What’s For Dinner?

I promise we’ll get back to our regularly scheduled fitness topic soon (I’ve been trying to get my hubby to help me video a vlog for a while).

I don’t know about you but one of the biggest pains of my week is planning the weeks menu.  I wrote an post last month about how crazy our week can be which is why planning dinner options is so tough.  There are days where we don’t get home till almost 8 which means I have 20 minutes to get dinner on the table.

On Sunday, I sit down and scour my brain, the Internet and all my cookbooks for dinner options.  Some of my favorite cookbooks are from Pampered Chef, Betty Crocker and Family Circle.  There are weeks where I feel like getting crazy and will find something new but usually fall back on one of my guaranteed stand by options.  This week I’m trying a new Chicken Noodle Casserole in the February Better Homes and Garden.

Then I make the grocery list and off we go.  Usually it’s a family affair because S thinks I don’t “get anything good” (i.e. junk food) so he and E escort me.  This week, S was especially bad, by throwing a couple items into the cart that I think, if you look closely, you can find.

We usually eat pretty well.  Most of our meals consist of a lean protein (chicken), veggies (steamed broccoli, salad, green beans) and a start (couscous).

I thought I’d share my list of stand by dinner options in case you’re looking for a change.  Let me know if you have any ideas I can add.  My criteria is that I can prep and cook in 20-30 min and unfortunately, we don’t have that sophisticated of a palette, so we have to keep it simple.

Main Dish:

• Italian Beef (this is the easiest crock pot recipe, add beef, water and Louie’s P&R seasoning packet, when we come home, it’s ready).
• Flank Steak marinated in McCormick cracked peppercorn
• Pasta Roma (Vegetarian,Whole grain pasta (always) and lots of cheese)
• Turkey Meatballs, bocconcini and orecchiette
• Grilled Chicken Pita with cucumber sauce
• Pesto Chicken Pasta
• Pot Roast with Carrots, Potatoes and Celery
• Italian Turkey Sausage, peppers and pasta
• Hamburgers
• Sloppy Joe
• Unstuffed Geen Peppers
• Spaghetti
• Grilled Pork Chops
• Steak and Potato Spinach Salad
• Panko Breaded Chicken Strips

Side Dishes:

• Italian Salad 
• Spinach Salad
• Steamed Broccoli with lemon juice
• Roasted Rosemary Potatoes
• Sauteed Broccoli, carrots and pine nuts
• Tomato, Cucumber Salad
• Pasta Salad
• Tater Tots (Told you we weren’t sophisticated)
• Flash Steamed Green Beans
• Green Beans with Almonds
• Couscous 
• Brown Rice

Ok, I think that’s about it. So what’s on your stand-by list?  How do you plan your meals?  Any favorite recipes or meal sites?  I’d love to know.  If you want any detailed recipes above, let me know through comments and I’ll provide.  Happy cooking!!

Had to share one of my favorite grocery store memories.  This is when E just learned to walk.  He was so proud.