Shortcuts for Getting Dinner on the Table, A Few Meals

Dinner continues to be a hard part of my work week every week. The best thing I have done over the years is to meal plan, order groceries then cut/clean all fruits and veggies every Sunday. If I do those things, the work week is A LOT better. I'm talking I cut the red pepper that I need for shrimp and grits on Wednesday night. I also clean/cut fruit for kid's lunches. It just makes life a lot smoother.

Another thing that works for me is to make a more complicated meal for Sunday night. Something that sounds good but takes too long during the week. And I hate to be a debbie downer but if we have spaghetti, that is not an easy meal to me. It takes too many dishes! So if we do pasta, I usually do it on Sunday. 

I also like to make a meal for Monday on Sunday evening. Even better if we have leftovers for Tuesday. If I can make it to Wednesday, I can wing Wednesday from the freezer then get my act together for a Thursday meal. 

Just a few tips on how I'm surviving. 

Meatball Subs - got the $1 french bread loaf from Wal-Mart and used this recipe to make meatballs (made these earlier in the day when I had time). Sliced the bread lengthwise, hollowed out the bread, sliced the meatballs and put them on the bread. Drizzled Rao's marinara over and topped with provolone. Kevin said this one was a winner! I served with green beans on the side.

Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas - I made these on a Sunday night to have on Monday before a baseball game. 

Shrimp and Grits - I already had everything chopped and ready for this. Also used quick cooking grits. Took me about 15-20 minutes to get this on the table including defrosting the shrimp. 

Easy is the name of my game. Oh, another thing I always do - we have Mexican food every week one of the nights. I make the taco meat early in the morning while I'm doing the kid's breakfast. Makes dinner very easy when you have the meat already done. Win!