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Health & Fitness

What the $%! should I make for dinner? You're not alone!

Need dinner ideas? Use what you have!

I am standing in front of my open refrigerator contemplating that very same question more often then you may think!  I take stock....I have eggs, pasta, spinach, onions, and cheese.  I kknow what you're thinking. Call your local take out place, STAT, cause there's a dinner emergency on hand! WRONG! I am the queen of creating new recipes with what's in my house, even in a pinch! I'm going to let you in on a few of my secrets.  Now, don't get me wrong.  There are plenty of take out nights in my home, we are lovers of delivery too. Believe me!  But I try (as hard as I can) to cook a well balanced meal on most nights that sometimes requires a lot of creativity and a little patience.  Ok, I'm lying.  A lot of patience.  I've been known to "create" a recipe that I think is going to be the next masterpiece to add to my collection, where halfway through cooking I decided it smelled "nasty" and threw the entire thing away before anyone even got a taste.  ANYWAY, put on your thinking caps people because I will now wave my magic wand and help you create delcious, quick, and EASY dinners to put on your table!  You too, can be the dinner hero like I am (I prefer a tiara and to be called "princess") but hey, I'll take hero anyday.

What I made for dinner with the aforementioned ingredients was a simple frittata (pancake style omlette) that everyone enjoyed.  Relatively healthy, I used what I had, and I didn't have to hit the panic button for a dinner delivery emergency!  I sauteed some cooked pasta with the spinach and onions, then added some beaten eggs to the pan.  I placed the whole pan (oven safe of course!) into the oven at 350 degrees and baked it for about 20 minutes.  When done, I let it cool for a few minutes then sliced it up "pizza style" a.k.a. triangles, sprinkled some cheese on top, and dinner was served!  It may not have been my most gourmet moment, but taking stock of what you have and using it to create a meal for your family is very satisfying!   Most of what I cook is rated "E" for easy, meaning I don't spend more then 35 minutes on my meals from start to finish!  What I REALLY wanted to type was "30 minute meals" but I don't feel like getting sued for infringement by a lovely famous tv chef who people tell me I look like...but I won't go there.  Point is?  It's simple to do once you get the hang of it!

Once you realize it doesn't take a lot of time or money to make a healthy and saitsfying dinner for your family tons of new possibilities will dawn on you! Open your pantry and your freezer.  Have some ground turkey, chili sauce and cranberry sauce?  Make sweet and sour meatballs!   Have cornflakes, eggs, and boneless chicken?  Cornflake crusted chicken fingers! Black beans, onions, cheese, and taco shells?  Vegetarian tacos!  You get the idea!  The amazing thing about food is that the possibilies are endless.  You may have some failures amongst your creations but I'm willing to bet that most will be delicious. My one and only NO NO?  Never use expired food in a last ditch attempt to "use up" something in your house.  Can we say food poisoning?  BAD IDEA! 

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Last point! Most recipes can be tweaked to ensure that special dietary requirements are met.  Kosher?  Try soy cheese in a recipe.  Don't eat red meat?  Try ground turkey or chicken.  Want lowfat?  Use egg whites in place of whole eggs in just about anything.  It works, I promise!  With just a little planning ahead, and a trip to the grocery store, you will rarely ever ask "What the $%! should I make for dinner?"  And I do give you permission to order delivery.  Even princess's like me need a break sometimes!

 

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