Lunch Bunch: Easy Dinner Ideas

This is turning out to be rather interesting.  This months Lunch Bunch is all about easy dinner ideas you can pull from when you just don't want to cook anything.  And the funny thing {to me} is that I really don't want to cook anything lately, and I'm even having a hard time trying to get this post finished, because frankly, I'm just not in the mood.  It must be the weather.  All the rain is beginning to affect me I think!

So!  In reality, I probably really need this post!  So without further adieu {or is it ado in this case?  See?  I'm stalling again!}, let's get to some of my favorite easy dinner ideas:

Pastas are always easy.  It just takes a few minutes to cook the noodles and it can be as simple as noodles and heating up sauce if you really want.  Here is one of my favorite pasta versions:

My Version of Olive Garden's

Capellini Pomodoro

Angel hair pasta {or spaghetti}
4-5 fresh tomatoes, chopped {or drain a can of diced stewed tomatoes if you're super short on time and don't want to take the time to chop your own}
1 clove garlic, minced
Basil, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Olive oil


Cook angel hair pasta {or spaghetti}.  Add tomatoes to cooked pasta and add 1 minced clove of garlic and sprinkle enough basil to pepper it nicely.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Mix together well into cooked pasta.

This pasta is an intuitive recipe for me and very forgiving.  Not a lot of measuring, or exact ingredients.  I just sort of wing it.  If you want more tomatoes {or less}, add them {or subtract them}. Open a bag of salad and you're ready to go!  {See?  I don't even want to take the time to wash my salad sometimes!  Pre-washed and cut can be a lifesaver!}

Let Someone Else Cook

Another easy dinner idea is to let someone else do the cooking for you!  No, I don't mean run out and grab a fast food hamburger or anything!  I mean, run to the store and grab a whole roasted chicken from the deli!  Then all you have to do is heat up some frozen veggies on the side to round it out.  Easy peasy!

Let's see, what else?

Dinner salads!  

 Like I said above,
Pre-washed and cut salad mixes are genius!
Here are two of my favorites!

Southwestern Salad

Salad:

1-2 cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Shredded or diced chicken, optional

Shredded cheddar cheese

Diced tomatoes

1-2 bags chopped romaine lettuce

1/2 bag of crushed tortilla chips

Ranch Dressing:   {do not use a bottled ranch for this salad ~ trust me!  It will taste all wrong if you do!}

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp onion salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp dried parsley

Combine dressing ingredients and mix well.  Combine everything in a bowl, cover with ranch dressing and mix well to coat.  

Again, the amounts are more to taste rather than specific amounts.  This is also a very forgiving recipe.  The ingredient list looks longer than I like when I'm not in the mood to cook, but it really doesn't take much time to throw this one together.  I like the crunchiness the crushed tortilla chips give to this recipe.    

Want an even easier ranch dressing for this salad?  Then just use the dry buttermilk ranch dressing packets you can buy at the store ~ just don't use a pre-made bottled ranch dressing, I'm begging you!  Just don't do it! 

Apple Tomatillo Dinner Slaw

Salad:

1-2 bags premixed coleslaw {without dressing in it}

2-3 apples, chopped in pieces

1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Diced chicken, optional

Dressing:

1 pkg dry buttermilk ranch dressing

3 tomatillos

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup cilantro

1 clove garlic

1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix salad ingredients together in a large bowl.  Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a blender and blend.  It will thicken gradually.  Pour dressing over salad to coat it, and mix well.

This salad looks like it has a lot of ingredients too, but it is super fast because you just throw the dressing in the blender and let the blender do the work.  You don't even need to chop the cilantro before throwing it in, just measure it and push the start button!  The hardest part of this recipe is chopping the apples!  Love that!

~ ~ ~

Ok, that's about all I've got right now besides grilled cheese sandwiches and popping a can of tomato soup open!  So now it's your turn ~ help a girl out!  Meet me in the comments and tell me your favorite easy don't want to cook dinner ideas!  Please!  I'm begging you!  :D