What’s for dinner?

I hate that question! Sure it’s easy when you really feel like having one particular thing cause you either make it or get it, but when you don’t it really sux! Everyday you have to think about it, and balance how recently you’ve had every dish, against whatever one likes. That is the curse of choice. If we didn’t have so much it wouldn’t be so hard, every night it would be lentil gruel and coarse bread, and everyone would be happy to just have food. Instead, you list the 400 things that are options, and none of them really strike anyone as that great, so it goes on and on. Worse is when you are planning on your own so there is no one to play the “what’s for dinner game” and you wander the grocery store endlessly till you find something so obscure that no one can complain. I miss being a kid when dinner was just put in front of me and I ate it or didn’t eat. (Fortunately, my dad is really picky so the didn’t eat, didn’t happen much. However, I firmly believe I could out wait my parents, on the issue of salmon or other not tasty foods.)
Here are my tricks: The advantage of cooking over baking is that you can make it up as you go, (if you have the knack). If you make good baked spaghetti, then chances are you will also make a good baked tortellini, and since you just thought it up it is new. However, you can’t get too creative since duck a’ la orange might be good, but turkey in orange juice won’t be. The best dishes are the multiple meal ones. Why cook for two, when you can cook for four and get two meals out of it and the second time only requires a few minutes in the microwave. It is the same with pizza, why order a large for $8 and get one meal, when for $11 you can get an XL and get two meals at $5.50 each. (I am thrifty like that.) Leftovers are also dinner fodder; got left over BBQ but not enough to feed everyone? Then, buy some potatoes and make BBQ stuffed baked potatoes, same with pot roast.
Here is the real trick: plan ahead. Remember the killer is the choice, most people will simply accept what they are told is for dinner, if the alternative is not eating. Even if you can’t plan a daily menu, decide on several things you will have that week and get the stuff. That way if you or your’s "feel" like having something else you can, if not the “what’s for dinner game” is shortened to "Unless anyone has a bright idea, we having X.” (Jeopardy music plays here, followed by crickets chirping) “Ok, X will be ready in 15 minutes.” Hope this helps!

Now I must go make my X, which tonight is chicken fajitas, and con queso.