burned out cook needs dinner ideas

[Anonymous]

I generally love to cook but am soooo burned out at the moment. Sick of coming up with dinner ideas.

I am off work today so would really like to make the effort to come up with something interesting for dinner, but not too time-intensive. DH is a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy.

I told him to eat a late lunch so we can eat a late dinner tonight in while watching baseball -- so I still have several hours to come up with something!

The cupboards are pretty bare at the moment, so I don't mind making a run to the grocery store, but here are some things that we already have in the kitchen:

boneless/skinless chicken breasts

ground beef

penne pasta

red new potatoes

panko crumbs

applesauce

raisins

pepperoni

italian dressing and ranch dressing

various cheese: blue cheese crumbles, pineapple cream cheese, sliced cheddar, parmesan cheese

[Anonymous]

Everyone I make this for asks for the recipe. You'll need to get a couple of things, but it's worth it.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/spanish-style-chicken-and-dumplings-recipe/index.html

[Anonymous]

Hmm I would make a recipe that takes a whole since you have the luxury of time. Ideas below.
Potato gratin. Slice super thin, make a bechamel sauce. Layer the potatoes and sauce in a Pyrex and bake.
I would google "potato gratin" and find a recipe that makes sense to you.
For the main: chicken scallopine. Cut chicken breasts into thin layers (2 per breast). Beat with tenderizing mallet a little. Salt and pepper and quickly fry in a very hot pan in a little oil.

With beef and potatoes:
shepherds pie

Make tiny meatballs and bake with penne and bechamel sauce (www.smittenkitchen.com has a recipe for baked rigatoni and tiny meatballs).

[Anonymous]

My first thought looking at your list was also Shepherd's pie.

One of our favorites which we don't make often enough (since it takes more time than we usually have to make dinner) is Meatloaf. My wife is furloughed so made her meatloaf (we each have our own recipe and both are quite good) for us on Monday along with a rice pilaf and salad and it was great. I usually make mine with mashed or roasted potatoes and salad. I'd make meatloaf and roasted red new potatoes.

If you want easy, this recipe is pretty good for a Salsa Chicken: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=197691

I've never tried it, but two people have told me this recipe is good and you can use the chicken you have: http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/savory-crescent-chicken-squares/8d5b35f0-69ef-4a69-bbaa-d4c18fbbe696

[Anonymous]

I would do rosemary parmesan potatoes.

then I'd probably bake the chicken breasts with ranch on top, then melt some cheddar slices on top of each. Finally, I would sautee the panko in melted butter and sprinkle it on top of the chicken.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for nudging me out of my rut! I'm going with the chicken crescent squares. I remember making them years ago and really enjoyed them; it will be a nice surprise for DH!