Q&A: I am looking for tried and tested recipes / ideas for family dinners.?
Question by jackie r: I am looking for tried and tested recipes / ideas for family dinners.?
I love to cook but after 30 years of thinking ‘whats for dinner?’ it’s easier to cook, than to decide what to cook…..!!! Don’t you have a couple of family favourite you could share….I’m not looking for showy entertaining food.
Best answer:
Answer by chris w
I make this about once a month, its become a favorite in my house – I use broccoli instead of mixed vege’s.
CHICKEN POT PIE
1 can veg-all mixed vegetables
1 can cream of potato soup
1 can cream chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1 or 2 large chicken breast cut into chunks
salt and pepper to taste
2 9-inch deep dish unbaked pie crust
Saute chicken in 2 tablespoons olive oil for about 3 minute until light brown, add chicken to the first 4 ingredients.
Mix together and pour into pie crust. Put top crust on pie, cut 4 slits in the crust. Brush with beaten egg wash.
Bake on a cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.
I am making this casserole tonight – I use velveeta most of the time.
CORNED BEEF CASSEROLE
1 (6 oz.) pkg. macaroni, cooked & drained
12 oz. can corned beef, shredded
1 c. milk
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/4 lb. diced cheddar cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
Combine all ingredients and pour into a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup bread crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
What do you think? Answer below!
Chicken fajitas
Ingredients
2 small chicken breasts, cut into pieces
1/8 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp mild chilli powder
1/8 tsp cumin (optional)
1.25g/¼tsp oregano
1 tbsp plus 1 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 onion, peeled and sliced thinly
½ small red pepper, de-seeded and sliced thinly
For the tomato salsa:
2 tsp olive oil
¼ green chilli, sliced finely
½ onion, peeled and chopped
¼ small green pepper, de-seeded and diced
1 small clove garlic
2.5ml/½ tsp red wine vinegar
1 x 200g/7oz can chopped tomatoes
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp parsley
8 small flour tortillas
75g/3oz iceburg lettuce, shredded
75g/3oz cheddar cheese, grated
3 tbsp cream
Method
1. Toss the chicken pieces in the paprika, chilli powder, cumin and oregano.
2. Heat 1 tsp of the oil in a pan and sauté the chicken, stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon.
3. Add the remaining 1 tbsp of oil and sauté the garlic, onion and red pepper for 5 minutes.
4. Return the chicken to the pan, season to taste and heat through.
5. To make the tomato salsa, heat the oil and fry the chilli, onion, pepper and garlic for about 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and cook for about 20 seconds. Add the chopped tomatoes, salt and pepper and parsley and simmer, uncovered, for about 15 minutes.
6. To assemble, heat the tortillas in the microwave according to the packet instructions. Then place some of the chicken mixture along the centre of each tortilla, top with some tomato salsa, shredded lettuce, grated cheese and a little sour cream and roll up.
I use recipezaar.com for “tried and true” new recipes. Others that have tried the recipe rate it and give their input. There are also areas within the site with menues using the recipes.
When I become stuck on what to cook I just ask a co-woker ” what sounds good to you for supper tonight?” Naturally there will be the jokster in the buch to weed out but that aside I’ve found it a great inspiration.
Layered Mexican Casserole
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1 11 oz. can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 1/2 cups salsa
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 8 oz. container sour cream
• 5 cups tortilla chips, divided
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Brown meat in large skillet; drain. Add corn and salsa; mix well. Cook until heated through, stirring occasionally. Set aside. Mix cottage cheese and sour cream.
• Layer 2 cups of the chips, 1/2 of the meat mixture, 3/4 cup of the cheddar cheese and 1/2 of the cottage cheese mixture in a 2-quart casserole dish. Repeat layers of chips, meat and cottage cheese.
• Bake 35 minutes. Insert remaining chips around edge of casserole; top with remaining 3/4 cup cheddar cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
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Chicken Enchilada Skillet
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut bite-sized
• 1 14.5 oz. can chicken broth
• 1/4 cup ranch dressing
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 6 flour tortillas, cut into small pieces
• 1 cup shredded four cheese
• 1/2 cup salsa
• Heat oil in large deep skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 7 minutes or until cooked through; stirring occasionally.
• Mix broth, dressing and flour until well blended; gradually add to chicken, stirring constantly. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 3 minutes. Add tortillas; stir to combine.
• Sprinkle with cheese; cover. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with salsa.
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Sloppy-Joes
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cups mushrooms, chopped
• 5 tomatoes, diced
• 2 Tbls all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup chili sauce (Heinz)
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 8 whole-wheat hamburger buns (toasted)
Crumble beef into a large nonstick skillet; cook over medium heat until it starts to sizzle, about 1 minute. Add onion and mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the vegetables are soft and the moisture has evaporated, 8-10 minutes. Add tomatoes and flour; stir to combine. Stir in water, vinegar, chili sauce and ketchup and bring to a simmer, stirring often. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened and the onion is very tender, 8-10 minutes. Serve warm on buns.
