need meal ideas...

[cbressler1976]

Hi!:wave:
I seem to be cooking the same things over and over again....I go to the grocery store every 2 weeks....well this week we won't have a lot of money...
I have 2 boys...one is 5 and the other is almost 2....does anyone have any easy dinner ideas? that isn't too expensive....my husband is a meat eater and doesn't like pastas...sigh...i saw in an earlier post tartor tot caserole....what is it? how do you make it? and also lunches...I seem to always feed them sandwiches....chicken nuggets...hot dogs....and soups/spegheti o's....thank you!:hug

[Cindy S.]

Go to: www.allrecipies.com

Today I have a corned beef with brown sugar and Guinness beer in the crock pot. I can't wait to taste it.

The other day, I bought a pork loin on sale and looked up some ideas how to cook it. I used a recipie with rosemary and garlic, it was very good, and very easy.

I buy meat on sale and look up recipies on that site. The recipie reviews are very helpful too!

I don't enjoy cooking much, especially after working all day. I want it easy and tasty.

[icebear]

you can make pretty good meatloaf using instant seasoning packets... stroganoff seasoning makes a really good meatloaf, also putting 1/4 cup of barbeque sauce (Baby Ray's) in the mixture and then glazing the top with it is really good... my family refers to that as "Death Loaf" cause its REALLY good and easy to overstuff yourself....

shepherds pie is also really good, easy and fairly cheap to make

a lot of the Campbell's recipes on the can labels are good too and easy, use the recipe but buy the store brand soup and its cheaper, but you can't really tell any difference...

[Kathe]

Here is a good recipe that I learned in Australia. It's yummy, good for you and kids like it. It's easy to make.

Zucchini Slice (we would call it zucchini quiche)
Chef: Connie Hancey
Don Hancey's Mum
As heard during Eoin Cameron's Breakfast show.
Degree of difficulty: Low
You need:
Up to 2 cups Zucchini (unpeeled, coarsley grated)
1 large finely chopped onion
2 or 3 finely chopped rashers of bacon
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup self-raising flour
1/2 cup olive oil
5 eggs
salt and pepper
Method:
Combine zucchini, onion, bacon, cheese, flour, oil and lightly beaten eggs. Season with Salt and pepper. Pour into a well-greased baking dish (about 6 x 9). Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 -40 minutes or until browned. Serving Suggestion: Serve hot or cold with salad.

Kathe

[Kathe]

Here is one that we use a lot:

Homemade pizza party


Each batch of dough will make 2 medium pizzas or 1 really thick medium pizza. Combine batches for more people remembering that the dough will double so have a big enough container.

Pizza dough

1 packet 12g yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup warm, not hot, water
flour (use ½ white unbleached and ½ whole wheat mixed together if you want a healthier dough. If not just use all white.)

Warm the bowl you are using so it is not cold. In the warmed bowl add the warm water, sugar, olive oil and yeast and mix well so there are no clumps. Start adding mixed flour 1 cup at a time and mix well. Keep adding flour and mixing until the dough makes a ball in the center of the bowl and isn’t too sticky. Do not add too much or the dough will be tough and dry. A bit sticky is ok because as it sits the wheat flour will absorb more moisture.

Put the bowl, covered with a clean towel, in a warm place to rise for 1 – 2 hours. It should at least double, if not more.

While dough is rising you can get your toppings ready. Some examples are:

Different meats such as pepperoni, sausage, minced beef, BBQ chicken, ham, etc. Meats such as minced or sausage I pre-cook on the stove and make sure they are in small pieces. You can buy some great sausage and take the meat out of the links before cooking it.

Different veggies such as onion, green pepper, yellow banana pepper, broccoli, mushrooms, red chili pepper, etc.

Pineapple is also excellent, especially with ham and onion.

For most of the items I try and cut them very small, unless you like big chunky veggies. Onions I slice really thin.

I like to use 2 or 3 different cheeses: mozzarella, parmesan and asiago.

For sauce I use tomato paste with herbs or BBQ sauce. For a great chicken pizza you can use alfredo sauce.

Preheat your oven to the hottest temp. 500 F/260 C. If you have a pizza stone put in the over now so it preheats also. You need a VERY hot over for the best crust. After the dough is raised, pull off a piece of dough and make it into a ball. Lay on a floured surface and spread out with fingers to get the size and thinness you want. Do NOT over work the dough or it will be tough and hard when it cooks. Touch it as little as possible at this point.

Place your dough onto a piece of baking paper BEFORE putting on the toppings. Add the sauce then whatever toppings you want. Use your imagination. I like to add the sauce, then meat, then mozzarella, then veggies, then the other cheeses. Be creative and you’ll find lots of good combinations.

Place the pizza on the paper right onto the oven rack if you don’t have a stone. This will ensure a crispy crust. If using a stone be sure to cover your stone with polenta/corn meal first so the pizza doesn’t stick. Use a large spatula or pizza paddle to remove the pizza from the oven. Pizzas are done when the cheese starts turning brown and the dough is crisp.

Have fun and be creative. Great for parties and each guest can make their own mini pizza. Do the ingredients up in advance. You can also make different shapes. Heart shaped pizzas always go over nicely.

FRUIT DESSERT PIZZA

You can make a fruit dessert pizza by using the dough plus any pie filling such as apple, cherry, blueberry, etc.

You can also pre-bake a pizza flat with no toppings/sauce and after it is cooked and cooled do the following:

VEGGIE PIZZA

Cover the cooked dough with cream cheese and add various cut up veggies. This is a nice appetizer or snack.

Fruit: Cover the cooked dough with sweet whipped cream and add different fruits such as kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, etc for a fun fruit dessert.

When making the above 2 pizzas it is good to make the crust as thin as possible.

Have fun – Kathe

[cbressler1976]

Thank you all!!
...all very helpful!! :thumb

[Lynn]

I go to www.allrecipes.com all the time to get recipe ideas. I highly recommend their site.

[KitsapGirl]

Quick "Chicken Parmesan"

Breaded Chicken Patties - 1 for every person
1 Jar Marinara
Linguine pasta
Parmesan Cheese
Italian Seasoning

Cook the pasta according to directions. In the oven crisp the chicken patties. In the last 5 minutes sprinkle patties with italian seasoning & parmesan cheese. Place a patty on each plate with an adequate serving of linguine. Spoon marinara over both. Garnish with parmesan.


Not difficult, or expensive...just different & quick. I serve mine with a bagged caesar salad.

[jadeeyes]

Here's a simple recipe that kids can make for themselves. Open a can of refrigerated biscuits. Flatten the middle with the bottom of a small glass. Spread with spaghetti sauce. Top with grated mozarella cheese. Pop in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes at the temperature suggested on the can of biscuits. My son loved cooking these little pizzas for himself and a few friends when he was in grade school.

[pistis]

I like making meatballs, you can make a pound of hamburger stretch by using rice, or oats, and breadcrumbs as filler. I also use alot of vegies in the mix like onions and bell peppers. You can make a variety of sauces to serve them with from sweet and sour sauce to tomato or swedish cream sauce. Kids seem to like them too.

Another meal that is pretty inexpensive is biscuits and gravy, with a side of scrambled eggs, or salad, is a filling meal.

Chili is inexpensive too if you use lots of beans.

Hope that helps.