like 1/3 cup) and pour it over the lettuce, cheese, and chicken mixture.
Put it in a pita, which everyone in my house is divided on how much to toast but I prefer it at least warmed.
I don't even serve anything with it.
wow your go tos are so much more advanced than my meals.. a go to for me is grilled cheeses, quesadillas, or speghetti when i have all the ingredients to make a sauce. i would give you the recipe for that, but i dont' have one... its just a little of this and a little of that...
My go-to meal is shrimp scampi. I try to always have frozen deveined tail-off shrimp. I boil whatever pasta I have on hand and prepare scampi as follows:
Heat 1/4 Olive oil, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1 tsp kosher salt, red pepper flakes, juice from one lemon and frozen shrimp in pan. Mix in cooked pasta and serve w/parmesan cheese on the table. Quick , easy and pretty healthy too. Bon Apetit!
I have 2 go to meals:
Biscuit sandwiches with salad or soup.
I flatten 1 pkg. refridg. biscuits into circles and lay on greased foil lined pan. I layer lunch meat and cheese, then top with another flattened biscuit from a second package. I bake at 450 until lightly browned. This makes 10 sandwiches. I have also make these with leftover bbq.
Baked quesadillas with salad or soup
Lay one buttered tortilla on greased foil lined pan, add toppings, lay buttered tortilla on top. Bake at 350 and flip halfway through. Cut with pizza wheel.
Made (for the first time) a really good Italian Round Steak yesterday.
Cube a few potatoes and an onion, place in lightly non-stick sprayed crock,
Lie a 1.5 lb round steak on potatoes, season with salt, pepper & oregano.
Pour a half a large can of tomato sauce over meat. Low 8 hrs or high 5 hrs.
This was good and I've never had a good way to make round steak.
BLTEAO's
Bacon, lettuce, tomato, egg (over easy), avocado and onion sandwiches on lightly toasted either whole wheat or potato bread! YUMMY!
I usually throw together a mango, blueberry, pomegranite (sp?) salad to go with it or Kiwi, banana, apple salad...whatever is in season at the time and still in the fruit bowl :)
I ALWAYS have these vegetables on hand and we are a bacon loving family so we always have bacon (it lasts for forever in the fridge too) and we are a big fruit family as well...so this is my most favorite and EASY to throw together dinner, especially in the summer!
