Help! I Need Some Good Dinner Ideas for 8 Tonight

I always use Rachel Ray's Spinach Lasagna Roll ups when I want to impress people and make them think I spent a long time in the kitchen. They are Spinach and finely chopped mushrooms with garlic, onion, etc., rolled into a cooked lasagna noodle and all topped with a cheese sauce. I've spread this recipe around quite a bit and I have not found one person who did not like it. My neighbor, who apparently despises mushrooms even liked it, although his wife told me not to tell him it was mushrooms! Go to foodnetwork.com and you can find it. As a side dish I slice tomatoes, top them with sliced mozzarella and broil just to melt the cheese a little and then a nice loaf of italian bread!

An easy and yummy dish is Rachel Ray's mexican lasagna. I think you can find it on her website, but if you don't, let me know and I'll help you out.

Make a roast...beef or pork. Or a great dinner, but very pricy, is a prime rib roast dinner. Very Yummy!!!!

Parmesan Crumb Chicken - I haven't found anyone that doesn't like this recipe (even people who claim to not like mustard)
Parmesan Crumb Chicken
6 boneless chicken breasts
6 Tbs Dijon mustard
1 Tbs white wine (or water)
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup grated parmesan
1 cup bread crumbs
Black pepper
4 Tbs melted butter
Mix together mustard, wine or water, salt, and pepper, set aside
Mix together parmesan, bread crumbs, and pepper, set aside
Dredge chicken in mustard mixture
Then coat in parmesan mixture
Set on baking sheet and drizzle with melted butter.
(I have done this without the recipe for so long, I just use four breasts and throw together a little mustard and water and the cheese and bread crumbs I just do half and half. It doesn't have to be really exact.)

You can just do a starch and veg with it. Rice, mashed potatoes, steamed potatoes... Asparagus, green beans, corn...
Have a fun night!

Simple and easy???
Do they like BBQ?
Take a Pork Loin and put it in a crock pot... set on low for 5-6 hours.
put about 1/4-1/3 cup water in.
sprinkle garlic powder, black pepper, oregano, and drizzle honey over loin.
after 5 1/2-6 hours put Pillsbury biscuits in oven and begin making macaroni and cheese or pick up some potato salad from the grocery store along with baked beans.
cut up pork and while still in crock pot...
add more honey
add bbq sauce (suggest Sweet Baby Rays)

Whala! you have Pulled Pork BBQ sandwiches, Baked Beans, and Mac n cheese or Potato Salad!

BBQ is great after a long winter! and easy when done this way!

Oh Yeah, Sliced Sharp Cheddar is great on the sandwiches!

R.,

Listed below is a recipe from Vince & Joe's for an awesome pork loin roast. I never would have imagine something so simple tasting so good. Just don't go overboard on the rosemary as I did the first time. Delicious and easy.

Have a great birthday celebration!

C.

Pork Loin Roast w/ Rosemary and Garlic
From Vince & Joe's
Serves 8

1 tablespoon minced garlic
4 teaspoons fresh chopped rosemary leaves (or 1 ½ teaspoons dried, crushed)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1, 2 ½ pounds boneless pork loin roast
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine garlic and rosemary. Rub garlic mixture over pork. Liberally season with salt and pepper. Place pork, fat side down, on a lightly greased broiler pan or roasting rack. Roast pork 30 minutes then turn roast fat side up. Roast about 30 minutes longer or until a thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 155 degrees.
Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes. Pour any juices from roasting pan into a small saucepan. Set over low heat to keep warm.
Cut pork into thin slices. Arrange pork slices on a platter and drizzle with pan juices.

Hi R.,

This will not help you if you are not fish eaters. This is our favorite meal to cook when we have people over. Everyone loves it, but you have to like Salmon. I like it because it is relatively easy with easy clean-up since you cook it in foil pouches. We use Salmon with this recipe.

http://www.wchstv.com/gmarecipes/bakedredfishcashewbutter...

C.

