For many busy families, "what's for dinner?" is a dreaded question. After a day of work and school, who wants to come home and cook for hours?
The recipes detailed below are all healthy, fast and kid-friendly. Plus, they're inexpensive to make so they're easy on the budget!
Fettuccini Alfredo
This recipe makes four large servings of rich, creamy pasta alfredo. Complete the meal with some crusty bread and a fresh green salad.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. uncooked fettuccini
- 1 Tbsp. butter
- 1 clove garlic, minced (or 1 tsp. jarred minced garlic - a time saver!)
- 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 1 c. 2% milk
- 1/2 c. half-and-half (light cream)
- Pinch of ground nutmeg
- 3/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions
- Bring water to a bowl with 2 tsp. salt.
- Add fettuccini and cook according to package directions (fresh pasta takes just a few minutes to cook, while dried pasta takes longer).
- Drain pasta in colander, saving 1/4 cup of cooking water to thin sauce, if necessary.
- In large skillet over medium heat, melt butter.
- Add garlic, stirring constantly, until garlic starts to brown (1 minute or less).
- Stir in flour.
- Gradually stir in milk and cream, stirring with wire whisk to remove any lumps.
- Sprinkle in nutmeg.
- Cook for about 8 more minutes over low heat until mixture is smooth, thickened and bubbly.
- Add Parmesan cheese and stir until well blended.
- Reduce heat and season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Super-Fast Cheesy Beef & Noodle Casserole
This recipe is a kid-pleaser – and it's on the table in minutes! Serves four. Round out this home-style dish with a fresh green salad, steamed green beans or fresh corn-on-the-cob – whatever is in season!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. old fashioned egg noodles (available dried at Costco, or in the freezer section of grocery stores; sold under the brand name "Reame's").
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 can low salt tomato soup (or 1/2 of a box of prepared tomato soup - Pacific or Imagine brand)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
- Salt & freshly ground pepper
Directions
- Bring large kettle of water to a boil with 2 tsp. salt.
- Add noodles and cook according to package directions (dried noodles will take much longer than the ones purchased from the freezer section).
- Brown ground beef; drain fat. Cook until beef is browned all the way through.
- Add hot drained noodles to large bowl.
- Stir beef, tomato soup and cheese into noodles.
- Add salt & freshly ground pepper to taste.
Chow Mein Casserole
Fresh tasting and inexpensive, this dish rivals take-out and is quick to prepare. Other vegetables can be used, depending on what's in season and what the family likes. Makes four generous servings.
Ingredients
- 1 c. onion, chopped
- 1 c. mushrooms, sliced
- 2 c. pea pods or sliced celery
- 1/4 c. sliced water chestnuts
- 1/2 pound ground turkey
- 1/4 tsp. minced garlic
- 1/4 tsp. five-spice powder
- 1/2 tsp. dried cilantro
- 1 c. chicken broth, divided
- 4 Tbsp. soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp. white wine
- 2 T. cornstarch
- 1/4 c. cashew pieces
- Grapeseed or canola oil for frying
- 1 cup brown or white rice, cooked
Directions
- Fry onions & mushrooms and set aside.
- Fry celery or pea pods and set aside.
- Fry turkey, garlic, five-spice and cilantro until lightly browned.
- Return all vegetables to pan and add water chestnuts.
- Mix 1/2 c. chicken broth, soy sauce & wine; cover & simmer 3 minutes.
- Mix remaining broth and cornstarch in small bowl, and stir this mixture into turkey & vegetable mixture.
- Simmer until thickened.
- Serve over rice with cashews.
