Sunday, March 2, 2014

Quick Easy Dinner Recipes For Family Nights

By Lisa Williamson


One of the most challenging things for all parents is to come up with a creative menu to feed themselves and their children. Because some children can be fussy eaters, parents have to get even more creative. There are some great solutions for quick easy dinner recipes for family gatherings, that can become favorites in an instant.

The key is to discover the underlying common denominator of ingredients that appeals to each member of the family. In most cases, kids love cheese, ground meat, and pasta. In a combination, they are sure to satisfy everyone.

All it takes is a little bit of sauteing of the meat. From there, one could add tomato juice to create a quick and easy meat sauce to top spaghetti or macaroni. Another variation could be to add a little bit of cream to the recipe for a rose sauce. Still, change the spaghetti for pasta that could be more exciting, like penne. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top and bake in the oven. Another way to add more texture and flavor is to blend ricotta cheese or cream cheese into the mix, or switching the ground beef with pork or turkey.

Many kids enjoy a good Mexican meal that can be made right from home with fresh ingredients. Saute the ground meat of choice, making it spicy. Once cooked, place it into either wraps or tortillas. Top this with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and grated mozzarella or cheddar cheese. It's affordable and fast, and the parent knows what the children are eating.

Just these three ingredients can be the main ingredients in an endless amount of recipes that are sure to put a smile on the children's faces. Another benefit is the cleanup, as most of these can be prepared in just a single pan or pot. So, one doesn't have to spend all night cleaning up.

A macaroni and cheese dish will also go a long way, and it can be created from scratch with ease, and in no time. There's no reason to buy packaged goods that have questionable ingredients when they can be made at home. Melt some real cheddar cheese and add to it some milk, and voila, a guaranteed success.

Potatoes and peas are also welcomed by most children. Children love peas because they are generally sweet, and parents like them because they are nutritious. A quick and easy meal with these two ingredients are made in one pot in less than 45 minutes. Heat the olive oil, add the frozen peas, sliced carrots, diced potatoes, dill and tomato juice. Cook over medium heat for about half an hour, or until the peas are tender.

Forget stressing over mealtime. If parents plan ahead, it can all be smooth sailing. This is true even of the evenings when children have lots of homework, activities, or you have to work late. In addition to all this, grocery shopping becomes simpler, and all the ingredients are on hand. Just a little organization and some creative recipes like the ones above means serving supper at supper time and knowing the kids are getting their crucial nutrients.




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