Hi R.,
Here is a super quick & easy recipe for Chicken Enchiladas....also they are NOT tons spicy. If you are serving 8 people...you might want to double up the recipe, but I would also serve this with a tossed salad and some chips /mild salsa. Here goes....
2 cups chopped cooked chicken or turkey (canned meat works too when really in a bind for time)
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 8oz package of Philadelphia cream cheese, cubed
1 8oz jar Salsa....we like more ;-)
8 - 6" or 8" flour Tortillas
1-1.5 cups Velveeta pasteuirzed Process Cheese Spread - cut up
1/4 cup milk.
A) STIR chicken, bell pepper, cream cheese & 1/2 cup salsa in saucepan on LOW heat until cream cheese is melted
B) SPOON 1/3 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place seam-side down in lightly greased 12x8 inch baking dish. (9x13-works too)
C) STIR process cheese spread & milk in saucepan on LOW heat until smooth. Pour sauce over tortillas; cover with foil. (you can also melt the cheese on LOW in the mircro wave - then blend the milk in)
D) BAKE @ 350* for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Pour remaining salsa over the tortillas.
Serve with additional Salsa, Sour Cream, Shredded Cheddar to your hearts content.
prep time 20 minutes - bake time 20 minutes
I trust that this might help you enjoy your hubby's B-Day!
~K.~
ps...don't forget the ice cream for dessert ;-)

Buy a pork roast, put it in the slow cooker with Lowreys mesquite marinade with lime,for about 5 hours before you want to eat. wash and poke with a knife some baked potatoes, microwave for two minutes on each side, wrap them in foil and put in the oven for about half an hour. Wash some lettuce, put in small bowls different salad toppings, cucumber, carrots, cheese, carrots, dried cranberries, let everyone do their own toppings or else just make a salad bowl and pass it. So easy and so good.

it's called rubics cube. 2 lbs hamburg 1/2 chopped onion and salt and pepper and garlic powder. cook until done. drain well take 1 package of tater tots layer a few on bottom of casserole. now add the meat mixture to the top. take one can of mushroom soup undiluted spread over the meat mixture. add 1/2 bag of shredded cheese to the top. now add another can of cream of mushroom soup diluted with one can of milk. pour over the top. next add rest of the cheese. bake at 350 until cheese is golden and bubbly. about 40-45 mins. I serve with garlic sticks. and a nice tossed salad. and a easy dessert. i take this dish everywhere, people just love it . including picky eaters. let me know how it worked for you.. enjoy..

How about a pork loin (or tenderloin), baked potatoes and a salad? You can purchase tenderloins already seasoned, or if you choose just the regular loin, you can use a rub of your chosing. You can actually find a pretty good Pork Rub in the spice section of your grocery store. Jazz up the baked potato, by slicing the potato down the center, stuffing it with a slice of onion, wrapping it in a piece of raw bacon,and covering it with foil before you bake.(sour cream on top..yum!) Grab a bag of salad (love the Caeser Salad mix...shake and serve....or a spring mix with Rasperry Vinagarette)and you're good to go! I serve this alot when company comes over and I want something different, but easy! Always seem to get raves on this combo!

Just remember though, it really is the thought that counts. Just relax, enjoy the good comversation and everything else will fall into place. Happy Birthday to your hubby!!

How about roast chicken and roast potatoes and sweet potatoes. So easy and everything can be in the oven a couple of hours before you want to eat. Put a couple of cut up chickens into a large dish (or two). Sprinkle liberally with paprika, salt and pepper, a little sliced onion and put a little water or chicken stock in the bottom of the dish. Cover with foil and back for 1 to 1 and half hours at 350. Then take foil off and brown for 20 to 30 mins.
For roast potatoes, scrub red-skinned potatoes, dry and cut up into large chunks. I also peel a couple of sweet potatoes and cut into chunks in same shallow dish. Pour over some olive oil, sprinkle with plenty of garlic salt and some pepper. Bake at same time as chicken, uncovered. Turn potatoes half way. You could also roast some other vegetables like zucchini, asparagus, carrots, broccoli - whatever - in a separate dish, the same way as the potatoes - you could put oil, salt and pepper and some Italian seasoning and mix together. Turn up over to 400 and put them in for last 30min to 45 mins of chicken and potatoes cooking - have fun - Alison

