Popular Dinner Ideas

Dinner, or supper as it is called in some parts of the country, is the one meal that most families sit down and eat together. The most popular dinners are often those that are simple and easy to fix and yet are filling and tasty. The key to a popular dinner is fixing foods you know everyone in the family likes. To please everyone, sometimes you have to be a bit creative. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Set Up a Taco & Burrito Bar

Set up a taco and burrito bar either at the table or on a side counter. Season ground beef with taco or fajita seasoning and brown in a heavy skillet. Set up bowls filled with refried beans, browned ground beef, chopped lettuce, tomatoes and onion. Pour both hot and mild salsas into individual bowls. Heat tortilla and taco shells and let each family member build their own tacos or burritos. Have a bowl of fresh Spanish rice and another of melted cheese on the table.

Set up a Pizza Bar

Purchase individual-size pizza shells at your local market or use a rolling pin to roll out extra large-size refrigerator biscuits to use as shells. Make a platter with pepperoni slices, Canadian bacon slices, green pepper rings and other favorite pizza ingredients. Have bowls handy filled with sliced olives, browned hamburger meat and grated cheeses. Have a large bowl filled with pizza or spaghetti sauce. Let each family build their own pizzas from the ingredients and bake each pizza on a cookie sheet in the oven until the crust is browned and the cheese is bubbly.

Go For Comfort Food

Make quick tuna and noodles by cooking a 1 lb. bag of flat noodles according to package instructions. Drain the noodles and place in a shallow baking dish. Pour one family-size can of cream of mushroom soup over the noodles. Add in 1 cup of frozen peas. Stir to combine the ingredients. Bake, covered, in a 350-degree F oven for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on the casserole. Bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve with a fresh salad and warmed French bread.

Other Tips

Try to involve the entire family in the cooking process. Even small children can help set the table and hand spoons or cans to the cook. Always try to keep it simple and save the fancy dinners for special occasions or holidays. When weather permits, don't neglect the grill; even if you can't eat outside, grilled foods are always popular.