Easy Meal Ideas

I have some easy meal ideas for you to get started making dinner time less stressful. The key to easy meals is to be organized and have a plan. Not sure how to do this?



I use to spend a lot of time on dinner preparation making sure everything was just right and went together. I would try a lot of new recipes and work hard almost every night. My family would eat my little masterpieces in under 30 minutes and I would look at the kitchen clean up and wonder why I did all that work. Then I realized one day my family would have been just as happy with a simple 15 minute version of dinner. And I would be less stressed out if I had gone the easier route.

Keep your meals simple and follow these easy meal ideas and tips. Then visit some of the pages below for more help on easy meals.

10 Easy Meal Ideas and Tips

1. Have a well stocked and organized kitchen. Everything runs smoother if it is in the right place and you have all ingredients on hand.



2. A weekly or monthly menu plan. A little preparation of what is for dinner or even a simple list will help you be prepared for what is for dinner each night. Think about it once and then forget about planning for awhile.



3. Simplify your meals don't spent 2 hours on one meal.



4. Keep a record of what meals were a success.



5. Think about what's for dinner the night before, what you need to unthaw, prep and get ready for the next day.



6. Even if you are extremely busy try to sit down and eat together as a family every night. 



7. Freeze a few meals for busy nights.



8. Have fresh vegetables and fruits on hand for healthy side dishes, salads or fruit platters.



9. Organize your recipes. Make a 3 ring binder or recipe cards of at least 14 of your families favorite meals. This will be a great starting point for easy meal planning.



10. After grocery shopping, prepare your meat and vegetables for the week. Some vegetables you can't prep ahead but celery and carrots can be cut into sticks or chopped and placed in water. Just drain off water or take out what you need when you are ready. Lettuce can be washed, spun dry, wrapped in paper towels and placed in a ziploc baggie. Cut meat in chunks or strips whatever you will need for the week. You can also marinade meat, place in baggies and freeze.

Help for Easy Family Meals

Do you ever have to deal with spilled juice or a ketchup stain from dinner? Check out these stain removal tips to make life a little easier!

Easy Meal Ideas and Recipes

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken

1/4 Cup of honey
1/4 Cup of Dijon style mustard
1 tsp dried basil
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Combine honey and mustard in a baking casserole dish. Stir in basil. Coat chicken breasts in sauce on both sides. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until chicken is well done.

Baked Fish

1/2 Cup stuffing mix, crushed 
2 Tablespoons butter, melted
4 frozen fish portions
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Meanwhile. Spray or lightly grease 13x9 casserole dish. Add stuffing to a shallow bowl. Stir in melted butter and combine. Coat both sides of fish stuffing crumbs. Lay fish in casserole dish. Drizzle with lemon juice. Place the remaining stuffing over the top of the fish. Bake in oven for 18-20 minutes until fish flakes with fork.

Monterey Chicken

chicken with barbecue sauce and turkey bacon

4 boneless chicken breast
1/4 Cup Barbecue sauce
4 slices bacon
1 Cup Monterey jack and cheddar cheese, shredded
In a casserole dish place chicken breasts. Brush chicken with barbecue sauce, add cheese and allow to melt. Place a cooked bacon on top.

I've also cooked the chicken on a George Foremon grill and it has turned out even better.

Chili Mac Supper

1 Cup of uncooked macaroni
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 (11.25 oz.) can chili beef soup
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1/2 Cup of cheddar cheese, shredded



Cook pasta according to directions. Meanwhile ground beef and stir in chili powder. Drain and add into soup pot. Stir in tomatoes, chili beef soup and cooked macaroni. Warm and serve each bowl of chili mac with cheddar cheese.

Makes 4 servings

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