Do a roast - 20 mins a LB plus 20 mins at the end for fresh beef and pork and chicken at 360 degrees. Put in peeled potatoes for the last 1.30 hours. Nuke peas in the microwave for 4 mins at the end whilst carving the meat. Boil carrots for 10 mins on the stove top. Serve with either gravy, butter or peppercorn sauce (most supermakets have a packet mix). Make or buy an apple pie for pudding with fresh cream and they will love you....Easy to do ahead of time and the meal cooks itself.

I use a recipe for chicken from better homes and gardens, that is just fabulous. It is called Lombardi Chicken, and can be made start to finish in less than an hour. You would need to make a double recipe for 8, but even my husband that doesn't like chicken likes this one. It can be found by just typing in better homes and garden Lombardi chicken recipe in your search engine. Good luck!

How about Fajitas :) I make them in the crock pot all the time..... Just pre cook your chicken, slice and put in the crock with McCormicks envelope (or 2) of Fajita Mix.... Then add your onions and jalapeños later... I don't use green peppers because my hubby hates that taste, but the jalapeños give it a different taste. yummy.. Just make sure you remove the seeds or they can be hot... Make some spanish rice with stewed tomatos, refried beans and salsa and chips..... It's pretty easy, and yummy... Good Luck :)

Frozen section at meijers has steam fresh veggies...lots of different varieties. They make awesome sides...and then I'm a big fan of roast chicken...take some thawed our chicken breast or chicken breast tenders, coat in egg and then breadcrumbs...cook like it says on the package. It's relatively easy and quick. Just make sure if you choose this, not to coat the chicken with the egg too much...just enough to make the bread crumbs stick.
Hope this helps

I have a great and easy recipe. Everytime I've ever made it, everyone raves!

Salisbury steak (these measurements aren't exact-it's a very forgiving recipe)

1 lb ground hamburger
1 egg
1/2 c. italian bread crumbs
1/4 can cream of mushroom soup

Mix these ingredients together with your hands. Make into patties and place on a broiler pan (this helps the grease drain while cooking). Cook for 30 minutes at 350.

Mix remaining soup (plus another can if you like a lot of gravy-we do!) with enough water to make it gravy thickness.

Take the patties off of the broiler pan and put in a baking dish. Pour the mushroom gravy over it and put back in the oven for about 10 more minutes to heat it up.

Excellent with mashed potatoes!

Good luck.

L.

I agree with Cari S. " Taco's " make a taco bar...

I make them with breakfast sausage...
for each tube use a palmfull of
pakrika and one of chili powder....after cooking it down you can put it in a slow cooker on low and it's ready whenever you are....

Since I've started making them this way I haven't made them with hamburger.....It's always a hit at our house...

Good Luck

B.

A roast, salad and baked potatos is easy and will feed everyone. Just thought

make steak and potatoes with corn. Steaks are on sale at hollywood market for 4.99lb. Or Do pork chops with mushroom gravy. Baby back ribs or chicken. Whats your husbands favorite meal?

There are some great marinades for pork loins that are quick and easy. Marinade for an hour, then stick the loin in the oven. (or buy the pre-marinated ones) Served with baked sweet potatoes and a vege, this is a low-maintenence and healthy dinner...most of it can be done in the oven.

Do they like mexican food? Easy and not boring!
Throw some pork western style ribs (no bones) in the slow cooker, seasoned with salt and pepper. Add onions, water and garlic. The meat will be very tender and tasty. Have some tortillas heated and a plate with fixings chopped like lettuce, tomato, cilantro, onions, guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese.
Make some rice to go with it and voila!

Ok this is so good and easy they will think you were in the kitchen for hours.

You take one or two bag of the small cheese rotininis
1 bunch of asapagus
chicken (boneless/skinless chicken breast)
2 jar of ragu alfreddo saue
handful of bread crumbs.

You sautee the chicken breast ( I use chicken broth) until tender then cut into pieces.

