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Every night I ask myself before the kids ask me....what's for dinner.  I usually don't have a good answer...that they would be happy with.  So I have been collecting easy family friendly receipes and I think it is time to share another.

WIld Rice and Chicken Casserole
1 package Uncle Ben's wild rice mix
1 c. celery, diced
1/2 c. chopped onions
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can water chestnuts, sliced and drained
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. grated Cheddar cheese
2 c. chicken breasts cooked and cubed
1/2 c. silvered almonds

Cook rice mix as package directs with the celery and onions.  Add the remaining ingredients.  Mix well and pour into baking dish.  Bake at 350 degress for 1 hour.

Thanks Carol B. for sharing.

I had a comment from a friend a few weeks ago that she doesn't know of a family that eats out more than us.  I put my feelings aside and really tried to look at the comment and rationalize it.  Does our family eat out alot?  I had a variety of reasons that I can easily give....it is easier, we have three boys running them in three different directions and we don't have the time to make a meal and my favorite...it is cheaper.  So I challenged myself for the last two weeks...no eating out during the week...could we do it?  My plan of action included making my weekly meal plan and going to the grocery store just one time.  So far in the last two weeks it has worked, we have had more meals at home and I have tried 6 new recipes.  I used the Rachel Ray cookbook 365: No Repeats.  Here is what we tried:

• #173 Greek Bread Salad....yummy.  My 14 year old ate it up and made himself another batch of it as he liked it so much.
• #170 Turkey Cutles......very good, even my picky eaters ate it!
• #316  Tex-Mex Grilled Chicken Caesar....so good even I ate the leftovers
• #118  Peasant Soup....so-so.  It called for leeks, shallots and onions...very expensive to buy the leeks as I don't have another recipe to use them in.
• #98  Ham and Cheese Pork Chops...it called for thick cut pork chops which I purchased and made according to directions, our chops were raw and needed to be recooked in the microwave...so watch your thickness of the chops

My fussy eaters have been having toast, frozen pizza and bowls of cereal for supper the nights that they don't like what I make, which is often.  Now to cook something that they like and will eat that is not carb based....any ideas?

I think our family will continue to eat out as it simply is sometimes cheaper.  When my hubby travels it makes no sense for me to cook a meal that just two of us will eat...so those are the times that we eat out the most.  I have found local restaurant deals that we can eat for under $20 for all 5 of us so that helps.....taco Tuesdays at a Mexican restaurant that we get two huge tacos for $3.00 with all the chips you  can eat.......$5 pizzas to go at a local pizza place where you drive through to get the pizzas......at a local sub place buy two foot long subs and get the third for free after 4:00.

What I have taken away from this experience is that as moms we need to unite and find family meal time for our families in our own unique situations.  The important thing is that we are eating together, be it a bowl of cereal, a big salad, raw pork chops or a pizza.  The family that eats together sticks together!

A friend has a blog where she notes down the miracles that she is noticing....what a great concept.  I keep noticing them too and I wonder will I ever get to the point where I wont notice them?  Example, my son didn't get off the bus as expected.  I was waiting for him in order to take him to his piano recital.  We had less than 20 minutes and all I had time for was to drive to his junior high and hope he is waiting outside.....I drive to the school, stop the car and my phone rings....it is my son calling from the school saying he is done with his percussion group.  He had totaly forgotten about the recital (although truth be told he didn't want to go so I think he was hoping he would be late).  We made it to the recital with two minutes to spare.  Miracle that he made it for me.  I think it was a shame that he made it according to my son.  My prayers are stronger than his!!!!

Melissa

Here is another easy recipe that we had for dinner last night.  Only 3 of us ate it as the two fussy ones had soup out of a can and left over pizza.  It was quick and satisfying on on cold winter day in North Dakota.  I am not a fan of casserole type foods, you know the ones, goulash and tater tot hotdish.....reminds me too much of school food.  This was good even though the name  reminds me of school lunch....Salisbury Steak

Salisbury Steak
1 1/2 pounds of hamburger
1/4 cup diced onion
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste

Combine and make into oval patties, fry in a fry pan.  When brown add two cans of beef gravy and simmer util done (about 10 minutes)

I served it with mashed potatoes that are prepared in the microwave from a frozen package.

Enjoy!
Melissa

Do you ever get in a rut where all you seem to do is eat out or have pizza delivered?  That has been our reality since Thanksgiving.  Today I vowed to make dinner and the soup was great.....thanks for the recipe Lisa W.  My goal was to sit down and get us (spouse and three boys) all eating together, eating the same thing and at the same time.  Well one goal was accomplished we all ate the same thing, just not at the same time.  I was in the kitchen when everyone ate, so at least I was the constant.

Well Here is another easy and great receipe.  I hope you and your loved ones can all sit down together at the same time and enjoy it.  With all of the toppings it tastes like a baked potato.