There’s so much to do in so little time, from making the best of your career to raising children and taking care of those who raised you. And by the end of the day, your family still wants to know what you are making for dinner. This is why it’s important to have some easy dinner recipes and a cooking plan on hand.
Face it, everyone has to eat, but you don’t want to spend all night cooking, so here are some ways to make quick and easy meals.
1. Try the Old Favorites
Start with your favorite ground meat from the store. While burgers are popular as well as easy, there are so many other recipes to experiment with. For one, stroganoff does not take a lot of time or energy. Hamburger stroganoff is made up of minced onion, chopped garlic, butter, black pepper, mushrooms, minced parsley, sour cream, and a can of your favorite chicken or mushroom soup. Just brown meat, add ingredients, mix together in the same pan used to cook meat, and serve over hot noodles when done. This takes 30 minutes or less. Hamburger meatballs just call for seasoning, eggs, and your favorite ground meat mixed together and formed into balls. If you want to add a sauce, marinara, barbecue, or other pasta sauces are ideal. By adding veggies such as mushroom, green bell pepper, or broccoli, you will have a nutritious meal in minutes.
Pasta dishes are even more flexible as you can add different sauces and herbs, like pesto, garlic, and rosemary. Food and Wine suggests adding spinach to macaroni and cheese dishes as a way to get your greens in. Plus spinach is full of iron. You can also add your meat of choice, such as sausage links, sliced chicken, or even a meatless option. Try something different by adding shrimp and scallops or everybody’s favorite seafood delicacy, lobster.
2. Let Appliances Do the Work
Don’t be afraid to take shortcuts by using small kitchen gadgets. Crock-pots are of great use to the mom who’s had a long day. By adding your favorite meat, chopped vegetables, and sauce in the morning, you can have your meal cook while you’re at work. Experimenting with little touches like roasted garlic, pesto, jerk, or Latin seasonings will give your dish a real kick. By letting your meats marinate all day long, you will get the full flavor. After you and your family have dug in, just store leftovers in a microwaveable container and enjoy for the next few days.
A panini sandwich not only tastes good but is also easy to make. Just use your favorite crusty bread, brush with olive oil, and add your favorite meats, veggies, and cheese. Place inside your heated panini maker and heat for 10 minutes. The great thing is that Panini makers can be bought inexpensively at most food and department stores.
