Skip the takeout menu. On your next grocery store trip stock up on pantry staples so you’ll be able to whip up these meals in minutes.
Perfect for those nights when time is of the essence.
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There are certain recipes I hesitate to even call cooking when I make them. This Chicken Parmesan Casserole recipe is one of them. Between us, let’s call it “assembly” but when your mother-in-law comes over, we’ll call it something you’ve slaved over a hot stove for all day!
I promise your secret is safe with me and I also promise, cooking dinner doesn’t get much easier than this.
A great stir fry recipe that uses brown sugar and molasses, giving it a subtle sweetness that goes well with the chicken, vegetables and rice noodles. A perfect weeknight meal. Everything can be made in advance and put together in the pan at the last minute for re-heating.
Is there anything more comforting than a steaming bowl of soup on a grey and frigid day? Some late winter days are so devoid of colour, with the grey sky matching the grey grubby snow on the ground, that I find myself cooking the most brightly coloured dishes I can think of. This tomato soup fits the bill: it's warming and comforting, and the colour is restful to my winter-weary eyes.
This is my version of my beloved grandma's homemade soup. I prefer my soups to be thick and smooth, like bisques, and so I use crushed tomatoes to get that texture. My version uses cashew cream, but if nuts are not an option for you, I have included nut-free variations. This tomato soup is incredibly simple to throw together, and a single taste of it transports me back to my grandma's kitchen, the most warming and comforting place in the world.
It seems whenever I turn on the news these days, the first story is about the frigidly cold weather, followed by advice on staying warm. When the wind chill factor dips below minus thirty, there is not much that can tempt me to leave the warmth of my house, even if the fridge is almost empty and the cupboards are nearly bare.
This recipe was born on one of those days, when I couldn't face going outside, let alone carrying grocery bags in the cold. I had a roll of polenta and a few canned goods in the cupboard, and a zucchini in the fridge—in other words, the makings for a warming, flavourful dinner.
Polenta is not something I cook with often, but when I do, I wonder why I don't use it more frequently. It's scrumptious with a savoury sauce, and so simple to prepare. This meal is gluten-free, vegan, and very filling and satisfying, not to mention quick to throw together and inexpensive. It's a perfect winter weeknight meal!
If you have a vegetarian in your midst, planning holiday dinners can seem tricky, especially when the focal point of the meal is largely meat based; turkey or ham with lots of gravy is the usual tradition. While most of us vegetarians are used to making meals out of side dishes on such occasions, it’s nice to have a protein-rich alternative as well.
This recipe is very tasty, even for the meat eaters—my husband, for example, loves it and he’s someone who tends to think a meatless meal is an incomplete meal. The gravy is flavourful and the pecan lentil balls are even good as leftovers! Don’t be daunted by the long list of ingredients—the fibre-and-protein-packed lentil balls are not hard to put together and can be made ahead of time so that all you need to do is put them in the oven on the big day.
Looking for a fun dinner your kids will love? Try this dish—it is a combination of spaghetti and lasagna. You can make it into a pie shape or individual cupcakes. The best part is it is very easy to make, can be made in advance and even frozen. Or, if you are rushing home from work it can be made in under an hour. Try cooking the spaghetti noodles in the morning if you have time, throw it together at the last second and bake for 20-30 minutes. Easy as pie!
One of the first things I learned to make as young adult was tuna casserole. Creamy comfort food at its best, I'd whip up a batch now and then in my tiny toaster oven basement suite for dinner when the weather is cold. All these years later, the same recipe is a throwback favourite in my house. One day I only had one can of soup on hand, and so I used some plain yogurt to stretch it further and we were really pleased with the results. Creamy and full of flavour, it not only lightened up the dish and cut down on the sodium but made it a little healthier.
When we first started including the kids in our take-out Chinese food order we always started with Chicken Fried Rice. While we have since expanded their palate to include many more items, Chicken Fried Rice still remains a family favourite. But on busy weeknight dinners sometimes it's too complicated and too time consuming to dig out the take-out menu and actually coordinate what everyone wants to order so when I have leftover chicken in the fridge I will often whip up this homemade version.
Once long ago, I worked in an elementary school where a class read the story "Stone Soup" and then made this recipe. Probably one of the easiest soup recipes you can make, the children all gobbled it up and asked for more. We were a little stunned. It's simple and homey, good with some crusty buns and a tossed salad. You can add more vegetables if you like but it's still really good as is. Top the bowl with a dollop of sour cream and you're good to go.
The cupboards are almost bare and you haven't had time to shop. What's a busy mom to do? Check in your cupboards, I'm sure you have some spaghetti, a can of tomatoes, and some tuna. Throw it all together and you have a tasty, quick dinner that doesn't break the bank. You can omit the olives if you like, but the saltiness is nice. Grate some fresh parmesan over top and serve with a crunchy salad and fresh bread to sop up the juices.
Chicken pot pie is one of those dishes everyone loves. In our family it's always a winner at dinner time. The ultimate comfort food it arrives at the table like a delicious wrapped gift. Beautifully scored golden pie crust that when cut open reveals a delicious meal-in-a-dish that warms the soul.
This homemade version means you know exactly what is going into it. Fresh vegetables, chicken, and soup. Your kids will absolutely love it and I you'll be asking yourself how you ever bought the store-bought variety to begin with. Magnifique!
If you're like me, you're busy, which means you're constantly on the look-out for quick, easy, make-ahead recipes that your family will actually eat. I like this meatloaf recipe because it is all of that and freezes well too.
I have prepared this meatloaf, thrown it in a pan and left it covered in the fridge all day then baked it when I got home. I've also made it the night before and then sliced and re-heated in the microwave. Either way it always tastes great.
If I need a fast dinner to make for my children I make them chicken drumsticks. The easiest way to prepare them—and more preferred by my children—is with salt, garlic, and onion powder only. However, if your family is a bit more adventurous try them with the sauce that I've included. Either way you will feel good about feeding your family a healthy dinner that took you no time at all.
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