Bring a pot of water to boil, drop in rotinini till they float to the top. Remove and put in a baking dish. I also blanche the asparagus in the same water.

Put asparagus and chicken on top of rotinini. Pour Raju over, sprinkle bread crumb on top.

Bake for 25-40 mins in an 350 degree oven.

I serve with a small dinner salad, and butter/parmensen crescents.

Enjoy.

You could do a large crock pot of pot roast, or cook a couple of port tenderloin. ???

I'm sure they'll enjoy whatever you make. You just want it to also be special. :)

My hubby is big meat man so when we have people over his request is always meatloaf or a flat iron skillet (it's like a steak, way yummier, much cheaper, super easy to cook and can feed a crowd easily - I usually buy 2 or 3 depending on the size). I get them at Kroger, just ask the butcher if you do not see any. Sometimes they are in a weird spot.
For fixings I do home made mashed potatoes, a veggie, salad with all the fixings and some kind of rolls/bread from the oven or bread machine. I know it sounds like a lot buts it really not that bad.

Roasted Duck (2hrs)
INGREDIENTS
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (5 pound) whole duck
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• ***(add a stick of butter inside & garlic to the rub)***
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. Rub salt, pepper, and paprika into the skin of the duck. Place in a roasting pan.
3. Roast duck in preheated oven for 1 hour. Spoon 1/4 cup melted butter over bird, and continue cooking for 45 more minutes. Spoon remaining 1/4 cup melted butter over duck, and cook for 15 more minutes, or until golden brown.

Roast Port Glazed Goose with Tawny Port Gravy ( 2hrs)

1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
2 sliced apples
1 teaspoon salt
1 domestic goose, about 10 pounds, well rinsed and patted dry, neck and giblets reserved
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 bay leaves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Remove any excess fat around the opening of the cavity of the goose. Prick other fatty areas with a fork at intervals. Do not prick the breast. Stuff cavity of goose with onion, apples, & bay leaf. Season the outside of the goose with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and the black pepper. Place the goose in a large roasting pan and roast for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, or until the drumsticks and thighs are easy to remove.
Pour melted butter (like ducks) over goose, cook an additional 15 min.

Remove from the oven and let rest for 20 minutes before carving. Serve with the

Gravy—pan gravy & packets (15min?)

Mashed potatoes—butter, milk & sour cream (1hr?)

Mom’s Stuffing

Wayne's Cranberry Sauce
(20min—make day before)
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 (16-ounce) bag fresh cranberries
1 cup chopped apple
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup Grand Marnier
1/2 orange, juiced
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
Combine the sugar and water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the cranberries and return to a boil, then lower the heat so that the liquid simmers. Add the apples, walnuts, raisins, Grand Marnier, orange and lemon juices, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the sauce cool.
Serve in a side bowl with turkey or any preferred holiday dish.

Zippy Baked Carrots Side Dish (allrecipes.com)
(Start day before, finish day of when birds are resting) (25min.)
• 5 cups sliced carrots, cut 1/4 inch thick, divided
• 6 slices Swiss cheese, divided
• SAUCE:
• 1 small onion, minced
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 cups milk
• TOPPING:
• 1 cup soft bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
DIRECTIONS
1. On stovetop or in a microwave oven, blanch the carrots in covered dish until tender-crisp. Layer half of the carrots in shallow 2-qt. baking pan; cover with half of the cheese. Repeat layers. To make sauce, saute onion in butter for 2 minutes; blend in flour and seasonings. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add milk all at once; cook, stirring, until thickened. Pour sauce over carrot-cheese layers. ***DAY OF*** Combine bread crumbs and butter; sprinkle over all. Top with bacon. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.

