You want dinner? Again?

Beth Hudson · April 2020

I don't know about you but the people at my house want to eat dinner. Every day! The problem? They don't feel like having that. Or we just had that. Or I don't want cereal for dinner.

Well, I haven't resorted to the last one. Yet. I would love to know some of your simple go to meals. One of mine is chicken breast sauteed in balsamic vinegar and Italian seasoning. Then add some tomatoes and mozzarella cheese for an easy take on Chicken Caprese.

Crystal Bruce · April 2020

My go-to's are usually pasta with ragu & turkey sausage, frozen hamburgers, and sandwiches. I don't cook very often, was so used to hitting up my favorite sushi place for dinner after the gym. It's been a struggle to adjust to this new cook for yourself lifestyle!

Regina Holten · April 2020

That sounds great! Luckily I only need to feed my big mouth and my husband's shrinking waistline. He is so stressed out or...really was...since he had to take a medical leave of absence...he has zero appetite it seems...no worries, I'm here to make up for that...24/7.

Go to stuff for us to graze on would be - any veggie we roast right away - it only takes evoo, salt (OR a mixed spice in the bottle - like Old Bay, Mediterranean Sea Salt blend, Chinese five spice) and a very hot oven - like sometimes 450 for tater type vegetable. We are also doing a lot with fruit. And by that I mean we are dipping our wedges or chunks into a flash ganache - pour some chocolate chips into a wee cup, add a little heavy cream and a salt pinch and microwave for usually less than 25 secs on high. Suddenly citrus becomes gourmet - or apples or ok, pretzels.

Patti Hommes · April 2020

We usually eat out or takeout 2 or 3 times a week (there's only 2 of us), so cooking every day for me is not my fave thing. I know a lot of restaurants are doing free delivery, but The Man doesn't trust that. (He's the one watching every news report, reading every article, and only passing on the bad stuff. Rant over.) Anyway, one of my favorite go-to recipes is Piccata. Anything Piccata - chicken, veal, fish - and I add artichoke hearts for an extra twist.

Rachel Cavalier · April 2020

As always, for me it's mostly "what's in the cupboard/freezer/fridge?" , taking things out, tipping them into some unholy combination, cooking it and then putting some cheese on top half the time. It usually works out well, but I couldn't give you any recipe or anything beyond "I've cooked it according to the instructions on the packet if there are any or enough that no one will be poisoned" lol

It sounds a lot worse than it is! ?

Beth Hudson · April 2020

Rachel Cavalier‍ "some unholy combination" had me rolling! I have definitely cooked like that before!

Elizabeth Johnson · April 2020

I've done tons of meal planning apps but the one that works best for me is just setting a theme for each night of the week and then I just have to work in that theme on that night and this narrow down my options.

Monday - Noodles or pasta

Tuesday - Tacos or Mexican style dish

Wednesday - Breakfast for dinner night - usually waffles or crepes

Thursday - Fish (husband works on Thursday nights and my son and I love fish and he doesn't)

Friday - Pizza (sometimes homemade)

Saturday - Grill night

Sunday - Soup

I have a very specialized diet (anyone that has sat with me at bbcon knows) and my husband isn't usually interested in my healthy eating so we diverge some or I have a ton of leftovers which are not going to waste now. This is a great opportunity for me to teach my 8-year-old not to take more than he can eat and that he can always go back for more.

I love my instant pot! So not actually recipes but this plan works well. Sure we go off it every now and again but only when someone has a strong desire for what they want and that works too. All about making fewer decisions.

Brittany Czekaj · April 2020

I love this thread! Great ideas, Elizabeth

Such a simple way to help narrow down recipes each week!

Lately, I have been making lists of all of the potential meals we can make with food on hand (and add more as we go) to the list on the fridge. Every Sunday I make a meal plan based on the weather / what meals sounds good to us!

This week:

Monday: Crescent dogs (hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls...SO simple)

Tuesday: Burrito Bowls with leftover ground beef

(SO easy and people can customize to their liking!)

Wednesday: Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake (made a LOT of shredded chicken in the crockpot and froze out portions for future dinners)

Thursday: Meatloaf + Mashed Potatoes (boxed are simple) + veggies

Friday: Veggie quiche (meatless every Friday helps narrow it down)

The freezer is definitely your friend for saving leftovers for a later date and not having to force it in the following day

Elizabeth Johnson · April 2020

Brittany Czekaj‍ I'm so going to add burrito bowls to my Tuesday night options!

And yes the freezer is our friend! Last night I fell asleep watching YouTube videos of what food you can freeze. I had no clue you can freeze eggs just by cracking them into a silicon muffin container! Things I freeze regularly (I drink smoothies daily) avocados cut into 1/8 sections, quartered baked sweet potatoes, cooked squash, blanched zucchinis, baked and peeled beets, soaked nuts. First on silicon mat and then transferred to freezer bag (that I reuse). I also freeze kale right in the bag from the store. Once I open the first time I crush it so it takes up less space.

Aldera Chisholm · April 2020

My Instant Pot has been my go-to lately. My go-to recipe has been this one, it's pretty much a dump whatever you've got recipe!

Whatever meat I have frozen, usually a couple of chicken breasts. Or skip meat and go veggie. Put meat in pot, frozen. They I start layering, don't stir:

1.5 cup Salsa
A packet of taco seasoning. I make my own, and use about 2 tbsp
A can of drained black beans
A cup of frozen corn
A bunch of chopped peppers, onions if you want
Random veg like sweet potato? Throw that in
pour 1 cup of non-instant rice on top
Pour 1.5 c of chicken or veggie broth on top
tap rice down so it's covered in broth but don't stir.

Set to med for about 15 minutes. Less if you use white rice and no meat.

When done, give it a good stir and then let sit for a few minutes. Garnish with a bit of sour cream, or avocado pieces.

If you wanted to be fancy, you could use the Saute function and do the meat with peppers and onions first, but... I'm lazy.

Chris Geady · April 2020

Mac n' cheese is a goto in my house. It always depends what's in the fridge. Sometimes we stockpile veggies, beans, lentils, etc. for quick lunchtime salads. Other times it's time for tacos!

You want dinner? Again?

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