I am always cooking the same thing each week for dinner. You know, spaghetti, hot dogs...chili. I also like to throw in a couple of new things, which brings me to this...
What are some things that you cook for dinner? I would love to hear what you fix for your family.
I absolutely hate cooking the same thing more than once. So I usually go to the cooking light website and search for their "quick/easy" recipes. Because I try to keep our diet varied and healthy, I will plan for 1 fish/seafood dinner, 2 chicken/poultry dinners, and 2 vegetarian dinners. Given that there are only 2 of us (at least for now) with left overs, this is usually enough for 1.5 -2 weeks of dinners.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm planning on making soup, I will portion it out into 2-serving-size zip locks and stick it in the freezer. On those night when I don't have the energy to cook, I just pull out a bag of soup, make a quick side salad, and we have a quick dinner.
Though, if I do have to resort to old stand-bys, we'll do make your own pizzas, fajitas, or some sort of pasta.
Good Luck!
I am in the same rut right now - making the same familiar dishes. But they are all so yummy so its all good! haha. The top three are alfredo bake, french bread baked penne and chicken nachos. There's also home made pizza dough and sauce + whatever toppings. Let me know if you try anything! :)
ReplyDeleteI have Rachael Ray on the brain because of posts on my blog this week, but I could seriously plan my whole month menu from one of her magazines. I love them because they are delicious, usually well balanced, and usually come together quickly.
ReplyDeleteI'm with chefsara - I hate cooking the same thing more than once - a dish has to be pretty spectacular for me to make it again!
I love this question! Its such a hard job to come up with something interesting, healthy with all the ingredients that you have in - We love spicy sausage casserole - sounds horrid but its fab! Recipe will be on blog v soon! Hx
ReplyDeleteI also do not like cooking the same things over and over and I love menu planning, so I started doing theme nights.
ReplyDeleteSun- Slow Cooker
Mon- Family Favorite- this gets in a familiar recipe
Tues-Soup and/or sandwich
Wed- Main Dish Salad
Thur-Vegetarian or Bean
Fri- Fish
I leave Saturday free and get to try new recipes that I have been eyeing the rest of the week. I love doing it this way because I have so many cookbooks and recipes torn out of magazines that I want to try. But, I also know that my family will at least love one of the meals a week. It is fun and now that I have a format it makes it easier to plan out the week's menu.
I agree, I hate cooking the samo samo. One of my problems is that my hubby likes, pizza, pizza, and pizza. Although he will occassionally eat a steak or a meat and potatoe kind of thing. I love chicken and love to fix it with veggies, my hubby doesn't eat veggies. I've learned, thanks to my hubby, how to make a pretty darn good homemade pizza, but once a month is enough for me. I liked the planned week that Mary Ann talked about. I should really try and stick to something similar. Great blog, I really enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteOoh, I like the theme idea. We range from grilled cheese and souped up campbells to pot pies to anything from Rick Bayless's cookbooks to breakfast. Weekends are better.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input! I like the theme thing too. I could get my kids in on that. The chicken nachos sound like a winner for this week too. And I am looking forward to seeing the sausage casserole....all of this gives me ideas for next few weeks.
ReplyDeleteMy quick go to dinners are usually some sort of sammy. French Dip or a Panini. With a bag of french fries in the freezer, I can have dinner in no time. I also do a pasta bake alot. It's kid friendly!
ReplyDeleteCalzones have been big lately also.
My quick go to dinners are usually some sort of sammy. French Dip or a Panini. With a bag of french fries in the freezer, I can have dinner in no time. I also do a pasta bake alot. It's kid friendly!
ReplyDeleteCalzones have been big lately also.
I'm in a salad rut right now. A bag of baby greens (my fave is spinach) topped with grilled chicken breast or simple baked salmon, drizzled with a touch of Japanese sesame dressing.
ReplyDeleteNo fuss, with only one plate and a fork to clean. Woot!
I try and switch it up.. risotto, chicken parm subs, fajitas, pizzas... I get so bored with the same old thing so I like to look up different recipes for average everyday things. Even when I make spaghetti I have to add my own twist to it in some way; make the sauce spicy, add ground beef, etc, etc, etc.
ReplyDeleteIn the winter its harder because its cooking every night, or almost. In the summer I like chicken caesar salads for dinner, or I buy tortillas and make chicken caesar or chicken ranch wraps. Its easier cuz its practically no-cook. Unless you cook the chicken, but its even easier to buy those Perdue shortcuts :)
Meatloaf, chicken fingers, pizza, shepard's pie, chili, tacos, chicken and dumplings, roasts, and one pot hey what's in the pantry meals are very popular with us. You'd think that sounds very unhealthy, but it ain't been hard to make those and keep on the low fat and low calorie meal plan we use!
ReplyDeleteGreat question! I'm sort of all over the place with dinners. We love a good breakfast for dinner once in a while with pancakes, eggs, fruit ... the works. However, I really love the theme night idea. I'll have to give that a try.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the birthday wishes! It made me happy.
Blessings,
Lea
Check out my blog at www.testkitchenrecipes.blogspot.com. Here are some things I make for dinner.
ReplyDelete