Creamy Zucchini & Red Pepper Noodles (back of best loved casseroles-upside down) (make noodles day before) (chop veggies day before)
(15min. stove top)

4tbs Butter
2/3 C zucchini, diced
2/3 C red bell pepper
½ C Onion, diced
2tbs fresh Basil or 2 tsp dried
1-1/2 C heavy Cream
12oz Egg Noodles Med. Cooked pkg directions
¾ C bacon cooked, & chopped
Salt & Pepper to taste
¾ C grated Cheddar Cheese

In lg skillet, melt butter over med. heat. Add zucchini, red pepper, & onion, sauté 2 min. Add basil & sauté 1 min. or more, then add cream. Stir in hot noodles and bacon and simmer until lightly thickened, season to taste with salt and pepper. Blend in cheese & serve immediately.

3-4 servings (double recipe)

Squash Casserole Side Dish (40min. in oven)
(Chop veggies day before) (make day before)

INGREDIENTS
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup biscuit mix (dry)
• 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chiles, with juice
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 cups grated Cheddar cheese, divided
• 4 cups coarsely chopped summer squash or zucchini or yellow summer squash
DIRECTIONS
1. Combine eggs, oil and biscuit mix. Stir in chili peppers, onion, garlic and half the cheese. Stir in squash. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes; sprinkle with reserved cheese and bake 5 minutes more.

Greek spinach bake (best loved casseroles pg 61)
(cook sausage day before)
(cook that morning & re-heat when birds are resting)

1/2 pound ground pork
2 C (16oz) small-curd cottage cheese
1 pkg (10oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, and squeeze dried
8 oz feta cheese
6 tbs all-purpose flour
½ tsp pepper
¼ tsp salt
4 eggs lightly beaten

Sauté pork in pan let cool

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, pork, spinach & feta cheese. Add the flour, pepper, & salt; mix well. Stir in eggs.
Spoon into a greased 9-in. baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 1 hour or until set

Salad??—Mom’s cucumber & tomato salad??

Strawberry Banana Dessert

3 firm bananas, sliced
1 prepared angel food cake (about 16oz), cut into cubs
1 pint fresh strawberries, halved
1 package (.6oz) sugar few strawberry gelatin
2 Cups boiling water
1-1/2 Cups cold water
1 carton (8oz) reduced-fat whipped topping

Layer banana slices and cake bubs in a 13 X 9 X 2in dish coated with nonstick spray. Place strawberries over cake and press down gently.
In a bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water; stir in cold water. Pour over strawberries. Refrigerate for 3 or more hours. Top with whipped topping.

Zucchini Casserole
8 cups sliced zucchini
1 cup chopped onion
½ cup chicken broth
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup fat free sour cream
.¼ cup Italian breadcrumbs
1 tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Pepper
2 large eggs slightly beaten
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Pre-heat oven to 350.
Combine first 3 ingredients in large pan. Bring to boil, cover and reduce heat, simmer for 20 minutes. While that simmers combine remaining ingredients, minus the Parmesan cheese, in greased 9x13 pan. Drain zucchini mixture partially, mash. Add to pan mix all ingredients. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake for 30 minutes. Then broil for a few minutes to brown the top.

2 medium unpeeled baking potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks (1 1/3 cups)
1 medium unpeeled sweet potato, cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup)
2 medium onions, each cut into 12 wedges
1/3 cup fat-free Italian dressing
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 medium bell pepper, cut into 1-inch squares
1. Move oven rack to position slightly above middle of oven. Heat oven to 500ºF.
2. Generously spray rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches, with cooking spray. Place baking potatoes, sweet potato and onions in pan. Mix dressing and red pepper; pour over vegetables. Cover and bake 10 minutes.
3. Stir bell pepper into vegetables. Cover and bake 5 minutes; stir vegetables. Bake uncovered 10 minutes longer.

My favorite veggie dish -
Buy mixed frozen broccoli, cauliflower and carrots mix. (About 4 regular-size bags or two large bags, enough to fit in a 13*9 pan). Cook them according to package directions until they are not frozen/cold, cooked but still crunchy.
In microwave, melt 2 cups chunked velveeta cheese and 6 oz of cream cheese together.
Put veggies in 13*9 pan and pour cheese over it. Top with italian breadcrumbs.
Bake at 400 for 15 minutes.
You can make it a day ahead and put it in the fridge... just do the baking step on Xmas day, but increase the cooking time to 20 or 25 minutes if it's been in the fridge.

