The workday may have ended and you're tired and ready to relax. But, you've still got to come up with something to feed the family - preferably with as little preparation and mess as possible. Here are five ideas to speed up the decision-making process:
1. Foil-Wrapped Wonders
Don't limit these fun, yummy packets to camping trips. Take 15 minutes in the morning to chop some chicken and vegetables, toss it all with some seasoning and then wrap it in foil. When you arrive home, cook it on the grill to limit the mess in your kitchen and then enjoy.
2. Sloppy Joes
All the ingredients for this perennial family favorite can be tossed in a slow cooker in the morning and then left to simmer for eight to ten hours. Arrive home with the main dish already completed and complement it with a few easy side dishes (microwave vegetables anyone?).
3. Rotisserie Chicken
Stop at the grocery store on the way home and pick up a rotisserie chicken. (If you're lucky, they'll be on sale.) These tasty birds can also be paired with the side dish of your choice and served with fresh bread from the bakery. Bonus: Leftovers are fabulous for an easy-to-put together salad or for a make-ahead chicken salad that pairs well with crackers.
4. Pancakes
Celebrate "opposite day" and whip up a batch of pancakes for dinner. Pancakes become a special treat if chocolate chips or other sweets are added to them. Cut-up strawberries, blueberries or other fresh fruit in season makes for a healthy side dish.
5. Quesadillas
This simple, yet quick to prepare, Mexican dish is easy to tailor to the individual tastes of each family member. One child can enjoy cheese quesadillas while another can have cheese and chicken. (This is another great way to use leftover rotisserie chicken.) Quesadillas can be zapped in the microwave to speed up cooking time or tossed on the grill for more of a smoked, BBQ flavor.