Home and Family Ezine

Quick Dinner Planning Ideas

7 Quick and Easy Dinner Time Ideas
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. If you don’t want to do this on your own you can use a menu planning service.

2 . Use the Crockpot –  With a little planning you can have a nutritious dinner ready in no time.

3 . Make Casseroles – I love to make and eat casseroles, they 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. Pasta is an Easy Dinner – It is an easy way  to quickly throw together a healthy family dinner. You might want to 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 are Easy – We have breakfast for supper quite often.  Make an omelet and fill with a little ham and cheese, you can also add some chopped tomato, onions or mushrooms. You can also try making 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 . Making Wraps – Wraps are great for quick dinners.  You can 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.