Easy Weekly Dinner Menu #19 – Bring out the skillet!

As a mom of boys, I’m always a tad jealous when I see little girls clinging to their mothers or playing quietly.  My kids are ALWAYS on the move.  I can’t imagine having a child who doesn’t want to stray far from me or who isn’t speaking way louder than a conversational volume at all times.  Yesterday, however, I was able to see that sometimes boys can be easier than girls.

It was the last day of first grade, and we had a FABULOUS teacher this year.  When I picked up The Tall One after school, all the girls from his class were sobbing. I’m not talking about getting a little teary.  They were tears-streaming, snotty-nosed wailing. Meanwhile, my child posed for a goofy photo with his teacher and then ran around talking about how great it was that it was summer break. While we skipped home celebrating the last day, other moms would be spending the evening consoling their heartbroken daughters.  I got off easy on that one.

Speaking of summer break, next week I will be unavailable for blogging (mostly), but I have something very special planned for your menu.  I think you will love it, so be sure to come back next Saturday to check it out!

Now, onto this week’s menu full of easy dinner recipes! Enjoy!

1. Waffles, Sausage, and Glazed Sweet Potatoes – I’m not always a big breakfast for dinner fan, but after this meal, I think I’ve changed my tune.  I LOVED this dinner.  I use plain old Bisquick waffles from the directions on the box (although I do add vanilla and cinnamon), but you could use your favorite waffle recipe if you have one.  Don’t have a waffle iron?  Make pancakes instead!  I bought chicken apple sausage to serve with this meal, but I found chicken andouille sausage in the fridge and used that instead.  That was a good call (if I do say so myself) because the spicy, savory sausage was a nice contrast to the sweet waffles and sweet potatoes.  Just writing about it is making me hungry!
2. Buffalo Chicken Casserole –  I made up a new casserole loosely based on this recipe by Cook Lisa Cook, but with Mexican flavors instead of Buffalo Chicken.  After much deliberation, I have decided not to share my version with you.  Instead, I am recommending Lisa’s version again.  Her casserole is so flippin’ good that I can’t, in good conscience, give you an inferior recipe when you could be eating this!
3. Smoked Salmon Pizza with Whole Wheat Crust – Whew, doggie, we liked this pizza.  The crust is very simple to make and nice and chewy.  The Pants is a man of few words, and his review was:  “That’s some really good pizza, and that’s all I have to say about it.”  There you have it, folks.
4. Juicy Baked Steak with Green Beans and Couscous – My mom loves telling the story of the first time I tried steak as a little girl.  She says my eyes lit up, and I was in love after the first bite.  That still holds true, so forgive me for including it on the menu nearly every week.  I did prepare it in a new way this time that I want to share with you, so please check out this skillet-to-oven method.  I’m not sure that I would rank it above grilled or seared steak, but it was easy and cooked just right.  This method is good if you need to “set it and forget it” while you do other things.  I used boxed couscous mix and steam-in-the bag green beans for a super duper easy dinner perfect for a busy weeknight.
5. Skillet Sausage Pasta – This was on my very first menu at The Weary Chef, and it keeps coming back because it’s so, so good.  If you haven’t tried it yet, I hope you will make it this week!
6. Chicken Tostadas – Why eat plain old tacos when you can challenge yourself with a tostada?  I actually think these are easier to eat than crunchy tacos, and you get the fun of balancing them like a plate juggler.
7. Picnic Dinner – I told you a few weeks ago that we call this dinner “A Spread” in our house, but no one knows that means.  I’m going to borrow my friend’s name of Picnic Dinner instead since it makes more sense.  Feel like you are on a picnic in France right in your own home with this simple, delicious, and nutritious dinner! Serve up cheeses, hummus, crackers, bread, fresh fruits, and veggies.  It’s not just a meal, it’s an activity!

Don’t miss out on any recipes, photos, or funny tidbits!Follow me on:Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ or Bloglovin!You can subscribe to posts by email too!Just enter your email address here.I’m looking forward to keeping in touch with you!