Non-Recipe Recipes

It's been a loonnngggg week.  Between some serious busyness and lack of motivation on my part, there hasn't been much real cooking round these parts lately.  Here are a few of our "go to's" when there hasn't been much time or inclination for anything elaborate.  What are your favorite Non Recipe Recipes?


Non-Recipe Recipes: Dinner and Lunch Ideas for the Time-Pressed and Creativity-Challenged

Frozen Cheese Ravioli or Tortellini: Top with jarred sauce or browned butter (just melt over medium heat until foamy and golden).  Or...layer cheese ravioli in place of lasagna noodles with meat sauce and shredded mozzarella for a quick lasagna!


Pita Pizzas: Toast 6" size whole pitas (or English muffins), top with sauce, cheese and desired toppings and bake at 400 until golden brown and bubbly.  This is one that's fun for the kids to do themselves. 


Rotisserie Chicken: A desperation dinner powerhouse because it can be used in so many ways.  Can be eaten plain with a salad and a loaf or bread, can also be shredded to use for chicken salad, bbq sandwiches, quesadillas, added to canned chicken broth, noodles and vegetables for a quick soup or thrown into pasta dishes.


Quesadillas: My kids are thrilled with some cheese melted in a tortilla.  My husband and I like to jazz ours up with additions of whatever is on hand--cooked chicken or steak, pico de gallo, crumbled bacon, fajita veggies, green chiles or chopped tomatoes. 


Pasta and Jarred Sauce: fancy it up by throwing in some ground beef or turkey or some chopped spinach or other cooked veggies.


Bean Burritos: As simple as canned refried beans and cheese or slightly more gourmet with a can of black beans mixed together with salsa and cheese wrapped in a tortilla.