Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Summer Food Funk

The food we eat around here is really getting pathetic! Cereal or frozen waffles for breakfast EVERYDAY - hard boiled eggs or cold turkey slices with cottage cheese for lunch and for dinner - well let's just say I'M SICK OF NACHOS!!! On top of that we're consuming so much sugar free KoolAid that I'm seriously contemplating buying stock in Splenda.

For all my pals out there who love to spend time in the kitchen - HELP!!! I'm beyond desperate for some great summmer food ideas. (I'll even consider recipes that have slightly more than 5 ingredients.) Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner - Snacks - I'll take anything you've got!

I'd love to have your suggestions in the comments section so everyone can share. If you don't have a gmail account it's easy and FREE to get one. Just go to http://www.google.com/ and then click on mail to create an account.

18 comments:

KSPARKE said...

Dinner would be easier if you had a husband that got home on time and didn't always have to rush off.

You do a great job and I appreciate it. Someday, I will get home in time to cook dinner--then we'll really have an adventure.

I'd much rather cook than clean.

I love you.

Kevin

Becky Lewis said...

This s from a Mom with 13 children.

Take some tortillas, spread just a tab of piza sauce (I even have used plain tomato paste because it's not too runny)
Get your kids fav toppings, let them put what they want ending with the cheese - BROIL just until cheese is melted. They think they have such a great meal. I have used lots of things, leftovers, even have done the breakfast items. Kids love it.

And by the way, I have been keeping my eye on your cute family. Thanks for the comment, you made Der cry and remember with joy the times he spent with Bishop Parke - WOW!

Brandon and Carly said...

My favorite thing to eat on those "I don't want to cook" days (which is just about every day ;) is breakfast for dinner. I am not very good a making a big breakfast, unless it is a special day. So, my family thinks it is a treat when we have it for dinner! And, seriously, how easy are waffles?

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com said...

Hawaiian Haystacks
2 [10oz] cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup chicken broth
2 cups cooked chicken, cut in pieces

Toppings:
Coconut
Chow mein noodles
Pineapple tidbits
Tomato Slices
Green Peppers
Cheese, grated
Slivered almonds
Mandarin oranges

. Mix together soup, broth and chicken pieces. Heat on stove or in a crock pot.
. Serve on cooked rice with toppings of choice.

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com said...

Bean Casserole
1 large con pork and beans
1 small can lima beans drained
1 can kidney beans
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 cup catsup
1 tbl dry mustard
6 strips bacon

While you are browning meat and onions, mix the remaining ing., then add all together. Put into casserole dish. Cut bacon strips in half and lay on top of casserole. Bake at 350 for 3 to 4 hours uncovered.

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com said...

Mixed Bean Salad
1 can No2 size of each:
French style green beans
Cut green beans
Yellow wax beans
Red Kidney beans

Drain Liquid from each - rinse in cold water and drain.

Dressing
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbl salt
1/2 teasp. pepper
1/2cup salad oil
1/2 cup diced white onion
1/2 cup vinegaqr

Mix all ing. pour over beans. Let set 48 hours for best results. Keep covered and in the refrigerator. Serve over lettuce and tomatoes.

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com said...

Zucchini and Tomatoes
6 med size tomatoes
6 med size zucchini
1 large onion
1/2 teasp. oregano
2 tbl. butter
Salt and Pepper to taste

Mince onion, chop tomatoes, slice zucchini.Melt butter in small saucepan, add veg. and seasoning. Cook until veg. are tender, about 10 mim. over low heat. Sprinkle with cheese if desired. Serves 4

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com said...

Ask me real nice if you can have some bottled peaches.

Chill real good! Serve with toast!

EmmaP said...

Easy Grilled Chicken

boneless, skinless chicken thighs
soy sauce
bottled italian dressing

place chicken in gallon size freezer bag. add equal parts soay sauce & dressing, enough to cover chicken. Let soak about 20 minutes. Grill over ledium heat, turning and brushing with marinade often.

*you can use breasts instead of thighs, but they are a bit drier. also you'll need to marinade a couple of hours.

EmmaP said...

MeatBall Subs

frozen italian meatballs
favorite jar spaghetti sauce
shredded mozarella
hot dog buns or bojillo rolls

Microwave Method: Place desired amount of meatballs in microwave-safe dish; cover. microwave on HIGH according to pkg directions. Add sauce; microwave till sauce is heated through. Serve on bus. Add cheese.

CROCK POT METHOD: A few hours before dinner time, combine frozen meatballs and jar od sauce in crockpot. Heat on LOW. Serve into buns. top with cheese.

My Kids LOVE this dinner!!!

EmmaP said...

CREAMY CHICKEN DINNER (Crock Pot)

4-6 boneless skinless chick breasts
1 can cr of mushroom soup
1 can cr of chicken soup
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 soup can water

Mix all ingredients in crock pot. Cook on HIGH 4 hrs or LOW 7-8 hrs. Serve over rice, mashed potatoes, cooked pasta or biscuits.

EmmaP said...

Easy Cheesy Pigs-In-A-Blankie

1 pkg hotdogs
4 slices American Cheese
1 can refrigerated crescent rolls
1 egg, slightly beaten

For each Cheesy Pig-In-A-Blankie, take hotdog and HALF a slice of cheese and roll up into crescent roll. Place onto cookie sheet. Brush tops of crescent rolls with beaten egg. Bake according to crescent roll pkg directions.

*The brushed egg helps bake evenly, so as to avoid "doughy" crescents with burned bottoms.

EmmaP said...

"Animal Crackers In My Soup"

My kids love tomato soup, made with milk instead of water. Then, instead of saltines, use Animal Crackers. Yum!!!

EmmaP said...

BERRY SOUP

Biscuits (or day old bread)
Fresh Berries
Milk
Sugar (or sugar substitute)

Break up biscuits into bowl. Add handful of fresh berries. Add milk and a little sugar. Yum!

We eat this a lot in the summertime. If we have it for lunch, then I serve it with Ham Roll-Ups.

EmmaP said...

HAM ROLL-UPS

1 pkg "Chives 'n Onion" Crm Cheese
1 pkg Ham (lunch meat)

Spread cream cheese onto ham slice. Roll up and secure with toothpick.

EmmaP said...

Other Quick & Easy Ideas...

BLTs...I buy the big package of pre-cooked bacon from costco. (heat in microwave abt 1 min for crisp bacon). We love to have BLTs in the summer.

Grilled Cheese w/ Bacon...we also make grilled cheese with bacon strips in the middle.

EmmaP said...

Tuna Patties

1 can tuna
1 tbsp soy sauce
6-8 crushed saltines
1 egg, beaten
cornmeal, optional

Mix ingredients in bowl, as you would for meatloaf. Divide tuna mix into balls, and roll lightly in cornmeal. Flatten into patties and fry both sides until golden brown.

Oh - make sure to use a generous amount of non-stick cooking spray.

EmmaP said...

BEAN QUESADILLAS

1 pkg flour tortillas
1 can fat free refried beans
small container sour cream
1 pkg shredded cheese

Line cooking sheet with foil; lightly spray with cooking spray. Take tortilla and spread one half with beans and the other half with sour cream. Top with cheese; fold over in half. Place on baking sheet. Bake about 10 minutes. Cut into wedges before serving.