Dinner Ideas - Reading,PA

For special occassions I try to make my husband meals he likes even if they aren't super fancy or difficult to make. Some of his favorites are pot roast, spaghetti with either meatballs or a mix of shrimp and sausage, steak smothered in onions, peppers and mushrooms and served with potatoes and grilled zucchini and squash, stuffed peppers and stuffed cabbage.

I can't find my recipe for stuffed peppers but used this one I found on the internet as a guide when I made them for my husband on Valentine's day.

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

1 lb. ground chuck
1 c. chopped onion
1 c. chopped celery
2 tsp. chili powder (did not use)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
8 oz. diced tomatoes, drained
8 oz. tomato soup (used 2 cans, we like it wet)
8 oz. tomato sauce
8 lg. bell peppers, cut in halves and seeded (used 4 or 5)
1 1/2 c. cooked rice
1 tsp. sugar (did not use)

Cook rice. Set aside. Cook meat, onion and celery until done. Drain. Add chili powder, salt, pepper, diced tomatoes, 1 can tomato soup and tomato sauce. Simmer covered for 10 minutes. Stir in rice. Set aside. Cook peppers in boiling water until they are tender crisp. Drain peppers and place in casserole dish. Stuff the peppers with meat mixture and pour any remaining meat mixture on top. Pour 1 can tomato soup on top. Bake just until bubbly in 350 degree oven. If desired, top with grated cheese before baking.

I follow this same recipe for stuffed cabbage. I don't roll the cabbage leaves but rather lay them in the casserole dish (after boiling them) and pour the meat mixture and tomato soup on top.

Good luck!

To make a good salad, I recommend a salad spinner. Many stores sell them and this way you can rinse and dry your lettuce leaves. I recommend red leaf lettuce, green leaf or spring mix. sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, a little freshly grated (makes a BIG difference) parm cheese, squeeze lemon juice and pour a very good quality olive oil on it. Maybe fettucinne Alfredo, so the kids will like it too. Good luck!!

Hi Tammi,
My guys liked beef!

A Roast Beef dinner is easy and all of your family can enjoy it. Purchase an Eye Round Roast large enough to allow for some leftover sandwiches. Salt and pepper and add a hint of garlic powder. Preheat oven to 325 and cook about 35 minutes per pound for medium rare. Use the drippings for a gravy or au jus. ( You can add sliced mushrooms if you want to fancy it up) Serve with Mashed potatoes or rice, a green bean casserole or fresh steamed broccoli or other frozen green veggie of choice.
Bon Appetite!
Justine

This response is probably too late for your husband's dinner, but maybe you could add this to your dinner reportoire. I like making roast chicken (even though my husband's not a big fan of chicken). It's pretty easy. Buy a whole chicken, put it in a roasting pan on top of a rack. Rub the whole thing with smashed garlic, then room temp butter (it really makes the skin crispy). Season the whole bird with salt and pepper and stuff some cut up lemons or oranges in the cavity (take out the paper bag of innards first). This part takes less than 10 minutes. Then stick it in a 425 degree oven and cook it for about 20 minutes per pound. If you like, you can baste it every 20 minutes with some chicken broth or white wine. When a thermometer reaches 170 degrees in the meat, it's done. I serve mine with potatoes or rice and a nice green vegetable. It's easy and my kids (7 and 5) each get a drumstick. When my 2 yr old gets old enough, I'll have to start cooking an extra drumstick with the chicken to have enough to prevent "I want it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Happy cooking!
E.

One of the most difficult issues we have every week is trying to put food on the table. We can easily go through the motions at times and get in the car and drive our lovely little ones from school to gymnastics and back to home but to create a meal at the end of the day, that requires planning and thought...who has time or energy for that!

I am a foodie through and through but not every meal can be gourmet and if it was, my kids would never eat! So I try and use fresh local ingredients that are in season to prepare delicious meals to keep my kids sitting at the table. Well, my oldest is 4 so I pretty much have to tie him down to his chair to keep him seated but you know what I mean.

Please check out my Market Menu each week for what is on sale in our local grocery stores and a listing of great menu ideas that you can make for your family.

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