Sweet Italian Green Beans
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
• 4 slices bacon
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 (15 ounce) cans green beans, drained
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes
• 1 pinch dried basil
• 1 pinch dried oregano
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
DIRECTIONS
1. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove from the pan to drain on paper towels. Reserve the grease in the skillet and add the onions; cook and stir over medium heat until softened. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds more. Remove from the heat.
2. In a saucepan, combine the green beans, tomatoes, basil, oregano and brown sugar. Crumble in the bacon and add the onion and garlic from the skillet. Warm over medium heat until heated through, 5 to 10 minutes.

Make a stir fry over Asian rice noodles or brown rice... super easy. Sugar snap peas, red/orange/yellow peppers peppers, onions and bean sprouts. I don't eat meat really so I often do tofu or just veggies but you can cut up real thin slices of steak/beef or do chicken chunks in it as well.

If you have enough time cut the meat up ahead of time and marinate it. I don't have a specific recipe for you but check out Allrecipes.com, type in stir fry and you will get many options to choose from with reviews from other people on how well it worked, what they did/didn't like etc...

You can make a stir fry with a meat and a nice big salad maybe with some home made dressing (it's not nearly as hard and time consuming as I thought it was) then you have a nice well rounded meal. I don't know if you wanted another thing to eat then you could add some sort of fruit side dish but it's really not necessary.

For dessert you can do those banana or vanilla pudding parfaits.... tall skinny glass or some sort of sm. clear glass cup/bowl layered with pudding, bananas, vanilla wafers and I think whipped topping... I don't make them as I am dairy free but I used to eat them and loved them as a kid and adult.... you can also do coconut pudding and sprinkle coconut flakes on top for a nice added touch.

Hope all goes well.

Ham is very easy. Pork loin too but you have to allow time for it to bake. Chicken breasts with anything on them can be done in the oven in under an hour. Good luck!

We have a lot of picky people in our family so we shoot for variety at our gatherings so everyone will be pleased. 2 of the favorites so far have been a taco bar and a baked potato bar. We have as many different toppings for each that we can come up with so everyone can fix their own to their liking.

I was going to suggest a taco night. You can have everything to make taco salad, soft tacos or hard and everyone can make their own the way they like it. We do that alot for family gatherings.

How about something with variety like tacos. My family has a tradition for bithday parties, we do "taco parties" it started with my husband and his siblings loving tacos so for their birthdays their mom cooked tacos for them, now that this fmaily is much bigger with kids of our own and grandkids we all get to get together for tacos, everyone pitches in bringing items to put on the tacos and whoevers house its at does the meat, shells and dessert
hope your hubby has a happy birthday

look at allrecipes.com or the bisquick site. or on the box. they have some quick easy ideas.

A crock pot recipe might be good too. Then you don't have too much to do and can visit right up until it is time to serve!

Sorry nothing specific, but I hope that I was a little help at least!

chicken enchiladas with white sauce are always good. i make them for family b-days

Hi R.,
This one hit a note for me. I find if you keep it simple and homemade, everyone enjoys the meal. Try a roast (5 lbs, should be big enough at 325 degrees) and let it cook for at least 4 hours, so it is good and tender. Serve with some mashed potatoes, veggie (any kind), add a salad if you like. Make some homemade gravy and either make biscuits or toss in some crecent rolls. You will have a wonderful dinner!! Oh yes, some kind of dessert would be nice....cake???? Or make something different for a change. Like my great grandmother's pineapple pie
1 small can of crushed pineapple
1/2 lbs of marshmellows
1 pint of heavy whipping cream
1 gram cracker crust

(I double this recipe and use a 9 x 13 glass dish)

melt the marshmellos and crushed pineapples together, then let cool. Mix the whipping cream in a GLASS bowl add a tsp of sugar and vanilla, whip till it is well peaked. Then combine the two things and pour into the pie crust. refigrate for about 1 to 4 hours and your done.

Good luck I hope this has helped..........let me know....
Lisa Jo