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It
is 6:00 p.m. the kids are hungry, homework needs to be done, you're stressed and
then they ask Mom, what's for dinner?
It's not easy juggling our busy lives while trying to feed our
families a hot nutritious dinner everyday. These 7 quick and easy dinner ideas
will help take the stress out of family meal times.
1 Plan a Menu This does take a
little organizing ahead of time but it's definitely worth the effort. Find a few
minutes during the weekend and plan your meals for the upcoming week. Write a
quick menu, do your shopping and stick the menu on your fridge. Every morning
quickly glance at it and take out the foods that need thawing and plan ahead how
much time you need to prepare the meal.
2 Befriend the Crockpot Okay, this
little invention may not be the coolest kitchen gadget around but it can
definitely be a lifesaver. With a little planning you can have a nutritious
dinner ready before the kids can even say mom....
3 The Casserole is Back Similar to
the crockpot but great for days when you forget to plan ahead. Casseroles work
great with leftovers or just about any items you can find in your pantry. Throw
together some pasta, tuna, corn kernels, peas and cream for a quick meal.
Casseroles made with rice or potatoes are just as easy. Keep a few easy recipes
on hand and add or omit ingredients according to what you have in your
pantry.
4 Easy, Versatile, Pasta By far
the easiest way to quickly throw together a healthy family dinner.To avoid
boredom try to avoid the usual jar of sauce and pasta dinner. Try this, heat two
tablespoons of olive oil over very low heat and add one crushed garlic bulb,
stir for about a minute and add a can of drained crab meat, the juice of one
lemon and a little salt and pepper to taste, and finally add a little chopped
cilantro or parsley. Serve over your pasta with some garlic bread on the side
for a delicious meal in minutes.
5 Eggs Incredible Eggs Eggs aren't
only for breakfast, they're also great for quick dinners. Make an omelet and
fill with a little ham and cheese, you can also add some chopped tomato, onions
or mushrooms. Serve along with a salad and some bread. Or make a Spanish
tortilla. Scrub, peel and thinly slice a couple of new or small potatoes. Add to
a sauce pan with a little water and boil until soft, about 8 minutes. Add a
little oil to a nonstick frying pan, add the potatoes, scramble eggs and a
little chopped onion (optional) cook on low until the bottom starts to set. Then
stick the frying pan under a hot grill until the top of the tortilla sets. Serve
with a side salad.
6 Sandwich Bar Some days you just
don't have the time or energy to cook a hot meal, but you can still feed your
family a nutritious meal in the way of sandwiches. Put out some bread rolls
(whole wheat is best), add a platter of cheese, ham, turkey, tuna or any other
favorite fillings. Add another platter of chopped lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers
and any other favorite veggies. Now let your kids put together their own
sandwiches. Serve with some pretzels, a salad or cut up veggies and dip, a
little hopeful but worth a try.
7 Wrap It Wraps are great for
quick dinners. You fill them with just about anything. For a Mexican wrap cook a
little ground beef, drain and fill wrap. Add some chopped tomatoes, grated
cheese, sour cream or guacamole. You can also fill it with a little heated tuna
with some corn kernels and a little mayonnaise or try scrambled eggs, chopped
ham and tomatoes. Leftover chicken with cheese and lettuce works great too.
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