We all have those days when we are struggling to just stay afloat. Sometimes there is just so much to do that we can hardly keep up. These are the days we are also so zapped of energy that we don’t want to even think about what’s for dinner. Take-out just seems the perfect answer to our problems. I have definitely been in this situation, and have not always taken the high road. Instead, I must admit that there have been a few times where I chose fatty, pricey, and convenient foods over staying at home for dinner.
The good thing for busy cooks is that there is a better way. The real trick to keep your family away from fast food on those busy days is to be prepared. Think of the reasons you have opted for fast food in the past. For me, the most common reason was that I hadn’t gone grocery shopping for a while and the only meal ideas that I could come up with would just take too much time to whip up on a busy day. Once I understood what these reasons were, I could plan ahead for these types of situations. Planning ahead simply means that you always have ingredients on-hand for a super-fast meal for your family. Need some recipe ideas? Here are a couple of my quick dinner ideas. They take about as much time to make as it would take to drive to a fast-food restaurant and wait for your meal. Also, the ingredients are easy to have on hand because you can store them for a long time. Visit the forum to share your own fast meals.
Enchilada-Style Burritos
Warm refried beans in the microwave. Fill tortillas with beans and cheese then wrap into a burrito. Place burritos side-by-side in a baking dish and cover with canned enchilada sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 5-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Top with sour cream and serve with chips and salsa.
Biscuit Pizzas
Flatten individual pieces of refrigerated biscuit dough into mini crusts. Top with spaghetti sauce and cheese. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet in 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes, or until dough is golden around edges and lightly cooked on the bottom. While pizzas are cooking, make a simple salad. Kids love these!