What to make for Dinner (Oh, yeah it's 5:30....)

We are Back to School and I can’t say I’m disappointed to be back into a routine.  But do you ever just not mentally plan dinner and before you know its 5:30?  Here are a few hints:

•  Throw some butter in a skillet and add some chopped garlic & onions.  Anyone who comes home will get a whiff and think you’ve begun a well-planned meal.  Then you can defrost some meat in the microwave and try to pull something together.

•  Have a young child prepare “cheese toast” or “garlic bread.” Even though it’s a fatty, not very healthful side dish, no one will complain because they will need to praise the little one’s cooking talents. (Last night I had steaks, beet greens/bok choy and….what else? …. Oh, yes, “little one, come here, you get to make CHEESE TOAST!”

• Keep jarred pickles, beets, olives, etc. on hand.  When your dinner is lacking and/or not very colorful, pick one of these items and pour into a small glass bowl.  Oh, now the table looks so pretty!

Please comment below and add your own helpful hints for pulling together dinner in a jiffy without caving and ordering pizza.