Something simple for a 5-kid family?

Question

A friend of mine is having a rough week - I was wondering if there was anything someone could suggest that I could cook for her - ie, a nice, fairly easy, 1-dish meal that could feed 5 kids, 2 adults, and would be easy to refrigerate and then re-heat.


Any good ideas?

Thanks for all the great answers! Those lists of recipies were great, but HUGE! :)

I loved all of them, and chili and pasta dishes and goulash and tamale pie were all superb ideas! I especially loved the tamale pie one, but I have to go with the friend in need casserole (picky kids- WHAT kind of kids don't like hamburger?).

Thanks so much everyone!

Answer 1

My "friend in need" casserole is great for kids....

Diced Ham, boiled potatoes, sour cream, cr. of chicken soup, cheddar cheese...and peas....mix and bake...

INGREDIENTS
5 potatoes...cut in bite size opieces
1 lb cooked, diced ham
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
! can peas
1 cups grated Parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, ,mix potatoes, ham, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, peas, and Cheddar cheese. Spread evenly into prepared dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until bubbly and lightly brown.

Answer 2

How about 1. Goulash: 2 lb hamburger, browned with 1 large chopped onion and 2 diced bell peppers. Add 1 - 28 oz can stewed tomatoes, 1 lb uncooked macaroni, and 3 cups water. Season with salt, pepper, and maybe a couple teaspoons italian seasoning or similar, and a teaspoon of garlic powder. Bring to boil, cover and simmer about 15-20 mins, stirring every 5 mins, until macaroni is cooked. Add a bit more water if the macaroni soaks it up before it's cooked. When done, stir in 1 c grated cheese (parmesan or cheddar) when it's done, if you want. This will feed at least 8 people.

2. Tamale pie: 2 lbs hamburger, browned with one onion and one bell pepper. Add 2 - 15 oz cans drained pinto beans and 1 - 28 oz can diced tomatoes, and 1 pkg of chili seasoning mix, and 3 cups water. Simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, before turning out into an oiled baking dish (like a disposable aluminum pan if you want). Prepare a package of cornbread mix according to directions, and pour it over the chili. Bake at 400 deg about 15-25 minutes, until cornbread is cooked through and golden. When it comes out of the oven, top it with a cup of grated cheese if you like. Deliver it to your friend with a jar of salsa and/or sour cream.

Answer 3

Keb, you must be a good person to have as a friend. One of my favorite recipies is an easy lasagne and you don't need all that foo-foo cheese....

pre-heat oven to 350-degrees.

cooked lasagne noodles
large jar of your favorite spagetti sauce
bag of shredded mozarella cheese
1 1/2 lb hamburger cooked

In a bowl, mix the spagetti sauce, hamburger and all but a cup of the cheese.

In a 9x13-inch baking pan, make layers of the noodles & hamburger mixture. Top off with the remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered for 30 minutes or until the cheese on top is nice and bubbly.

Enjoy.

Answer 4

southwest stuffed chicken

INGREDIENTS
6 (4 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
6 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, cut into 2-inch x 1/2-inch sticks
2 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chilies, drained
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
DIRECTIONS
Flatten chicken to /18-in. thickness. Place a cheese stick down the middle of each; top with chilies. Roll up and tuck in ends. Secure with a toothpick. In a shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, chili powder, salt and cumin. Coat chicken with flour, then dip in butter and roll in crumb mixture.
Place roll-ups, seam side down, in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 25 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. Discard toothpicks.

Answer 5

Chili. You can do it easily, quickly, and inexpensively.

Shopping list:
Big cans of pinto beans (as many as you think you will need)
A can of tomato sauce
A packet of chili seasoning
Ground beef or turkey (or meatless if preferred)
Onion if preferred

Saute your onion, add your beans (undrained)
add your tomato sauce
add your seasoning
add your cooked meat and simply heat through.
Serve with cornbread (the best kind is Marie Calendars. Albertsons sells the mix or you could get already made loaves from the restaurant itself)

Good luck and God Bless you for wanting to help someone. I am the same way. There isn't enough people out there today that want to help others. I love when I see someone who does. Take care.

Answer 6

PIZZA CASSEROLE! This is ALWAYS a BIG hit with the kids AND the adults. Tastes just like pizza!


Ingredients: 1 bag macaroni noodles
4 cans pizza sauce
1 can stewed tomatoes
4 large pepperonies (cut into bite size pieces)
1 green pepper (cut into bite size pieces)
fresh mushrooms (sliced)
1 family size brick mozzarella cheese (shredded)
1 bundle green onions (chopped)
1 pkg. lean ground beef


Cook macaroni noodles as instructed on package. Drain and rinse. Add stewed tomatoes and pizza sauce to noodles and set aside. Meanwhile, cook ground beef, using garlic powder, a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Drain off any excess fat. Add to macaroni and sauces. ( Hold back a bit of dry ingredients for the toppings on casserole)
In a large, lightly greased casserole bowl, layer ground beef mixture , pepperoni, mushrooms, green pepper, and onions, topping always with shredded cheese. Repeat layers until used up, ending with cheese. Decorate top with a bit of the pepperoni, mushroom, green pepper, and onion.
Bake at 350 F for 1-1/2 to 2 hrs.
You'll make it over and over again

Answer 7

Tuna Casserole or baked spaghetti. Use your favorite sauce recipe, after noodles are al dente, pour over cooked spaghetti and top with mozzerella and bake for 20 minutes @ 350.
Serve with salad 78 garlic bread.

Answer 8

Alot of people like mexican food. I would make tacos. All you do is brown ground beef and add taco seasoning. Chop up some lettuce and tomato. Buy some taco shells and that's it. You can make salsa by putting tomato, 1 jalapeno, some onion and a little salt in a blender. Buy a gallon can of pinto beans and add a little bit of salt and heat it up... decorate the table with an aloe vera plant or some cactus.Ole....

Answer 9

make chili...its quick and easy and fun to make things with the next day(ex. burritos,nacho's, chili on a bun)

cook up until brown 1 package of ground lean beef or turkey

in a pot add in beef with:
1 can kidney beans
1 can brown beans
1 can corn
1 can mushrooms
1 can stewed tomatoes(or diced)
cook on med 10 mins and then add in:
1/3 to 1/4 cup of chili powder.(depends on how spicy)
stir together and then let cook on low for another 20 mins and then ready to serve

Answer 10

Mom's Potato Soup
8-10 large potatoes, peeled and diced
1 large onion, diced
4 stalks celery sliced
Water
6 cups milk
Salt and pepper to taste

In large pot, combine potatoes, onion and celery. Cover with water and simmer 1 hour or until veggies are tender. Add milk and heat through (do not boil!). Salt and pepper to taste.


For more soup, use more potatoes, celery, and onion.