Simple Meal Ideas the Family will Love

It can be difficult to think of what to cook for dinner for your family. When you are short of time it’s handy to have a few quick meal suggestions readily available.

Chicken and Rice

Put chicken pieces and rice in a large pot with chopped vegetables and chicken stock. Cook it in the oven for a few hours. For variety, use a can of chicken noodle soup or a packet of dirty rice.

Omelet

For one or two people a quick meal is an omelet. Add cheese, mushrooms, peppers or onions for extra flavor.  Alternatively cook scrambled eggs which are very quick to cook and then sprinkle with cheese.

Beef Stew

Cut up cubes of beef into a large pot, add onions, carrots, celery and potatoes. Add enough liquid so it won’t get dry and cook it on warm for about 4 hours, or put it in a crock pot.

Ravioli

Ravioli can be bought fresh, frozen or in cans. It’s quick to cook and can be served with pasta sauce or cheese.

Fish

You can buy plain fish or fish in breadcrumbs and cook it in the oven and serve with rice and vegetables. If you have a rice cooker with a vegetable steamer it’s easy to cook the rice and vegetables together in one pot.

Pizza

Pizza can be delivered, bought frozen or made fresh. For a quick homemade pizza base you can cut French bread in half lengthwise, add toppings and cook.

Macaroni Cheese

Start with a box of macaroni cheese and add hot dog sausages or cubes of other meat. Or make your own macaroni cheese, sprinkle cheese on top and bake to make the topping crispy.

Sandwiches

Although usually thought of as a snack rather than a meal, sandwiches are very quick to make and most people have something in their fridge they can tuck between two slices of bread. I like to have meat and cheese sandwiches and then microwave or cook in the sandwich toaster.

Think ahead and freeze extra

One day you may be short of time, but another day you may have time to cook. So make double and freeze half, then on days when you are short of time you have your own freezer to microwave dinners.

Remember the important part of a family meal is the togetherness and not the food. Eat together regularly and it will help build family relationships.

Tina Razzell has been a Pleasanton resident for 15 years and teaches classes on simplifying your life.