One of the hardest things about cooking is planning what to eat, especially if you want a meal complete with an entrée, side dishes, and a dessert. Here are some menu suggestions for full meals. As you become more familiar with the recipes, you can adapt these items to your own preferences.
Easy Sandwich Supper
You can make this tasty and filling meal in 35 minutes. It’s great to eat in front of the TV while watching a movie.
- Cheese and Fruit Appetizer Plate
- Crunchy Chicken Salad Sandwiches
- Baby spinach and cherry tomato salad with Zesty Greek Vinaigrette
- Iced tea or soft drinks
Valentine’s Day Dinner
This meal may look fancy, but it’s quite simple and quick to prepare. You’ll be sure to impress your loved one with this array of delectable dishes, especially if you “fancy it up” by garnishing with parsley, snipped chives, or fresh flowers on the plate.
- Galveston Shrimp Cocktail
- Baked Lemon Garlic Chicken
- Green Rice Pilaf
- Quick Zesty Green Beans
- Chocolate Fondue or Robin’s Backstage Brownies
- Chardonnay wine
Under the Weather Meal
This meal is perfect if you’re not feeling particularly well — or even if you are just tired from a busy day and need a simple meal where you can relax with a book. It’s easy to make and easy on the throat and tummy.
- Quick Chicken Soup with Ginger and White Pepper
- Saltine crackers
- A sliced Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apple and a tablespoon of peanut butter for dipping
- Hot tea with lemon and honey
Autumn Picnic in the Park
Everything here can be prepared ahead of time and kept cool or at room temperature, and eaten at the park without any silverware. Be sure to bring plenty of napkins or wet wipes, because the chicken can get a little messy.
- No-Knead Beer Bread
- Picnic Chicken with Sesame-Citrus Sauce
- Fresh strawberries
- A chocolate bar to share
- Your favorite wine or champagne
Spontaneous Picnic in the Park
This meal requires absolutely no cooking on your part. Just grab a knife, a tablecloth, and some napkins, and stop by the supermarket on your way out to the park.
- French baguettes
- An apple, a pear, some grapes
- Your favorite fancy cheeses (try smoked gouda, cotswold, brie, gruyére)
- Fancy cookies or shortbread squares
- Your favorite wine or champagne
Light Summer Meal
This is a deliciously satisfying yet light meal, perfect for eating in the backyard on a nice summer evening.
- Fresh Southwest Chicken with Black Beans and Corn
- 5-Minute Garlic Toast
- Pear and Yogurt Fruit Salad
- Lemonade or hard cider
Fancy Italian Dinner by Candlelight
Sometimes you’ve just got to go all out for a fancy dinner. Maybe it’s your anniversary or your partner’s birthday, but whatever the occasion, dim the lights and break out the white tablecloth and real napkins, votive candles, and some Italian bistro music. Serve wine both before and during dinner.
- Quick Bruschetta
- Sophisticated Italian Salad
- Garlic Mushroom Red Sauce over linguine
- Citrus Sorbet
- Chianti wine
Bavarian Meal for Cold Nights
A hearty and filling meal, perfect for rainy winter nights by the fireplace.
- Speedy Sausage and Sauerkraut
- Spicy Potato Gratin
- Autumn-Spice Apple Pie
- Sparkling apple juice or imported beer
Southwestern Vegetarian Dinner #1
This menu can be adapted to suit the meat-lover’s palate by adding chopped cooked chicken to the enchiladas. But we’re willing to bet that carnivores won’t even miss the meat in this tasty meal.
- Quick Pico de Gallo Salsa and tortilla chips
- Queso Fundido
- Cheesy Onion and Mushroom Enchiladas
- A simple green salad with Light Lemon Vinaigrette, substituting lime for lemon
- Your favorite Mexican beer or sparkling water with a slice of lime
Southwestern Vegetarian Dinner #2
Though meatless, this dinner is hearty. Put out a brightly colored tablecloth, mix and match dishes, and play Tejano or Mariachi music.
- Speedy Spicy Guacamole and tortilla chips
- Magical Southwestern Black Beans
- Lemon-Garlic Quinoa, stirring in 1/4 cup minced cilantro after cooking
- Summer Corn Salad
- Jamieson’s Chocolate Birthday Cake, adding 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the batter
- A margarita on the rocks, or sparkling water with a slice of lime
Easy Clean-up Fish Night
These recipes make clean-up easy, leaving you time for more important things.
- Easy Fish in a Packet
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Steamed white rice
- Drunken Strawberries
- Riesling or Pinot Grigio wine
Grilled Vegetarian Menu
Everything on this menu (except the ice cream) can be made outdoors on the grill. It’s great for summer because it’s not a heavy meal, and you don’t need to turn on the oven or stove and heat up the kitchen.
- Portobello Mushroom Pizzas, which can be grilled instead of oven-baked
- Citrus Grilled Vegetable Skewers, leaving out the mushrooms
- Grilled Flatbreads topped with sea salt and gruyére cheese
- Summer Peach Ice Cream
- Iced tea or lemonade
East Asian Menu
If you don’t already know how to use chopsticks, this would be a great opportunity to try them out! Sake is a Japanese rice wine, and it is best served lightly chilled.
- Grandma Ruby’s Yakisoba
- Steamed white rice
- Fortune cookies
- Jasmine tea or sake
Homestyle Meal
Just like Mom used to make! Except that Mom probably didn’t serve you beer with your meal, but we’ve added it for a grown-up twist.
- Oven-Fried Flat Chicken
- Classic Potato Salad
- Spicy Baked Beans
- 5-Minute Chocolate Chip Mug Cookies
- Your favorite beer
Get-All-Dressed-Up-for-No-Reason Night
Get out of those sweatpants! Make a great meal memorable by celebrating in style.
- Crispy-Bottomed Salmon with Orange Sauce
- Veggie-Packed Greek Salad
- Lemon-Garlic Quinoa
- Dad’s Lemon Meringue Pie
- Sparkling water
Fondue Night
This is a meal to curl up with. Fondue cannot be rushed, so take your time and enjoy the meal. This meal should take you no less than two hours, perfect for a movie or enjoying with friends.
- Cheddar Fondue
- Fall Harvest Salad
- Chocolate Fondue
- Your favorite beer or wine