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Baked Omelet Roll
• 6 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Optional:
salsa
bacon bits
ham
mushrooms
peppers
onions
• Place eggs and milk in a blender. Add the flour, salt and pepper; cover and process until smooth. Pour into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Bake at 450 degrees F for 20 minutes or until eggs are set.
• Sprinkle with cheese. Roll up omelet in pan, starting with a short side. Place with seam side down on a serving platter. Cut into slices.
• If desired, when adding the cheese you may also add salsa, bacon bits, ham, mushrooms, peppers, onions or anything else you would like in your omelet!
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Grilled Raspberry Chicken
• 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup frozen raspberries, thawed
• 1 cup raspberry vinaigrette
• 1/4 cup raspberry vodka (optional)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped mint leaves (optional)
• Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
• Fresh raspberries, for garnish (optional)
Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry with paper towels. Place chicken in a large zip-top bag. Add raspberries, vinaigrette, vodka (if using) and chopped mint. Squeeze air out and seal bag. Gently massage the bag to mash raspberries. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 4 hours.
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Place chicken breasts on the grill and cook for 4 to 6 minutes per side. Remove from grill and place on serving platter. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs and fresh raspberries if so desired.
when im in doubt of what to cook i’ll just make thai style steam fish to eat with simple garlic fried rice.
you’ll need slices of fish (individualy wrap with aluminum foil) put in garlic ginger onions any vegetables lemon grass lime leaves chicken stock lemon juice) bake or steam for 25 minutes.
as for the garlic fried rice you’ll need cold rice garlic ginger eggs salt and pepper.
Wow, Isn’t that the age old question .. What can I make for dinner.
My favorite tried and true dinner is
Shepard’s Pie and Chicken and Dumplings.
I know its not very original but my family always likes it.
Another new one we have is Pita Bread tacos.
Same boring tacos stuffed into Pitas. It was like a whole new meal invented.
Here’s a short list of some of our faves not mentioned.
Split pea soup
Hamburger gravy and mashed potato’s or biscuits
Corn Beef pasties
Salmon patties
Stir fry beef and broccoli
I definitely have to star you, I’m always running out of a new twist for an old routine.
If you like vinegar, then you will like Spanish Pork Chops (no idea why they’re call Spanish)
4 – 6 pork chops
1 1/2 – 2 cups cider vinegar
4 – 6 onion slices
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
Fennel seeds
Ketchup
Pre-heat oven to 350.
Pour vinegar in bottom of baking pan.
Place pork chops in pan.
Add spices to pork chops.
Place a slice of onion on each pork chop.
Pour some ketchup over each onion slice.
Bake for 1 hour.
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Here’s a family favorite that I’m making tomorrow night:
Oriental Hamburger Rice Casserole
1 cup uncooked rice
1.5 lb hamburger
2 cups diced celery (about 4 stalks)
3 small chopped onions
2 cups boiling water
1 can golden mushroom soup
1/3 cup soy sauce
Pre-heat oven to 350.
Brown hamburger, onions and celery; Drain off grease.
In a small bowl, whisk together the soup and soy sauce.
Turn hamburger mixture into a 3 qt casserole dish (2.5 qt works)
Mix in rice.
Blend in soup mixture.
Add boiling water and stir.
Cover. Bake for 1 hour.
Hey there.
Try some German cooking. The site below site belongs to my friend. I have tried the potato salad, the goulash and a few others on there and they are all good.
Hey, you stole my line. You know, the young kids favorite line is “what’re you doing?” Mine is “what’s for dinner?” And actually, I think I’ve got about 10 years on you.
I do have some great suggestions for you. The first one is to get out the ol’ crock pot. What a wonderful invention and life-saver it is. Put it all in the pot and go have a great day, tea with the girls, golf whatever. But, make it fun. You deserve it after cooking for 30 years. Make sure you keep the basics on hand: a good assortment of fresh vegetables, rice, beans, pasta and frozen meats. Make it a practice to “fill” the crock pot every morning so you can go enjoy your day.
Here are a couple of web sites for the specific good ol’ family favorite recipes you requested (mine): http://crockpotmeals.wordpress.com
http://great-crock-pot-meals.weebly.com
Here’s my second suggestion: Keep a nice assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables, pasta, nuts and seeds on hand. I buy a variety of pasta – shapes, colors, etc. I mix it and store it in a large container. I cook it and freeze it in smaller containerss. I make wonderful one meal pasta salads mixing the variety of “stuff”. I love pasta salad with any combination of the following: mandarin oranges, apples, walnuts, celery, black beans,onions, garlic, other spices. And then some diced grilled chicken or beef added is great. The combination is endless. The secret is not a lot of pasta but heaps of “stuff.” But, make lots because everyone will love it.
Now then, one last suggestion: go to http://how-to-make-wine.weebly.com Make wine in 7 easy steps. Kick back, relax. Have a wonderful glass of easy to make home made wine and make dinner an occasion for building new memories. Bon appetite.