URS: Dinner in a Pinch

While I strive to menu plan, there are just times when our schedule changes at the last minute, or we just don't "feel" like eating what's on the menu. So, to "save the day" I have a list of go-to in a pinch recipes, that I wanted to share with you for Ultimate Recipe Swap today! These recipes are ones with simple ingredients - ones we often have on hand all time time.

pizzas - I tend to keep a recipe of dough in the freezer; I can de-thaw it quickly in the microwave and make up either a breakfast pizza, or one of our other favorite pizza recipes.

spiced up sandwiches - always easy, the sandwich provides diverse meal options. Spice up a grilled cheese, saute some veggies for a pan-grilled sandwich, or whip up a simple panini.

quesadillas - probably our favorite in-a-pinch dinner is some form of quesadillas. We almost always have homemade wheat tortillas around, so we can easily choose our filling of choice -- maybe we have peppers, spinach and mushrooms, zucchini, carrot and black bean, or maybe we make up something new to use up leftover veggies.

If you're feeling like you want something "more substantial", our go-to is pasta.

pastas - the green pasta skillet is quick and easy and full of good vitamins and minerals! We also like ... penne with broccoli and sausage, rice cooker mac and cheese, veggies and herbed butter pasta, and zucchini, mushroom and pasta skillet.

If you're craving meat, try...

meaty meals - baked turkey tortillas, chicken broccoli hotdish, or mushroom mozzarella chicken skillet.

And, for those nights when you want dessert in-a-pinch...

desserts - homemade "warm-delights", lemony crisp cookies, cherry pineapple dump cake, blueberry rhubarb dump cake or vanilla pudding.

I find having a list of these go-to recipes can keep my stress level lower for those nights when plans change... because I don't have to think - ek! what's for dinner?!