5 Ideas for Breakfast for Dinner

Dinnertime can be a challenge for busy families, so it's always fantastic to have quick meal ideas ready to go. Breakfast foods are easy to make and don't require a lot of ingredients, so breakfast for dinner is a wonderful mealtime solution. Today, I'm sharing FIVE of my favourite ideas for breakfast for dinner.

Quiche - Quiche is a wonderful family friendly supper idea. What's not to like about bacon mixed with egg and cheese? You can find my favorite SIMPLE bacon quiche recipe here. Add some fruit, a salad, or veggies... and you are good to go!

French Toast - French toast paired with fruit (and a bit of maple syrup) is one of my kids' favourite meals. 

To make French Toast, I like to use Brioche bread... but any bread works well. For each two pieces of bread, beat together: 1 egg, 1 tbsp milk, and a 1/8 tsp cinnamon. Then, dip the bread slices into the egg mixture, and cook them in a lightly buttered pan until they are brown on both sides. I serve them with a light dusting of powered sugar and real maple syrup.

Scrambled egg wraps - This is a simple option... and younger children love it. Scramble eggs, and pop them in a wrap with some grated cheese. I like adding some salsa... but that is optional.

For younger kids, these little clips from the dollar are great and make the wraps must easier for littles ones to eat.

Pancakes - Pancakes paired with fruit is another simple meal option that is popular with children and adults. I like to have homemade pancake mix in the pantry to make meal time even easier. You can find my favourite pantry pancake mix recipe here.

Egg in a Hole - This id something my dad used to make for me when I was a child, and it was always a favourite of mine. Now, I make it for you my family. Butter the bread, cut out the middle, and pop and egg in the middle. I love this simple breakfast for dinner meal idea!

Is your family a fan of "breakfast for dinner"? What are your favourites? If you haven't tried all of the ideas I'm sharing today, give them a try. I'd love to hear what you think.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more family friendly recipes here.

Shortcut Family-Friendly Lasagna

Weeknight dinners can be a struggle, so I'm always looking for shortcuts to make my life a little easier. This family-friendly lasagna is one of my favorites. I love that it makes enough for two nights, my kids will it without complaining (a rarity around here), and it's easy to make. Keep reading to check out my recipe for family-friendly lasagna... and the shortcuts I use.

Shortcut Family-Friendly Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 9-12 oven ready lasagna noodles (Short cut - you don't have to cook the noodles before assembling the lasagna.)
• 1 pound / 500g hamburger (Short cut - have cooked hamburger ready to go in the freezer or fridge.)
• 2 (640mL) jars of pasta sauce (Short cut - use jarred sauce.)
• 500g lasagna style cottage cheese (regular cottage cheese or ricotta would work too)
• 2 tbsp dried parsley (Short cut - you can use fresh, but using dried is quicker.)
• 1 egg
• 3 cups grated mozzarella cheese (Short cut - you can buy pre-grated cheese.)
• 6 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (Short cut - you can use fresh, but using the canned/shake version is quicker.)
• 3/4 cup water

Instructions:

1) Fry hamburger and add 2 jars of pasta sauce.

2) Combine cottage cheese with parsley and an egg.

3) In a 13x9 greased baking dish:

• spread 1/3 of sauce
• top with 3 1/2 lasagna noodles
• top with 1/2 the cottage cheese mixture
• sprinkle with one cup mozzarella cheese and 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese 
• spread another 1/3 of sauce
• top with 3 1/2 lasagna noodles
• top with remaining cottage cheese mixture
• top with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
• top with 3 1/2 lasagna noodles, remaining sauce, remaining mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese
• drizzle with water 

4) Cover with tin foil and bake in a 350 degree pre-heated oven for 50-55 minutes. Remove covering for the last 10 minutes.

5) Let stand for 15 minutes, and then serve.

I like to serve my lasagna with garlic bread and a simple salad. (I love spring mix with strawberries, a crunchy salad topper, and an olive oil/balsamic vinegar dressing.)

I highly recommend this simple, short cut family-friendly lasagna. It's fantastic for a weekday, but works well for a Sunday supper too. Who doesn't love a meal that feeds a crowd and everyone enjoys?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - You can find more family friendly recipes ideas here.

Simple "make ahead" Meatballs

Now that school is back in session, weeknight meals are becoming increasingly difficult. I like to have a few simple meal ideas prepped and ready to go, and meatballs are always a crowd pleaser. Today, I am sharing my recipe for "make ahead" meatballs. You can cook a big batch in the oven, and freeze them for when you need them.

I like to make a big batch of meatballs on a foil lined tray. I use half for dinner, and I freeze the other half. 

To make a double batch of meatballs, you'll need:

• 2 lbs (0.907kg) of hamburger
• 1 cup bread crumbs (powder)
• 2 eggs

Mix all the ingredients together, and roll into balls. Place the meatballs on a foil lined 9x13 cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees until no longer pink (approx. 18-25 minutes). Drain fat.

I like to place half the meatballs in a dish for that night's supper, and the other half goes in the freezer.

