Really Fast and Easy Meals

[Lesley]

Jane - my deck is bare! What an odd winter!

[jane]

absolutely, Les. We have had 62 inches of snowfall, beating the 125 year old record of 57 inches. It has been so strange. As far as I can remember, January has had a few 50 degree days, which has nearly melted the snow and given us a chance to run outside and soak up rays. Not this year. I haven't seen the grass since mid November. We have had nice temps the past 2 days though, so it is finally melting. Record floods are expected along the river basins. Glad we don't still own that other house, yikes.

[funnygirl]

And I will be finding a grill next week, when the annual is paid out~ Looking forward to learning to use it with your help.

[jane]

Sue, you don't know how to grill? Did your exDH always do it and took it with him, or have you truly never used one? Makes life much simpler when it's hot out, that way the kitchen doesn't heat up. Get a good grilling cookbook at your library, or several, and read about them.

We may use ours tonight, it's supposed to be over 40 degrees today!

[funnygirl]

Jane - Jim used to do all the grilling, and also took the one we had (trade off for the patio furnitute).

[Esmeralda]

esme that does sound good. Did you dip in olive oil before the bread crumbs, or just pour the oil on after bread crumbs were stuck to the chicken?

I put the olive oil on after the bread crumbs.

[ruffages]

Such a thankless chore, being the meal planner. I'm trying to find my grill, deck still has 14 or so inches of snow on it...

We use our grill year round. During the winter we just shovel a path to the grill, knock any snow off the grill and fire that baby up!

SueS...Might I suggest getting an inexpensive gas grill. Easy to light easy to operate and control the flame and easy to use in any weather.

Carolyn

[Nancy]

We use our grill several times a week - in the summer. It's charcoal - so winter weather is not so conducive for it. Purely DH's deal - I'm grill disabled.

[funnygirl]

Carolyn - yep. I definately want a gas grill. I am so kicking myself that we never had the natural gas stubbed out to the patio (first time home buyers). I am sure I could probably get it extended to my patio - it would be about 20 - 25 feet from my stove. That is on the maybe someday list after a whole bunch of other stuff.

[funnygirl]

REading through this gave me some ideas, but now that I am cooking for a crowd (my parents & kids) I could use some ideas.
Here are some challenges:

one super picky kid
one picky adult (he is not big on cheese or pasta - oh and soup & sandwiches are not a meal for dinner)

I can only do pasta once a week. Because I don't get home until late (5:30 or so), I need ideas for easy meals. I tried last week with a roasted Costco chicken. I was very dismayed to cut into it and find it was pink

Also, did grilled chicken last night, and spagetti and meatballs in the last week.

[Linda]

Sue - would crockpot meals work for you? Possibly you could even prepare them the evening before and then pop in the crock-pot in the morning.

I like the Fix it and Forget books - we have the diabetic one - and also http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/ for recipes. Although I'll be the first to admit, I don't cater to picky eaters...so I don't know if crockpot dinners would fit your needs

[SherrieM.]

Pizza? I do mini pizzas sometimes: Just buy the smaller pre-made dough and then let them pick their toppings and bake.

Tacos? Enchiladas?

How do they feel about salads? When it is really hot, sometimes the kids and I just make salads. That doesn't fly with Greg, but it does work when it is just me and the kids.