Family dinners?…….

July 8, 2009 — dealwithitsimply

Our family has been quite busy with baseball, instrument practices and a new job. The first thing to go is great family dinners. When I was a kid my mom always seemed to have dinner on the table by 5pm. In our home lately you are lucky if you eat let alone together. We try not to run through the drive thru for $1 meals but it is tempting so I don’t hear those four little words “Mom, what’s for dinner?” I am on the search for quick and easy meals. Last night we had Hot dogs, yes just hot dogs!

I like casseroles and one pot dinners. My husband likes to cook amazing meals, but they take a lot of time and he usually cooks on the weekends. Here are some ideas I need to remember.

Crockpot cooking is a great way to have a meal when you get home from work.
Using your leftovers- I hate wasting leftovers and by using them you are adding extra to your budget.
Old stand by meals like grilled cheese and tomato soup.
make extra ingredients for other meals. brown extra meat or cook extra rice for a future meal.
cooking at home recipe sites

I need to get organized with meal planning I have been so busy with family and work our family dinners are lax. another thing to get in order.

Any help would be appreciated so it isn’t easier to do this and waste my money, Candy

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Posted in Families Coping, My Thoughts. 6 Comments »

Mary in Toledo Says:
July 8, 2009 at 7:43 am

One thing I do when I have to get the weeks meals ready is to cook on Sunday for the week. I plan the meals and cook the meats, potatoes, etc and then put them in the fridge for the week. I buy a bunch of ground meat and cook it up, portion it out, and freeze the portions until I need them. Same thing with chicken, pork, etc. I then have quick meals in the freezer for those times when I do not have time to cook. Remember breakfast for dinner is a great thing too! My kids love it!

smitsda1 Says:
July 9, 2009 at 3:13 am

Back in the day when our boys were younger, I used to pick out a lovely fully cooked ham & asked the meat dept. to chip/shave it. It doubled or tripled the amount of meat if you use it right. Then I’d have a big bowl of cole slaw made from things from the garden… using Mom’s slaw dressing recipe:4 Tbl sugar, 7 Tbl white vinegar & 1 1/2 c. mayo… OF if using apple cider vinegar: 5 Tbl. sugar, 5 Tbl vinegar & 1 1/2 cups mayo.

I’d start out with 1 batch of slaw dressing & make more when I’d see how much was needed… saved $ big time doing it that way. I’d make it up the evening ahead as the longer slaw sits, the better it tastes! Haven’t had that meal since the boys played baseball back in the 1970′s/80′s but it still sounds divine!

smitsda1 Says:
July 9, 2009 at 3:15 am

Forgot to mention that the chipped/shaved ham freezes exceptionally well & thaws quickly. I’d freeze it in 1 serving packs that could be used for all kinds of meals.

smitsda1 Says:
July 9, 2009 at 3:30 am

My husband just reminded me about the zucchini dish we both like. When the zuch’s come in full force just slice them fairly thin & cook up with onions, peppers (hot or sweet), garlic & whatever else you want to toss in. Use just enough oil to keep from burning. Hubsters likes grape tomatoes and/or cabbage cooked in with his but I’m more of a purist. Hubsters prefers his over something like thin spaghetti pasta. & he’ll top with cottage cheese or mozarella. I like mine over a bit of brown rice or just as is. Hubsters made up a batch last summer when things were at their peak & froze it for himself to eat thru the winter. It froze exceptionally well & he said the taste was great.