Just Kate Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 I am in a major dinner rut and need some inspiration. I don't really enjoy cooking, so I'm looking for fairly simple meals. Due to some extreme pickiness in our house, dinner has become a major stressor for me. I really want to focus on making nice, simple meals, but I can't even remember what I used to cook (sounds ridiculous, I know). I would love to hear what you cook on a week night. What are your family favorites? Recipes would be a bonus for me. Pretend like I am just starting out. Thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 We don't cater to pickiness here. Monday pasta (chop suey, spaghetti w meatballs, lasagna, linguine w shrimp & Alfredo, etc.) Tuesday roast of some sort Wednesday Mexican (tacos, burritos, enchiladas, etc.) Thursday something made with Tuesday leftovers or soup & sandwiches, baked potatoes w toppings, chef salad Friday takeout Saturday burgers & hotdogs w various side dishes Sunday breakfast for dinner 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplejackmama Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 We do a similar rotation as Amy. But I've recently started "snacky Sunday" where I set out an assortment of meats, cheeses, pickles, olives, etc. I'm sorta over cooking every.single.day so this feels like a nice break. :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epicurean Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 One of my favorite cookbooks is Keepers: https://www.amazon.com/Keepers-Tried-True-Weeknight-Happiness/dp/1609613546 The recipes are simple and filling. Monday Shrimp Alfredo Tuesday Rotisserie Chicken from grocery store and roasted broccoli with cheese Wednesday Crock Pot Beef Stew Thursday Spicy Black Bean Soup Friday Steaks or Burgers or Hot Dogs on the grill with chips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 We eat chicken wraps (chicken salad wrapped in a tortilla and toasted on the griddle), bacon and butternut mac n cheese ( http://www.perrysplate.com/2010/02/bacon-butternut-skillet-mac.html ), tortilla pie (corn tortillas for a crust in a buttered pie plate, top with favorite quiche like fillings and cheese, 3 eggs and 1-1/2 c. milk whisked and poured over the top, bake at 375 for 45(ish) minutes), tomato soup and grilled cheese. Dh made a pasta tonight that even our "picky" kids liked: penne pasta with bacon, onion and dried tomatoes sautéed in the bacon fat, and pesto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 Pasta and sausage: http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/recipes/814/pasta-with-spicy-sausage-and-cream Baked garlic Parmesan chicken: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/55860/baked-garlic-parmesan-chicken/ Vegetarian burger (very good!) http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/the-best-vegan-burger/ Sweet potato and carrot soup http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/970/moroccan+sweet+potato+carrot+and+chickpea+soup Pork noodle stir fry http://www.healthyfoodguide.com.au/recipes/2011/september/pork-noodle-stir-fry Sweet potato frittata http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/34982/zucchini+sweet+potato+feta+frittata These are some of the more straightforward, but very tasty meals I have bookmarked. We cook lots of Asian and Indian meals but those are probably not what you want. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 I am all about the simple meals! We do a lot of meat, starch, vegetable. Done Meat/Protein: DH likes to grill. He looks up marinades sometimes and does that, or just grills directly. I like to throw meat and a pre-made sauce or easy sauce into the Instant pot I have just gone back to my vegetarian diet, so I am starting to have some sort of beans, legumes, quinoa, lentils, daal, etc....usually cooked in the Instant pot with spices Starch: We always have a rice, pasta, potato, or buns for hamburgers. Vegetable: I do either raw or cooked. Nothing fancy. Roasted vegetables on a tray is about as fancy as I get. Cut up veggies Romaine salad Green beans Roasted cauliflower Roasted broccoli Fall Squashes in the Fall Summer squash in summer, sometimes grilled with the meat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Kate Posted October 3, 2016 Author Share Posted October 3, 2016 (edited) Yum! Thanks everyone!!! I am also trying to do a rotation... Pasta Monday Taco Tuesday (really any Mexican, but Taco Tuesday is more fun to say) Soup/Salad/Sandwich Wednesday Standard Meal Thursday (like meat and a veggie) Pizza Friday Snacky Saturday Sunday - eat out It is nice to get some meal ideas though. Honestly, fixing dinner for my family completely stresses me out, which makes me so sad. I think I'd like to come up with a few meals for each category and just rotate. I need to remind myself that the picky one is plenty old enough to fix a PB sandwich if the meal doesn't work. Edited October 3, 2016 by Just Kate 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zinnia Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 Our staples are tacos (Old El Paso style), beans and rice (topped with taco toppings--I think this is the same meal as tacos basically, but they see them as two and beg for them both on the regular), spaghetti with meat sauce, alfredo (anytime dh travels, because he hates it), breakfast for supper (eggs, grits, and sausage, or french toast/pancakes/waffles with sausage or bacon), and we usually have soup once a week. Chili, chicken chili, gumbo, lentil, chicken tortilla, pozole, occasionally chicken adn dumplings, chicken noodle, potato are their favorites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madteaparty Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 (edited) When I make bolognese sauce I freeze quantities and that is a very quick pasta meal (boil pasta and grate cheese) Poached salmon w roasted fingerling potatoes. I whip up a hollandaise if up to it. Homemade Mac n cheese with broccoli or peas in it Roasted half chicken and potatoes (high heat, done in one pan) NY times recipe for chicken shawarma Edited October 3, 2016 by madteaparty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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