Use these as inspiration....

If you're like me, you're always looking for dinner ideas. Sometimes I feel creative, sometimes I feel nutritious, sometimes I feel lazy, but regardless of how I feel, my crew is always ready to eat around 4:30 (yes, i know it's early, we're not 80, just on the schedule of a 4 and 5 year old) and I better be too. So, here are some ideas for dinner that you may have forgotten about.....

1. Sloppy Joes...manwich or check this out for yummy and easy!
2. Chicken Parmesan...this is a great recipe to substitute with, for example, I've made this a number of times and have yet to use fresh parsley and have always used garlic powder instead of garlic salt (no special reason, it's just all I have)
3. Frito Pie....Hello! I love me some frito pie. Who knows why....memories from way back when, but I've found that my husband and boys both love it too. Simple, ground beef, chili beans, corn (prepared frozen or canned...learned this from a friend), and I add some chili seasoning (of course, you can go all out and make chili if you want). Layer frito chips, meat mixture, fiesta blend, cheddar, etc. cheese, a dollop of sour cream and you're good to go!
4. Tilapia....I've started making this weekly for my fam and all plates are CLEAN, every time. Once thawed, this fish cooks so fast! I pair it with rice and steamed veggies or fresh fruit salad and they gobble, gobble. Ways I've cooked it....brushed with olive oil and topped with McCormick Parmesan and Herb sprinkly stuff (in the spice aisle), cooked at 350 for 20 minutes, using this recipe and pairing it with Rice a Roni Parmesan and Romano Rice instead of the polenta, and this recipe subbing milk for buttermilk (who keeps buttermilk on hand?) and increasing the hot sauce by a little.
5. Chicken Cordon Bleu....sounds fancy, but this is a snap. I just use normal parmesan cheese instead of the fancy one they suggested and good ole fashioned ham instead of prosciutto. Once you finish, you'll be surprised it went SO fast!
6. Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches...my husband has a mental block about cold sandwiches (something about eating them too much growing up), BUT if I heat it up, he's good to go. I always wrap them in foil and pop them in the oven at 350 or whatever for 10 minutes or so and they're ready to munch. Most lately, I used croissants instead of regular bread and WOW did those get rave reviews. The side possibilities for this one are endless....
7. Quick Corn Chowder...okay, YUM, love this, eats great the first time and warms up excellent. I top ours with cheese.
8. Chicken Tortilla Soup...got this from a friend, quick stuff. You just dump it all in, chicken breasts cut up (I've used rotisserie chickie too and she uses canned chicken...just pick your poison), 1 can family size chicken and rice, 1 can rotel (I use mild for little mouths), 1 can ranch style beans, 1 can black beans drained, 1 can corn drained, some water like fill your family size can up and dump that in (I lost my recipe and just eye it. I know for those of who NEED recipes, this may sound risky, but I promise you can do it.). Garnish with cheese, broken tortilla chips, and I add sour cream (love that cream!). Good stuff maynard!
9. Tacos or Taco Salad...Can't get any more flexible than this one. Use chicken or beef or ground turkey. Top with whatever you have (lettuce, cheese, olivers, green peppers, onions, salsa, the pantry's the limit) on whatever you have (corn tortillas, flour tortillas, corn chips). I have found that adding a can of drained black beans to my meat stretches the meat, adds healthy protein, and leaves more for lunches.
10. Loaded Baked Potato...bake you some spuds and top with cheese, sour cream, chives, butter, even some already fixed chopped beef or pork from the refrigerated section of your local grocer, OR! diced ham. They even make some fancy Potato Toppin sprinkly things (probably in the spice aisle) if that suits you.

I've talked to enough of us to know that most of us desire to feed our families well, SO take these ideas and run! If you have little munchkinheads pulling on you every way, most of these recipes have something they can help with even if it's stirring the breading to get all the spices mixed while you're cutting up the chicken. Give 'em some plates, napkins, and silverware and let them set the table. Or, give them a cloth with water and dish soap and let them "clean the floor". Whatever the task, they'll love it and you'll have some moments to get the chow ready.