family dinner- the list!
Alright- here is my list of 15 meals that I will use over the next month. Remember, we are not vegetarians, but a few meals can be adapted to fit preferences…I like this because (1) meat is expensive (2) we don’t need to eat it everyday… I know, we live in the midwest and should be hunting our meals ourselves (3) I could easily be a vegetarian.
All of these meals are approved by my kids. They are not exotic. They are relatively inexpensive. They are basic. I have found that being simple with our eating is a way more nutritious choice. Plus, the idea is to enjoy dinner, right? I’m anxious to make my grocery list tomorrow and test out my strategy…
1. Chicken Piccatta/roasted potatoes with rosemary and garlic/broccoli
2. Crisp Goat Cheese salad
Kids will have pesto pasta and salad since they detest goat cheese and we love it too much to not have it.
3. Chicken Satay/Coconut Rice/Garlicky Green Beans *WE LOVE THIS!
4. Tostadas (with a variety of vegetables and toppings)/ Quick Cowboy Beans/Spanish rice
5. Tortilla soup
6. Homemade Pizza/SALAD
7. Beef Bulgogi/Coconut Rice
8. Pasta with Sweet Tomato and Baked Ricotta/ SALAD
9. Spaghetti and Meatballs/SALAD
10. Grilled burgers/Fresh Vegetables
Below are 5 meals that I will most likely have my husband make while I am at work:
11. Grilled cheese (kids)/ Tuna Melt (nathan)/Fresh fruit or Vegetables
12. Marinated Pork Ribs/Rice/Fresh Vegetable
13. Breakfast for dinner (eggs, pancakes, whatever) with fruit smoothies
14. Tilapia/Fresh Vegetable/Rice (maybe?)
15. Tomato soup/Salad/Fresh Bread
16. OUT!
Last night’s dinner was Tomato soup and I decided Grilled Cheese would be good too. We had a lot of things going on-homework, Karate for the kids, Bookclub for me and so the departure time was 5:30 for everyone to be out of the house!
I know dumping a can of soup into a pan or going through the drive-thru COULD be tempting, but it’s not really an option with me. This soup is so easy that you will never buy the canned stuff again.
Cream of Tomato (you can leave out the cream, but why?)
2 28 oz. cans of whole plum tomatoes
2 yellow onions
salt and pepper
2 cups chicken stock or vegetable (I made mine, but you can buy it in the can)
Pre-heat oven 450
Slice the tomatoes in half, sliced side down in a roasting pan (reserve the tomato juices/puree in can)
Cut up 2 onions- I just cut mine in wedges
drizzle olive oil on top
Sprinkle salt and pepper and you can add Oregano if you want…
Roast for about 50 minutes, check if onions are cooked through…you are probably done.
Whirl in the blender or food processor.
Add mix to stock pot, add reserved tomato puree and chicken stock, also add 2 tsp. of sugar.
Just before serving, as you are warming up the soup, add a cup of whipping cream…whisk until smooth.
Now, go eat!