What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

I try to cook at least 4-5 times each week- one night we'll do take out and one night, leftovers. But I feel like I make the same 4 or 5 dishes every week, and I can't branch out too much with anything fancy because I work full time and by the time I get home, the kids are hungry and we are hungry and we are all tired and we have to rush through dinner to get playtime and bathtime in before bed! Even if I were a SAHM, I think I'd have the same issue. HELP!

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

become best friends with a crock pot...

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

We do quick meals. We make our own pizzas on whole wheat flat bread, jar sauce, and some toppings. Salads w/ pre cooked chicken. Fish cooks so quick w/ some veggies thrown in oven and cous cous. Rice pasta I love b/c you boil for a min then turn off for 20 and it is done. We also barbecue all year. I prep DH grills. Taco night is quick. Breakfast for dinner too!

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

I sometimes prepare trays of food ahead of time and freeze them (tray of baked ziti, lasagna, chick parm or eggplant parm. etc). Comes in handy when you're dead tired. Then I'll make a vegetable or salad while it's cooking in the oven. I also use the crockpot as well for some dinners. We'll have taco night as well which is fast and easy. I suggest you make some meals on the weekend that you can freeze and take out during the week for dinner. I remember working full time and making dinner for the family and it's not easy I know.

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

I had the same issue - until I joined Dream Dinners.

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

I've recently started cooking dinner for the night after. So we aren't rushing to cook and eat. The leftovers Dh and I take for lunch of the currents night meal. When I buy family pack of meat, chicken I make a few things of each meat. Example I bought ground turkey. tomorrow I will make burgers, meatballs and just cook ground for taco night. Meatballs I will make heros/ with pasta. So that alone is three dinners/lunch. The veggies I use the steam bags and those are done quick.

I have a problem with the carb side. I seem to do the same things over and over again. Dh has to have a carb. I rather do without it.

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

I am a WOHM and cook 4-5 times a week too but I make VERY quick, basic meals and try to do crockpot on Mondays (prep on Sundays). DD is 7 mos and that's still her witching hour so its impossible to do much but it is what it is.

My main staples:
Beef Stew (crockpot)
Beef Tacos
Chicken/black bean fajitas
Turkey Chili
Turkey Meatball heroes

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

we crock pot it, DH cooks or I make easy meals...tacos, pork chops or chicken breasts, hamburgers, etc. We also alwaysorder in atleast one night (pizza) and then sometimes a 2nd night (chinese, or chilis takeout, etc)

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

Planning ahead. I plan out all of our meals for the week on SUnday....do the food shopping for the week, and then one of us makes the meals. My husband works from home, so that helps a lot. But the meals are usually quick, easy meals, so I can make them when I get home from work if he's had a busy day.

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

Just figured I would throw this out there.....
Rachael Ray is coming out with a new show called Week in a Day...its on the CookingChannel

Here is the synopsis

TUNE IN: Saturdays at 3pm ET
If you've ever wished there were an easier and better way to get dinner on the table every night, you need Rachael Ray's Week in a Day. The woman who taught America how to make a meal in 30 minutes is back with an even bigger promise: one day of cooking, up to five days of eating! In every episode, Rachael will show you five meals you can put together in a single day. So when you come home from a hard day of work, the hard work in the kitchen's already done. Using the recipes, strategies, and tips from Week in a Day, you can eat well every night - even on those days when the clock is working against you

Hope it helps......



ETA Here is the website for anyone interested....you can find the recipes on it.....

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/rachael-rays-week-in-a-day/index.html

Message edited 1/23/2011 12:21:33 PM.

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

I make a lot of hearty soups during the day (chilli, Chicken, white bean escarole, black bean, veal shank tomato) than I only have to add a veggie/starch later on. They usually last me 2 days. On Sunday I usually make a big "tray" dish Lasagna, eggplant parm, ziti that lasts me at least 2/3 nights. I don't mind eating the same thing twice, my husband sometimes complains, so I have my freezer stocked with Trader Joe's meals like gnocchi, chic fried rice, ravioli in beef broth, pierogies ect that he will throw on himself and its done in less than 10 mins. Once a week we have shrimp (frozen I drefrost it like 10 mins beforehand) and risotto with asparagus (another TJ's frozen rice package and its delish!)
I'll admit I get into a rut of making the same thing, going to the supermarket bores me and I end up buying the same things each week. I try and change it up a bit by going to Trader Joes, sometimes they have some inspirational meal/veggies/meat that I wouldn't even think of. This week I picked up a bunch of asian stuff (edamame, chopped cabbage salad, goiza chic and veggie dumplings and a soy/ginger sauce) plan on making this one night this week.

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

I'm a SAHM but I have a 16.5 month old & a 6 month old. I do simple things but since DH & I are on a healthier kick, we do not do takeout unless it is a weekend. Staples in our house

baked chicken with veggies
turkey meatloaf
turkey meatballs
chicken quesadillas
crockpot items
stir-fry with precooked chicken
eggs

None of my meals take more then 20-30 minutes unless it is in the crockpot

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

Re: What on earth do you make for dinner during the week and how on earth do you have the time?

Message edited 1/24/2011 8:07:33 PM.