Dinner ideas, Monday through Friday

As I start to put together today's post, a colleague's darling 3-year-old stands at my shoulder. She's looking at the crazy things I have on my desk, including a set of Christmas candles (Santa, snowman and two reindeer) that someone who recently retired bequeathed me. She wants to know why the reindeer are so much taller than Santa. Bad perspective, my dear.

I love it when people bring their kids to work. It's a nice break and I like to see how they change. This little sweetie is particularly darling.

Anyway, off to the kitchen with you! There's dinner to think about. Here are some ideas ...

Monday: Quick! Dinner!
Meatballs Stroganoff can be made in a jiffy with convenience products. Heat a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup with 1/2 cup of sour cream or plain yogurt. In another pan, saute sliced mushrooms in a bit of butter. Add the mushrooms to the soup mixture along with a few handfuls of frozen meatballs; cook on medium until heated through. Serve over egg noodles and garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve with steamed broccoli.
Tuesday: What a scampi
Make a fast Shrimp Scampi Fettuccine that will wow the family. Saute garlic, and minced shallots if you’ve got ’em, in a mixture of butter and olive oil. Don’t let the garlic go brown; keep stirring. Add peeled shrimp and a few good splashes of white wine (or chicken broth). Let shrimp cook through and serve over hot fettuccine. Green salad on the side.
Wednesday: Rotisserie Chicken
Hail Caesar, pizza that is. Use a rotisserie chicken to make Caesar Salad Pizza. Cover a Boboli pizza crust with two large handfuls of shredded mozzarella. Bake at 350 degrees until cheese melts, about 8 minutes. While pizza is cooking, mix shredded chicken with 8 cups of chopped romaine, 1/3 cup grated Parmesan, croutons and Caesar dressing. Place greens mixture on top of hot pizza, slice and serve.
Thursday: Movie Night
Rent Napoleon Dynamite and learn how not to pronounce quesadilla while you're preparing one. Hint: It's not dill-ah at the end. Mix a can of drained and rinsed black beans, an 8-ounce bag of shredded "taco cheese," 1/2 cup chopped cilantro and 1/2 cup of chopped onion. Use this to make 4 quesadillas on flour tortillas. Set out sour cream, guacamole and salsa. Watermelon wedges can go alongside.
Friday: On the grill
Before you head out to work or errands this morning, toss boneless, skinless chicken breasts into a plastic bag with whatever vinaigrette is languishing in the fridge door. Let them marinate in the fridge. Toss them on the grill tonight, along with halved green peppers and yellow squash plus thick-sliced onions that have been brushed with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. Bring the chicken and veggies to the table on one platter. Serve with rice.

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Comments

[Catherine]

Sometimes, all you need is a little bit of inspiration! This was a great help. I find it is so easy to get stuck in a rut, and not know what to serve for dinner...these suggestions are straight forward, and sound YUM!!! :-)
Thanks for sharing!