Easy Weeknight Dinners

If you suffer from a “What should we have for dinner?” dilemma when dinnertime rolls around, here are a few tips to help you plan easy weeknight meals.

1.    Keep your pantry and freezer stocked with the building blocks of fast meals: different kinds of pasta, rice, frozen vegetables and fruit, and quick-cooking meats, such as chicken tenders, pork chops, fish, and ground beef.

2.    Freeze pre-cut or pre-cooked chicken, already cooked brown rice, onions and green peppers you have previously chopped and frozen.

3.    Decide in the morning what meat you may want for dinner, take it from the freezer, and place it in the fridge to slowly defrost during the day so it is ready to cook in the evening.

4.    Planning a list of possible meals for the week before you do your weekly shopping can make cooking more rewarding and easy because you can be sure you will have all the ingredients on hand for the recipes you want to make. This practice can help you avoid special trips to the grocery store or pizza ordered because you can't think of anything to fix.

The following easy weeknight meals will ensure stress-free and delicious dinnertimes.

Tomato Spiral

When you want to get dinner on the table pronto with very little effort, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better dish than pasta. Many of us think “spaghetti and red sauce” when we think of pasta, but here is a much faster and very different meatless pasta meal you can have on the table in 20 minutes or less! Serves 2-3.

4 oz. uncooked spiral pasta

1 1/4 c. diced fresh tomatoes

1 1/2 tsp. dried basil (or to taste)

1/4 c. olive oil

1 1/2 tsp. cider vinegar

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

3 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, combine tomatoes and basil in serving bowl; set aside. In a small bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper. Drain pasta; add to tomatoes. Drizzle with oil mixture and toss to coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately. 2-3 servings.

Pear and Cheddar Chickenwiches

It is hard to beat sandwiches for a quick and almost effortless meal, but it is easy to get in a rut and serve the same type over and over. When you are ready to try something fresh and different, here is the recipe for you: fruit and chicken on toasted bread for a delicious sandwich combination. Makes 2 tasty servings.

4 slices rye, raisin, or multi-grain bread, toasted

honey mustard to taste

4 oz. thinly sliced oven-roasted or smoked chicken breasts

1 ripe pear or apple, thinly sliced

2 oz. (about 1/2 c.) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Place toasted bread slices on ungreased cookie sheet. Spread with mustard. Layer evenly with chicken and pear or apple slices (use only as many slices as needed to cover.) Sprinkle with cheese. Broil 4 to 6 inches from heat for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Fruity Dessert

Just because you're short on energy or time doesn't mean you have to go without dessert. What could be easier than to mix a few fruits and add some coconut? The results are surprisingly delicious. Try using other favorite canned fruits, or mix several fresh fruits (such as mango and kiwi) together for a new taste sensation. This recipe can be made in a jiffy to satisfy your sweet cravings in a healthy way. Serves 2.

1 can mandarin oranges, drained

1 banana, sliced

1/2 cup crushed pineapple

1/2 c. shredded coconut

orange juice or pineapple juice to moisten

Mix fruits together in small bowl. Sprinkle with juice and then top with coconut. Spoon into two dessert dishes (or goblets for a more elegant presentation.)

No-Recipe Ideas

Some ideas, like the two below, are so easy you don't need a recipe. Just check to see that you have all the necessary ingredients before you begin.

Two-Bean Chili

Sauté an onion and some garlic in a saucepan; add a can each of black beans, red kidney beans, and diced tomatoes (tomatoes with green chilies are even better). Sprinkle with chili powder, paprika, salt and black pepper, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with shredded cheese and sour cream.

Fish Tacos

Pan-fry fish fillets or follow the cooking directions on a package of frozen fish sticks. Cut into chunks and pile into whole wheat tortillas with shredded lettuce, Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese, chopped tomatoes, salsa, and sour cream.

 - By Arlene Bascom