Super Simple Suppers

Isn't it nice when you spend all day in the kitchen, slaving away, making a gourmet meal?  You serve it on fine china in your formal dining room.  Your family gives you a standing ovation.  Then your kids politely take turns telling you how much they appreciate everything you do for them.  Ha ha ha ha ha!  I almost got through that with a straight face.  That would be wonderful, but we live in the real world where we have jobs or school or housework or all of the above!  Some days we are just too darn tired to spend all night in the kitchen!  That's why it's so tempting to head to the drive-thru or call for take-out.  But, all you need are a few Super Simple Suppers (fun with alliteration) that you can go to on nights when you are Too Tired to Tackle dinner.  Because the drive-thru and take-out can be a Big Budget Buster (ok, that's enough).  Here are a few recipes that take little time and effort, but taste pretty good!

WOW NOODLES
(With Or Without sour cream Noodles - I know it's lame, but that's the best I could come up with at the time.  Maybe you can think of something better to call it when you make it.)

1 lb ground beef
1 lb pasta (I like rotini, but any short cut of pasta will do)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 packet dry onion soup mix
sour cream

Cook Pasta.  Meanwhile, brown ground beef in a large skillet.  Drain.  Add tomatoes, 1/2 tomato can of water, and soup mix.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  Add in cooked pasta (that has been drained).  Serve with or without a dollop of sour cream (hence the name).

SALSA CHICKEN


4 boneless chicken breasts
1 small jar salsa
salt/pepper
oil

Brown chicken in a little oil in a skillet.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Pour salsa on top of chicken.  (If it's a very thick salsa, add a little water to skillet.  If not too thick, just use salsa)  Bring to a boil.  Lower heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until cooked through.

JAMBALAYA PASTA
(This is not Pastalaya, which is a cajun dish.  This is just a quick pasta dish with some of the flavors of a Jambalaya)

1/2 lb smoked sausage, diced
2 cups diced cooked chicken (great use for left overs)
1 can Italian diced tomatoes (or stewed tomatoes, or Rotel)
1 packet dry onion soup mix
1 lb Penne pasta, cooked (any short cut pasta you have will work)
1 bunch green onions, sliced

Cook pasta.  In a large skillet, cook sausage until brown.  Add chicken to pan.  Add tomatoes and 1/2 tomato can of water.  Sprinkle in onion soup mix and stir to combine.  Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  When pasta is done, drain and stir into sauce.  Garnish with green onions.

Here is a recipe for a quick bread stick that you can make to go with any of these Super Simple Suppers.

QUICK BREAD STICKS


1 can of refrigerator biscuits (Pillsbury, for example)
1/2 stick butter, melted
sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Roll each biscuit into a log or bread stick.  Pour half of the melted butter into a baking dish.  Place bread sticks in pan.  Pour remaining butter over bread sticks.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned on top.
You can make these garlic bread sticks by adding a little garlic powder to the melted butter and sprinkling Italian Seasoning on top.

So, try one of these recipes the next time you need a Super Simple Supper.  They have helped me out many times and my family loves them.  I hope you do, too.