Quick Meals for Busy School Nights

by cary, August 20, 2009 | Permalink

One of the toughest parts of going back to school can be trying to re-establish the smooth routine that keeps us all happy and nourished. Throwing together a real meal can make all the difference and can be done very easily by keeping some of your favorite staples handy and throwing in whatever else you have on hand. We’ve all got our standbys, but here are some of mine:
 
Baked Macaroni and Cheese: Grab a bag of 365 pasta out of the pantry, throw cooked pasta together with some milk, a few beaten eggs, a little black pepper (or whatever spices you so desire) and whatever cheese you have on hand and bake. Some of my favorite batches of this mac ‘n cheese have been created by a blend of three or four cheeses that were left over from other dishes! If you want to add some protein, chopped leftover rotisserie chicken is a great addition. For a spicy kick try some chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

Make your own salad night: Did you know that we have the best priced bagged salads in town? Check them out in Produce, where you will find our own organic salad greens, bagged and ready to go for only $1.99! Whether your family enjoys a baby spinach salad, fresh herb salad, Italian salad, mixed baby greens, or a romaine salad, you will find what you are looking for. Round up anything that you have on hand that would make a good salad…canned beans, marinated artichoke hearts, cubed cheese, diced summer squash, leftover roasted chicken, a couple of boiled eggs, croutons made from the end of several loaves of bread, or anything else that your family might enjoy. Make the most of those bits and pieces that were left over from previous meals!

Pizza! You can find ready-made pizza dough on sale for $1.99 right now, enough to make 2 pizzas! Whether your family craves something traditional like cheese or pepperoni, don’t be afraid to mix it up a little and try something new like spinach, fresh tomatoes, feta, and a few select olives from the olive bar. Dinner is done in a flash, and for much less than delivery.

Grilled cheese and soup: Check out the soup aisle, where some of my favorite pantry staples are located. The roasted red pepper and tomato soup from Pacific foods is mouth watering and something that I always have on hand. We have a wide selection of delicious soups to choose from and these make a great (and super quick) dinner idea. Make a quick grilled cheese to go on the side (my favorite is on 365 wheat bread with thinly sliced smoked mozzarella and mammoth cheddar cheeses, a smear of honey mustard, and a slice of fresh tomato) and dinner is done.

Quick Stir Fry: Take some of those peppers, green beans, carrots, broccoli or whatever is lingering in your produce drawer and create a quick stir fry. Start the rice before you start chopping, and everything will be ready at the same time! I like to keep bags of frozen 365 Everyday Value organic broccoli and the vegetable stir fry blends on hand to help speed things along.
 
After a meal well done (and a harmonious day in the books), it can be a perfect time to sit back and relax with a glass of wine. Through August 23, all cases of wine (mix and match!) are 20% off! This is a great time to pick up a few extra bottles of your favorite shiraz, pinot grigio, or merlot. We only do this a couple of times a year, so be sure to take advantage of this great deal!
 
Got any other favorite school-night meals? Let us know! We can all use some inspiration to keep the meal mojo running!