Meal Ideas? I am running out of meals to fix for my family

Question

. I find myself fixing the same things over and over again. We are mail fish, turkey, and chicken eaters as far as meats. Any ideas

Answer 1

Grilled chicken with your favorite marinade, I LOVE Chiavetta's or Cornell chicken. As a side dish do "potatoes on the grill"--layer 2 sheets of foil for each person, add 3 slices of butter, and slice potatoes thinly and add to each "packet" about one large potato. You can add onions sliced thinly as well if you want. Top with 3 more "slices" (1 teaspoon?) of butter and close packet by folding the foil. These take about the same amount of time to cook as the chicken, just add them to the outer edges of the grill and grill the chicken in the middle, rotating the foil packets when you turn the chicken over. Don't worry if the taters come out a bit crispy, my kids like them best that way!! Not sure if they are done? Open a packet and stick a fork in--if the fork goes into the taters easily they are cooked well enough!! Enjoy!!

Answer 2

I understand, I get in these routine ruts too.  But, with all of these recipe sites popping up all over the place, and the Food Network becoming a major TV network, I really don't understand your lack of interest in trying something new.  With that, maybe you're overloaded with ideas and want to know where to start the change?  Maybe you could start with the basic cooking procedure? Instead of baking your favorite dish, break it down and grill it.  Instead of cooking for hours for a complex dish in the oven or slow cooker,  chop it up and saute it, same seasonings, quicker cook time and so much of a fresher taste!

Love Chicken?  Try a different seasoning instead of the same 'ole recipe, there are complex seasonings out there that do alot of the work for you, all you have to do is try something new!  Fish is the most fun to play with, some many cooking techniques come to mind, but the seasonings have such a major roll, you could possibly ask your fish mongers whats' new and exciting in the seasoning world, if anybody knows fish, they do!  Sometimes, going back to the basics can refresh your palatte, butter, S&P, olive oil and one seasoning, served up with a starch and veggie.

Tired of the same 'ole protein, veggie and starch being served 12, 4 and 7 o'clock?  Put that protein on top of those sauteed veggies and use the starch as a side item, Or use that starch to create a coating for your fish and highlight your freshly steamed veggies (more veggies at night with less starch promotes healthier eating)  Or use your veggies as the topping for your protein and with a small side of starch (fried rice) over your side salad. Speaking of Salad, you could also put your protein over a large dinner salad, without the starch, believe me, they won't miss it, or if you must have potatoes or rice, sprinkle them on top of your dinner sized salad and protein on top.  

So many ideas, so little time..........but I hope I've given you some starter ideas to involke some new ideas wondering around in your mind, that I know you have, then just are worn out. Good Luck creating some exciting new dishes.  If you need more ideas, please don't hestitate to e-mail me, I would be honored to help.  

Answer 3

Lobster Mornay.

Ingredients (serves 4)

2 (about 1.8kg) cooked whole lobsters, halved lengthways, cleaned

50g butter

40g (1/4 cup) plain flour

80ml (1/3 cup) dry white wine

410ml (1 2/3 cups) warm milk

40g (1/2 cup) coarsely grated cheddar

Salt & ground white pepper

2T finely chopped fresh chives

Potato wedges and mixed green salad leaves, to serve

Method

Remove meat from lobster shells. Coarsely chop and set aside until required. Place the lobster shells, cut-side up, in a large roasting pan. Preheat grill on high.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until foaming. Add the flour and cook, stirring with a flat-edged wooden spoon, for 1-2 minutes or until mixture bubbles and begins to come away from the side of the pan. Remove from heat.

Gradually add the wine, whisking constantly with a wire balloon whisk until mixture is smooth. Gradually add milk, whisking constantly until smooth and combined. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 3-4 minutes or until sauce boils, thickens and coats the back of the spoon. Add the cheese and stir until cheese melts. Remove from heat. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the chives and lobster meat.

Spoon lobster mixture evenly among shells. Cook under preheated grill, about 6cm from the heat source, for 4 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from heat.

Divide lobster among serving plates and serve immediately with potato wedges and mixed green salad leaves.

Answer 4

Garlic Chicken Pasta

1lb chicken b*****s

1 box of angel hair pasta

2 cloves minced garlic

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp butter or margarine

1tsp garlic powder

Sautee the chicken over medium high heat in the olive oil until cooked through. Boil the pasta according to the directions on the box. When chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and cut into bite sized chunks. Lower the heat to medium-low and add the garlic to the pan and re-add the chicken once it is cut. Drain the cooked pasta and add to the pan along with the butter and garlic powder. Mix thoroughly and serve with crusty bread and a salad.

Answer 5

Chicken and dumplings.

Orange Chicken and white rice ( trader joes )

Heres a good sight

:)

Answer 6

arroz con pollo  (mexican rice with chicken) really easy just make mexican rice and add shredded bits of baked chicken

Answer 7

You can buy (or borrow) a whole book of Rachel Ray's 30 minute meals. This book is amazing, filled with quick-fix recipes that are all so different.  

Answer 8

Make a stir fry its healthy and good, or lasagna, or better yet have ur husband grill some steaks with baked taters and mac and cheese and peas!!! now im hungry! lol

Answer 9

make chicken and rice...we get tired of chicken but not this..place the about of chicken b*****s you eat in a glass pan...you need 1 can of cream of mushroom and 1 cup of rice (we use brown rice)..and you add water so that it covers the rice..then cook for about an hour...

Answer 10

get some recipes from websites,

all recipes.com

and foodgeeks.com are good because they rate the recipe with stars

1 being not so good to 5 being great.

there are a ton of websites for this.

you can also get restaurant recipes from copykat.com

Answer 11

lasagna

steak

macarroni

ribs

meatballs

potato

pasta

tuna

hope these help :)

Answer 12

pasta bake

laksa

meatballs

cabonara

pad thai

pizza chicken (drumsticks with melted cheese on them and tomato sauce)

enchiladas

snitzel

tuna patties

or just take a walk down the asian isle in the supermarket and pick up a meal paste and get the recipe off the back. they all taste good so be adventurous ( be careful with the hot ones if youve got kids)

cheers!

Answer 13

First select the protein choice for the day: fish, turkey, chicken, etc.

Then choose from the rotation of starches: potato, rice, pasta, etc.

Lastly match up with a selection of veggie colour groups.

You can also rotate the style of cooking, by varying sauces & spices:

BBQ, Italian, Asian, Southern, Chinese, Indian, etc.

Answer 14

I have several recipes on my blog, and even have a category for 'Meal Ideas' - I have recipes for pecan chicken, bbq chicken with bacon & cheese, garlic pepper chicken, etc.

Hope you can find something you can use!