Figuring out what’s for dinner–contest!
Sometimes I wish I were a movie star with my own personal chef. I don’t mind the cooking–it’s the menu planning that drives me insane. If someone would just tell me what to make for dinner, I can execute the plan. But inevitably I come home and waffle about what sounds good to eat. Or we get stuck in a rut of the same-old, same-old dinners. :blahblah:
Now I could get creative and start rummaging through gourmet cookbooks. But more often than not, gourmet foods are downright strange. And, I hate to say it, but I don’t normally keep goat cheese and pine nuts in my cupboard. Macaroni and cheese, yep.
My husband is frightened when I begin looking for new recipes. My success rate hasn’t been that good. But I seem to be a glutton for punishment, and I keep trying.
So, I am going to host a quickie contest. You have 10 hours to figure out what I should cook for dinner tonight. You don’t have to post a recipe–you can just say: spaghetti. (Unfortunately, my family is sick to death of spaghetti, so that one’s out.)
What am I giving away? Holiday chocolates (probably Snickers Santas or something along those lines) and a free book of your choice. 
Just post a comment, offering a suggestion. Enter as many times as you like! Bring a friend! (And yes, my secret hope is that you folks will help me plan dinner for the next month or so.) 
Michelle posted in Writing @ 7:50 am | Viewed 2283 times
Kelly Says:
Mashed potatoes - quick and easy, throw some chives and garlic in there, you’re all good.
Sautee some onions and throw in some beef strips. Pepper them (if you have peppercorn, all the better).
Green beans with butter.
Now I’m hungry.
Kelly Says:
Or if you want something fun - Roadkill Potatoes. Actually, they’re called Roadside potatoes, but I keep screwing it up so we changed the name.
Basically take two packages of hashbrowns, add a little milk to moisten, cut up an onion (I like green onion but any works), add salt & pepper. (I also use a steak spice for extra flavor). Grate some cheese and mix it all together in a roaster pan. Put little bits of butter over the top to melt down into it, then grate some more cheese and put it over top. Stick it in the oven for 350 for I think 30 mins.
Now I’m REALLY hungry.
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
Home fries and steak with some salad on the side
Soup and toast
Omelet
Eggs (fried, scrambled, poached) with veggies, salad, coleslaw on the side
Club sandwich
pierogies (you can get them frozen at the grocery store, you cook them in a pan and add a little sour cream :banana:)
Chicken salad
Baked potato with cheese or butter or sour cream for a topping, with chicken, fish, beef and salad on the side
Lasagna (Again you can get this frozen at the grocery store) just pop it into the oven and voila.
Fish and salad
Sloppy Joes
Nachos
Burritos
Tacos
Rice and chicken or steak with your choice of veggies
macaroni (cook it plain then put it in a pot and add cheese to the top and warm it in the oven
Sheppard’s Pie
Chicken Pot Pie
Meat Pie
Hot chicken or turkey sandwhich
Hamburgers
Pizza
Stir Fry
Hot dogs
Flavored noodles with veggies and a bit of chicken, fish, or meat
Robyn Says:
We like do-it-yourself burritos. Put beans, meat, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, and salsas out in separate bowls. Warm the tortillas, and everyone can build their own burritos. If pressed for time you can buy most of the veggies pre-chopped, open a can of refried beans and use a packaged rice mix.
If I’m doing a same-old, same-old blah dinner I’ll dress it up with a different side dish or dessert.
Robyn Says:
Oh- and don’t enter me in the contest. I’ve won a couple of times.
Melissa Says:
Chili with cinnamon rolls - trust me, it’s YUM.
Homemade vegetable soup
Courtney Says:
Here are a few of my fast dinner suggestions:
Chili
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 packet of italian dressing seasoning
Chopped onion
1 pound of ground beef
Chop the onion and saute it. Then add the beef and brown. Toss everything together in a big saucepan and warm through. Top with grated cheddar.
Mom’s meatloaf
1 pound of ground beef
1 egg
1 can of Campbell’s vegetable soup, drained
2 pieces of bread, torn up
Italian breadcrumbs
Mix everything but the breadcrumbs well, press into a loaf pan and top with the breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.
Also, I LOVE using my crockpot in the winter months. There are some terrific cookbooks out there, especially the Fix it and forget it series and some great recipes on the web.
Amy Says:
Chili! That’s what we’re having. And I’m in the same kind of rut over here. Have you tried an internet search for recipes? It’s much better than spending money on a big pretty gourmet, pain-in-the-butt cookbook.
Michelle Says:
Thanks to all who helped me out! Bonnie is going to be my winner.
I’m making steak tonight. Good idea! Can you e-mail me your address, please?
Kelly–I definitely want to try those hash browns. Mmmm…
You guys definitely made me hungry!
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
Thanks Michelle
Larissa Says:
I do this really quick thing for my husband and son…cut up chicken breasts into strips, cook them lightly in a frying pan, add a jar of Pace picante sauce, and simmer for 15-25 minutes. Serve with tortillas, cheese, and sour cream.
Danica/Dream Says:
These are good suggestions. I needed this earlier. We went with leftover tortellini soup.