These are two of my favorite pantry recipes:

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/red-lentil-soup-recipe.html (red lentils, brown rice, stock, onion, spices, and it's awesome)

http://www.food.com/recipe/creamy-chickpea-and-tahini-casserole-56818 (my husband's favorite meal - rice, chickpeas, tahini, lemon, canned tomatoes - I usually leave out the onion).

Both of these are better leftover the next day. I usually make the soup the day before we plan to eat it. This one is also really good: http://www.budgetbytes.com/2014/01/vegetable-polenta-casserole/. You can sub in whatever veggies are around.

OP here, love that cilantro pesto! I'm going to try everything everyone has suggested so far. I knew I would get a fresh take on things here.

breakfast quinoa:
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/recipe-finder/cooking-with-quinoa-00412000073996/page23.html

potato gratin:
http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/classic_potato_gratin.aspx

potato or pasta salad with cilantro pesto:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/fabulous-cilantro-pesto/

Anonymous wrote:I love this recipe. Maybe you have most of the ingredients on hand? http://www.bhg.com/recipe/beans/two-bean-tamale-pie/

This looks really good and different!

I love this recipe. Maybe you have most of the ingredients on hand? http://www.bhg.com/recipe/beans/two-bean-tamale-pie/

Thanks! I did google and found one good idea with beans, potato, and then you make a curry sauce, but I need to figure out a different flavor besides curry with the canned tomatoes because my kids won't eat that. Maybe some caramelized onions and mushrooms.

But you see what I mean? It's like idea, idea, blah, whatever. My brain just refuses to want to put these ingredients together.

Sauce with the canned tomatoes and onion and pasta.

Potato pancakes with the potato, onion and eggs.

Or, google

Help! I really need to eat down what is in my pantry (and freezer) and not buy new stuff. I can think of recipes in general but when it comes to putting something together I am hopeless. I have everything: beans, canned tomatoes and sauces, pastas, quinoa, onions, potatoes, eggs, cheese and some frozen veggies. Lots of cilantro. Any ideas?