Dinner Ideas?

LizzyBlueEyes

I am a teacher and usually stay at work late getting things prepared for the next day and such.  My DH gets home around 5 from work.  We both have long days getting up at 5 and I get to work at 7, so by the time I get home I want to crash and relax because I am so tired...which is causing me dinner problems.

Some days I am so gung-ho I make dinner, but other days I don't want to make anything or something quick.  I am running out of healthy quick and easy meal ideas.  So I wanted to reach out and see what other people were making for dinner in similar situations.  I need ideas!

lulling

I second the crock pot!  Plus, it will be getting cooler soon which is when I really want a crock pot meal.  You can't burn anything or over cook anything and it is great to open your door after a long day of work and smell dinner all ready for you.  Man, now I wish I would have set my crock pot tonight!  Stupid ol' salad!

heatheroo

This Weight Watchers recipe is healthy, quick, and pretty good - MH or I have used it when we are pressed for time but want a cooked meal. It makes enough that we can freeze the leftovers and get 3-4 meals out of it.

Cheesy Chili Mac

Ingredients

	1 spray(s) cooking spray
	2/3 pound(s) raw lean ground beef
	2 medium onion(s), chopped
	29 oz canned stewed tomatoes, Mexican-style (undrained)
	2 1/2 cup(s) canned tomato juice
	4 oz canned green chili peppers, diced, drained
	2 tsp chili powder
	1 1/2 cup(s) uncooked macaroni, elbow-size
	31 oz canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
	1/2 cup(s) low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

• Coat a large skillet with cooking spray; set over medium-high heat. Cook beef and onion until meat is browned, stirring and breaking up meat with a spoon as it cooks, about 10 minutes; drain off fat.
  
  
• Stir in undrained tomatoes and their juice, tomato juice, chili peppers and chili powder; bring mixture to a boil.
  
  
• Stir in macaroni and beans; return to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until macaroni is tender, about 15 minutes. Spoon chili into bowls and sprinkle with cheese. Yields about 1 cup chili and 1 tablespoon cheese per serving.

heatheroo

Another healthy & easy meal (if you have a crockpot) is salsa chicken:

Combine 1 lb of boneless/skinless chicken breasts, a 16-oz jar of salsa, a drained can of corn (or you can use frozen corn), and a rinsed can of black beans in crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours. We serve it over rice or in tortillas with a little cheese and sour cream. It's yummy!

Joie80

Yep. I have a crock pot cook book and I love it.

chrissc34

Taco Soup  I made this yesterday, before I left for the day.   I don't make it spicey and I used ground chicken.  Also bought bread bowls from panera yesterday, and served it in those.  Deilish!1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained
2 cans brooks chilli beans (mild or hot depending on your taste)
1 11oz can niblet corn
1 11oz can rotel tomatoes and chilies
1 28oz can diced tomatoes
1 4oz can diced green chilies
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 envelope Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix

Add browned/drained meat to crock pot. Top with package of taco seasoning and ranch seasoning. Stir. Add the rest of the cans (do not drain them). Mix up and cook on low for 4 hours or so in crock pot! 

Top it with shredded cheese, sour cream and taco chips on the side!! 

(you can also used chicken or turkey too!)

countrygrl5533

We should seriously make this post sticky and add to to it over the next few months.

I'm finding now that I'm starting to feel a little better again (well, not counting today) that having  a weekly menu again is helpful. Then I just need to make sure I take meat out of the freeze but no thinking other than once a week when I make the menu.

I too love my crock pot. Just make sure you use the right size. It you use a big one and barely have anything in it, yes you can overcook it. Did that once. I actually have 2 crock pots in different sizes. Not on purpose. they were both gifts. The newest one has a timer so after so many hours it switches to "keep warm" on its own.

kmberman

countrygrl5533:

We should seriously make this post sticky and add to to it over the next few months.  

I second this!!!

countrygrl5533

Have you checked out www.allrecipes.com ? I find a lot of recipes on there. I also look through a lot of food blogs.