Discussions

Disclaimer - I know this is a "first world problem" and most of the world has it much worse than we do right now, so if you have nothing nice to contribute, please just move along.  
 
I feel like our family eats the same thing day after day. We have a few "standy-by" meals that we always default to. While I want to try other to meals more than ever right now for a little variety, with the combo of working from home, having the kids in school at home, and not being able to run to the grocery store very often, I don't have the desire or energy to try new/adventurous/out of the ordinary meals.  
 
But, I'm guessing there are probably tons of easy, delicious, kid-friendly meals that I am just not thinking of that would use common ingredients most of us have at home (or can get on our next grocery trip out).  
 
What are some simple, easy, delicious, or just different ideas you can share for us to try?  
 
And yes, I know I can Google easy meal ideas, but thought it might be a little more of light-hearted topic than what we normally see.  
 
Thanks in advance for any ideas!!  
 
Edited by Idcp, 2020-04-12 23:23:51

Make Kraft Dinner as per box directions, add a can of mushroom soup, no water, and a can of flaked tuna and mixed together. You can eat it just like that sometimes I add cooked onions and celery and corn, or put in a casserole dish and bake with cheese on top

- Sweet and sour hamburger (cook ground beef, make some sweet and sour sauce and pour it over the cooked beef, let simmer so the flavour soaks in): pairs well with rice.  
 
- Build-your-own taco salad  
 
- Spaghetti and meat sauce. If you’re feeling fancy, bake it in the oven with cheese on top.  
 
- Flat bread pizzas with bbq sauce, chicken, veggies, cheese.

My kids love pizza buns. I spiced up the norm and used English muffins for them.  
 
Also anytime they get chips for supper is a treat... I make up a healthy seven-layer dip and it’s gone so quick.

Fish burgers are fast. They are basically canned salmon, breadcrumbs, & egg, maybe a few spices like sage or other fish-friendly spices. Fry in a pan, place on a bun with lettuce & tartar sauce. Cut up potatoes into fries, coat with oil, bake for 20 min, turning at 10. Salt.

- Macaroni soup. The ideal ratio is 1 box of mac & cheese to 1 can of tomato soup. Prepare each according to package directions, and then scoop some of each into your bowl to serve.  
 
- Sheet pan dinners. Whatever veggies you have, whatever proteins you have will generally work. Chop up your veggies, toss in EVOO & spices (whatever you have works), nestle your protein (sausauges and chicken thights both work well) in among the veggies, then bake until everything's cooked.  
 
- Soups of all kinds. Soups are easy, some are quick but many can be prepared in advance, and you can often use up bits of whatever you have laying around. Make no-knead bread to go with it, which is quick and easy labour-wise but you have to make it early in the day.

Thanks for the ideas so far everyone! I'll be able to try a couple ideas with the stuff I have at home, so that's great! My husband and kids will be thankful for the variety lol  
 
More ideas are always welcome

I found an app called supercook that lets you plug in the ingredients/staples you’ve got on hand and it will suggest recipes for meals/snacks/desserts you could make with those. Haven’t tried it out yet, but thought it might be good for using up what I have on hand & cutting down on trips to the grocery store.

We do tacos and quesadillas constantly! You can do different proteins in them and any veggies on hand! You can have sour cream and salsa to dip, guacamole, ranch, honey dill, etc. Sometimes they take a pizza type flair, sometimes they have a Mediterranean chicken flair. Totally depends on what I have for extra veggies and what protein leftovers I’m trying to use!

There is a Facebook one called The Official Quarantine Cookbook. It’s pretty good to see all the different ideas.

You can also look up www.welcometoclaraskitchen.com or find this great lady's shows on YouTube. She had lived through the depression and was a content lady, full of wisdom & a great sense of humor.  
 
If nothing else, she is fun to watch. ;)