What's For Dinner? 3.23.15

We've been getting some mail about these yummy dinner ideas and how some of you would love to try recipes but are only cooking for 1-2 which makes meal planning a little more difficult. When Matt and I were first married, we were both college students working full-time and knew how important it was to stretch our budget when it came to dinners. As a result, this week I've created a meal plan that uses a key ingredient or two that can be stretched into several recipes. It's perfect for cooking smaller portions and maximizing your time and money in the kitchen.

Start your week buy purchasing a rotisserie chicken - I like grabbing one from Costco for $5. You'll use this in the first three recipes.

Monday - Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup from Gimme Some Oven
This is a super-easy recipe to cut in half. Use some shredded rotisserie chicken and you've got a quick and easy dinner, perfect for two! When I make soup like this to freeze, I keep out the noodles and throw them in only when I heat up the frozen soup to avoid them getting too soggy.

Tuesday - Chicken Enchiladas from How to Nest for Less
Using more shredded chicken, it's easy to make only as many enchiladas as you can eat. Add a little chips and salsa and you're ready for a perfect night of Mexican food.

Wednesday - Pulled Chicken Sandwiches from the Wednesday Chef
Cut this recipe in half or use the same idea with some barbecue sauce to use up the rest of your shredded chicken. Dress with some fresh coleslaw if you like a little more vinegar flavor.

Thursday - Pesto Dressing (and salad) from Cooking Classy
Salads with good dressing are great for groups of all sizes. The dressing will keep well in the fridge and can be used for lunch too. This particular recipe is one of my favorites as it's a copycat from the Old Spaghetti Factory. I like it on simple iceberg lettuce with crunchy croutons.

Friday - Beef with Broccoli from Table for Two
This delicious recipe tastes even better than takeout. In fact, it's so good you'll be happy to eat leftovers the next day. Just like with the soup, leave out the broccoli in all but what you're eating so that it stays crispy and fresh.

And for dessert...

Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats from Smitten Kitchen
Rice Krispy treats are a big time guilty pleasure of mine. It's easy to make a small, individual sized portion or one to feed a crowd. This recipe, using browned butter makes the flavor even more rich and delicious.