I have run out of ideas for dinner, I need all the recipes you ladies got please! Bonus points for quick, easy or healthy! I have 2 picky eaters under 4 years old, HELP
Beefy Mac and cheese
Pizza grilled cheese
Pizza tacos
Broccoli chicken Alfredo
Crock pot chicken over mashed potatoes with gravy
Nachos
Pot pies: frozen or refrigerated pie crust + 1 can undiluted cream of (mushroom, chicken, or celery) soup + bag of frozen vegetables + chopped onion + cut up chicken* + instant mashed potatoes and grated Parmesan on top. Takes 15 minutes to assemble, 35-45 minutes In the oven and it’s a complete meal.
*great for leftover bits on rotisserie chicken carcass or other leftover meat, or use hamburger, sausage, (and swap in condensed tomato soup) or no meat.
Goya canned black bean soup over 90-second brown Basmati rice. One of my kids faves. Also vegetarian Indian food packets from the grocery store over the same kind of rice. Ready in minutes. Top with whole or chopped peanuts, cashews, slivered almonds, shredded coconut, or raisins if you like.
I keep a bag of frozen chopped spinach, frozen peas and shredded carrots on hand & toss some in soups, stews, sauces, scrambled eggs, hamburgers, pasta dishes including mac n cheese, and baked goods for extra nutrition.
I put shredded carrots, zucchini, celery, spinach & other veggies in spaghetti sauce for various pasta dishes. Kids won’t notice the difference. More expensive, but you can buy pre-chopped/shredded fresh or frozen vegetables at the grocery store.
Chick peas and other canned beans are great toddler food. So are tofu cubes soaked in broth, apple juice, tomato juice or whatever your kids like. They can feed themselves.
Quiche: 5 eggs + 2 pie crusts + 2/3 cup of cream + 1/2 cup shredded cheese (grate those leftover hard bits in your fridge vs. tossing). Gruyere is traditional, Swiss/Emmenthal is next, but any combination of cheese will do. Add 1 chopped onion, bits of ham, bacon, or sausage, and/or any vegetables your kids will eat. Artichoke hearts, spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, etc., and whatever bits are hanging out in the vegetable drawer. In the oven for 30-45 minutes and it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack.
Plain yogurt with fresh or dried fruits, nuts and maybe a few chocolate chips. Or mix in some honey, syrup or fruit spread.
Puree cooked vegetables in any kind of broth with a bit of butter and cream for soup. No one will know they’re eating vegetables and it’s delicious.
Make thin crepes in an oil sprayed nonstick pan by doubling the liquid in Bisquick pancake recipe. Freeze. Make a white sauce (Bechamel). Add onions, celery, garlic powder, chicken and tarragon. You can even used dried minced onions from the spice section. Add peas if you like. Thaw crepes individually in the microwave for a few seconds (15 or so). Put chicken mixture on it and roll up. Continue with the rest of the crepes and mix. Put end-side down in a greased pan and bake until heated through, about 20-30 minutes. Freezing and thawing the crepes makes them more pliable and easy to roll without breaking.