From Stephanie Brown,
Your Guide to Babies & Toddlers.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

"I'm stuck in a rut! I have a meal rotation of about 7 different dinner meals and we're getting soooo sick of them! Anyone have any good recipes?"
--LUNA791

"My meal rotation is about the same. I have a very picky ten year old! What are some of your meals? Maybe we could switch!

Here are the "few" items that she likes!

• Spaghetti & Meatballs
• Beef Stew
• Chicken
• Roasted Potatoes
• Rice
• Steak
• American Chop Suey
• Pot Roast
• Tossed Salad

Once summer is here she will eat:

• Potato Salad
• Macaroni Salad
• Hamburgers

As you can see my menu items are "very" limited too! Tonight I plan on making Chicken and Rice. Trust me, nothing fancy!"
--MAUREEN0763

"My fave from when I was a kid and [my husband] loves it now:

Tamale Pie

• 1 onion chopped
• 1 green pepper chopped
• 1 lb ground beef (turkey or something else that's ground)
• 1-2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup corn meal
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup cheese
• salt to taste

Brown the meat and add the onion then the pepper. Fry a bit, then add the chili powder. Dump in the corn and the tomatoes and let cook.

Mean while, bring your chicken broth to boil in a seperate pan and slowly add the corn meal as to not get it lumpy. Cook until thickened.

Then, get out a casserole dish, grease it. Take 1/2 of the corn meal goo and put it on the bottom. Then goes the meat mixture. Then top off with the rest of the corn meal mixture and cheese. Back for about 1/2 an hour in a 350 degree oven.

This also freezes well. We eat it aboutd 2 times a month and often when people come over to watch "The Game"
--GRETCHENJR

"How about...

• Baked apples w/cinnamon & butter
• Meat loaf
• Kraut & weenies (cut up hot dogs and fry in a little oil and add a can of sour kraut (drained)) I know it's not real healthy but what can I say, I'm from Georgia!
• Homemade biscuits with sausage & gravy (yes I'll fix this for dinner with canteloupe)
• Terryaki chicken kabobs w/rice (put chicken chunks, orange slices, green bell pepper slices and pineapple chunks on skewer. Paint on terryaki sauce. Bake in oven (or on grill) until chicken is done and pepper is no longer crunchy. Keep painting the sauce over the kabobs or they will dry out. Serve over rice.)"
  --IVY557

"Here's one that is quick and easy, as well as tasty.

Tater Tot Casserole

• 1 can french cut green beans
• 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 lb ground beef (or turkey or whatever)
• 1 bag frozen mini tater tots

Brown the ground beef in a pan, I usually add some salt and pepper to taste while the meat is cooking. Then add the soup and the beans to the meat, mix until well blended. Grease a 9x13 pan, then put down a layer of mini tater tots, still frozen. Spread the meat mixture on top of the tater tots, then pop in the oven for 35 - 40 minutes at 400 degrees F

I plan on making this one tonight, actually. :) Hope this works for you!"
--VALERIE9001

"Here's my version of tuna caserole. In fact, I made it last night.

• 1 bag egg noodles(cooked and drained)
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 2 cans (6oz each) canned tuna (I recomend you use the kind packed in water)
• About 1 1/2 cups grated chedar cheese
• 1/2 of a small bag of frozen green beans
• swiss cheese slices
• pepper to taste

Mix noodles, soups, tuna, chedar cheese, beans and pepper together. Put in 9x13 baking dish. Top with the swiss cheese slices and bake at 350 for 20 to 30 minutes(just until the swiss starts to brown a little).

I love this recipe. Using the cream of chicken soup keeps the tuna taste from being too strong."--HEIDI533

"My easy way out on busy nights (or just lazy nights) is to cook a package of frozen ravioli with an interesting filling like butternut squash or gorgonzola cheese or artichoke... and just top it with a small bit of good olive oil and good, fresh parmesan cheese. Then serve with one of those ready-pac salads. Sometimes I even get fancy and make a salad of fresh mozzarella, basil, plum tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar. But to make these things well you have to have good quality ingredients."
--MARY_M