I have an online recipe box. When I try out a new recipe, and my family goes crazy for it, I save it in my recipe box. When I hit save, a picture of the food pops up. Most of my recipes come from skinny taste, skinny mom, and Emily bites. I also have a healthy food board on pinterest. This helps me a lot, and I don't have to worry if my family will eat it or not...I already know that they love it.

I have a 3-ring binder and a bunch of those plastic sheet covers. When I find a recipe that is a smash hit, I either print it out or make a Xerox copy and put it in the 3-ring binder. I use this binder to plan my weekly meals...PLUS I try one to two brand new recipes each week. If those turn out excellent they go in the binder. The ONLY recipes that make it in there are recipes that are absolute perfection. Normally only one recipe a month makes it...if that.

I found that the new cookbook by Gweneth Paltrow is full of smash hits. However some of them are quite labor intensive, so I've been leaving trying new ones of hers for the weekends.

I have a repertoire. I created mine by sittins down and making a list of things that We all like that are healthy and easy to make. Then I started to categorize until i saw some patterns. We don't have the same thing on the same night, because I try to vary it to allow me to use leftovers effectively (leftover roast chicken becomes chicken fried rice, etc.).

But a least once a week we have seafood (usually salmon, mussels, clams or cod chowder),

One night we have italian (chicken parm, eggplant lasagna, spaghetti squash and alfredo, meatballs and marinara),

One night we have mexican (refried beans, pork tacos and roast root veggies, fajitas, ouevos rancheros)

One night we have something Asian inspired (General Tsau chicken, Korma chicken, Vindaloo, Chicken fried rice)

One night we have something that I think of as "home cooking" (Roast chicken, steak, pot roast, Roast duck/lamb/turkey)

And pretty much every Friday we have soup or salad. This is the only one that happens on the same night each week. That is because I like to use up my leftovers by making them into soup or topping them on a salad, and because DH doesn't believe that a soup or a salad constitutes an entire meal and by Friday we always have leftover meat that he can have alongside his which makes him happy. Kids and I have salad or soup alone or with leftovers if there is enough. Typical soups for us are squash bisque, cream of mushroom, cream of tomato, Broccoli cheddar, Or something that we call "green soup" this is usually any leftover green vegetables from the week such as asparagus broccoli celery spinach pretty much anything green. It gets its flavor from the chicken or duck or turkey stock and cream that go in it along with the pureed veggies. Salad is greens topped with any leftover vegetables or meat or fruit or pretty much anything from the previous week.

The last night each week is either a night when we go out (very rare), order in (rather rare), or I cook something experimental (this is usually what happens).

I like to cook, but I find cooking for my family on a school/work day to be mostly drudgery. Plus, with activities, sports, etc., time is limited. We try to sit down to eat as a family 4/5 weeknights, and we usually eat pretty simply:

hamburgers, baked beans, crudite
sauteed pork tenderloin or boneless chicken thighs in a quick raisin orange sauce, rice, steamed broccoli
black beans & tortillas with fixings
scrambled eggs, steamed cauliflower, warm baguette
grilled skirt steak over salad, with goat cheese (crudite for kids)
salmon filet steamed in foil (takes 20 minutes), rice, peas
egg salad sandwiches, crudite

Also leftovers from weekend, when I have time to cook something fun and fancy--lamb, roast chicken, stews, chilis, soups, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spaghetti
Pesto chicken with sun dried tomatoes
White Enchiladas
Meatloaf
Baked ziti
Tacos
Fajitas (usually chicken)
Chicken dill orzo
Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Chili
Chorizo stew
Lentils and sausage
Grilled flank steak

We usually do take out at least once during the week, and we never cook on Friday or Saturday nights.

Made this today, PP. It was great and ridiculously easy! Definitely adding it to the rotation.

So easy. It's the Martha Stewart one, if anyone else is looking.

Anonymous wrote:love this once a week or so, so easy

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/chicken-with-white-beans-and-tomatoes-00000000049733/index.html

We make that too, and it is yummy! Usually add some kalamata olives, as DD loves those. More of a winter dish though, so we haven't had it for a while. Hmm... maybe when it gets cooler DH can throw that in the oven during DD's soccer practice. Yum!