Dinner Ideas
Caution, these are not Martha Stewart inspired! :)




As a young bride I had so many lofty goals. I would cook dinner from scratch every night, my house would be immaculate, and it would be so easy. However, Donna Reed I am not. (I would have said Carol Brady but she had Alice and let's face it if you have an Alice you have everything you need to succeed in my goals; it's like having your own wife. đŸ˜‰)

No, I like any woman have days where dinner is at the end of a very, very long day. You know the kind of day I'm talking about. The house is not feeling the love of a good cleaning, the kids have fought all day and all I want to do is crawl in bed and sleep for 12 hours. No such luck because dinner has to be made.

On those kind of days I have products I keep on hand that make a good dinner in less than 20 minutes. Here are a few products that I use to help with dinner on days that have drained me. These are better than fast food and they are fast to make. 

Arrabiata Sauce from Trader Joe's


Smokin hot hubby HATES jarred pasta sauce but when I first served him this he had no idea. This is what I make with this...
  • Cook pasta according to the package
  • While that cooks, place in a skillet some hot Italian sausage (out of the casing) to brown. (You can use mild but we like the heat) 
  • Pour in the sauce to heat through with the sausage 
  • Drain pasta then add to sauce and top with some fresh grated Parmesan.  
  • Serve with a salad and voila - dinner is served. 


Trader Joe's Peach Salsa (pictured), Trader Joe's Roasted garlic salsa, or any brand Green Salsa Verde. 


This I use when I know it's going to be a busy day from the moment I wake up in the morning. 
  • Place 4-5 frozen or thawed boneless skinless chicken breasts in a crockpot that has been sprayed with cooking spray
  • Pour the salsa of your choice on top 
  • Place on low for 8-10 hours
  • Then shred

When you are ready you can serve over rice with a vegetable on the side. 
Or heat up some refried beans (add a few tablespoons of butter for extra flavor) 
Heat up tortillas and serve as a chicken burrito or taco. 

Saffron Road Tikka Masala Sauce 
 

  • Place 4-6 chopped chicken breasts in a skillet with a little bit of oil on medium to medium-high heat. (Pieces of chicken should be bite size)
  • Add salt and pepper 
  • While that cooks, start your rice. I prefer jasmine rice with this dish. 
  • When the chicken is cooked through and browning add the sauce and simmer for 10-15 mins. 
  • While that simmers finish up the rice and a vegetable. Serve either over the rice or on the side of it. 


There you have it: three easy meals that will help you give your family a fast, delicious hot meal that they will enjoy. 

I know life can get overwhelming. I hope this helps spark some inspiration on cooking dinner. Don't over-complicate and for goodness sakes don't beat yourself up for not being Martha Stewart. Don't strive for perfection because that is impossible. Strive for excellence; it's the only way to go. 

Have a great week and look for my blog this weekend. The recipe will make you feel like a gourmet cook without being over-complicated. It is one of Smokin hot hubby's favorites. 

Till then, enjoy your week.
Lar 


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