I usually turn my meatballs into "sweet and sour meatballs" using sauce made from the following:

• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp vinegar
• 2 tsp mustard
• 1/2 cup water
• spices (as desired)

I just take half of my "big batch" of meatballs, put them in a roaster, and pour the sauce over them. Then, I cook them in the sauce for 30 minutes at 300 degrees.

These sweet and sour meatballs are great served over rice with some grilled broccoli on the side.

Does your family love meatballs? If you make the meatballs ahead of time, they make a wonderful and easy weekday meal.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS... You can find more of my family's favourite recipes here.

Recipes (meal time family favorites and appetizers)

Below, you will find a collection of some of my favorite recipes for family meals. They are easy to prepare and work for fussy kids. Scroll down and click on the links for the full list of ingredients and directions.

Fluffy and Buttery Biscuits

Family-Friendly "Shortcut" Lasagna

Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes and Pork Tenderloin

Easy Weeknight Broccoli, Chicken and Peppers Pesto Pasta

Super-simple Bacon and Cheese Quiche

Creamy Corn Chowder

Healthy, No Yeast, One Bowl Soda Bread

Swiss Cheese Dip

Nacho Dip

Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushroom Caps (with balsamic glaze)

Lunchbox Smoothies

Perfectly Cooked Hard-boiled Eggs

Make Ahead Meatballs

School Lunch Tips and Tricks

Peanut Free Lunch Ideas for Picky Eaters

Pantry Pancake Mix

Easy Appetizers

Corn Chowder and Biscuits

Is there anything better on a cold day than a nice warm cup of chowder? This corn chowder is easy to make, and it is delicious. Pair it with some flaky homemade biscuits for the perfect comfort food combination.

My corn chowder recipe is based on one created by one of my oldest and dearest friends. (Thanks, Darc!) 

Here's what you'll need:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
4 tbsp flour
4 cups milk (I use 1%... but you can use 2% or homo for a thicker, richer chowder)
1/2 cup blend (10%)
2 containers of Knorr Homestyle Stock Bouillon (or 2-4 tbsp of OXO chicken stock powder)
2 cups frozen corn
1-2 cups diced, pre-cooked potatoes (not soft)
grated cheddar cheese (for garnish)

Directions:
Melt butter on low/medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft. Gradually whisk in flour. Slowly add milk (whisking constantly). Add chicken stock, and continue whisking.

Add remaining ingredients, and heat on low until thickened.

Garnish with cheddar cheese and serve with homemade biscuits.

You can click here for my favorite biscuit recipe. 

Do you have a favorite comfort food when the weather gets cold? Give this corn chowder and biscuits recipe a try, and let me know what you think.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Bacon Pie... aka "the Easiest Quiche you will ever make"

With all our after-school activities, there are many nights I need a "quick supper".  I love this Quiche recipe (which my husband and kids call "bacon pie"). It's easy to prepare and totally delicious. Even fussy eaters will ask for seconds. 

I cook the bacon ahead of time, so when we get home from swimming lessons or hockey practice, I throw the ingredients together quickly and pop it in the oven.  By the time the boys are finished with their showers and baths, supper is on the table. Easy!  

Here's the recipe...

You'll need:
12 slices of bacon (cooked and crumbled up)
1 tsp onion powder
1 cup old cheddar cheese
2 cups 1% milk
1 cup biscuit mix
4 large eggs
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
1)  Lightly grease a large pie plate.
2)  Layer bacon, onion powder and cheese on the pie plate.
3)  Beat milk, biscuit mix, eggs, pepper, and salt until smooth.  Then, pour the mixture into the plate.
4)  Bake at 400 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes... until a knife stuck into the middle of the quiche comes out clean.
5)  Let stand for 5-10 minutes, cut and serve.

My husband and I have the quiche with salad or asparagus... but my fussy boys have it with fruit.  Either way, it's delicious.

What is your favorite weeknight "quick and easy" meal?  I am always looking for new ideas.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Are you in a Dinner Rut?

With busy family schedules, it is easy to see how moms get into dinner ruts.  I find it stressful to squeeze in homework and a home cooked dinner before rushing to the rink, and it is always tempting to pop a frozen pizza into the oven.  However, I do have one time saver that helps me keep my sanity -- cook several batches of hamburger, put them in freezer bags or containers, and pop them in the freezer.

With hamburger frozen this way, it is ready to heat and season for a quick weekday meal.  I often use it for tacos, spaghetti or shepherd's pie.  Lots of easy options at my fingertips helps keep me out of a dinner rut. 

Wouldn't Taco Tuesday be simple if you could just add spice, heat, and serve?  I always have an Old El Paso kit in my pantry and some fried hamburger in the freezer.  

Are you in a dinner rut?  Do you have a way of (easily) adding some variety to the dinner table?  I am now an Old El Paso Ambassador, so I will have some great Mexican food ideas for you soon.  Stay tuned!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (You can always check out the Old El Paso Canada Facebook page for delicious meal ideas, and you can follow this campaign on Twitter with the hashtag #YouMexiCAN.)


Disclosure – I am participating in the Old El Paso Ambassador Program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Old El Paso. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.