5 Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights From Erin Chase

Sept. 20, 2011 -- intro: From soccer practice to gymnastics, swim lessons, Scouts and more, it's tough enough keeping up with our own schedules, much less get dinner on the table.

I'm here to help -- not only to get dinner on the table, but do so with ease and without spending half your paycheck at the grocery store!

Here's five meal ideas for busy weeknights, along with a grocery list for the ingredients you'll need.

quicklist: 1category: Mondayurl:14538142title: Hearty Lentil Stew with Homemade Cornbreadtext: Grocery List:
1 yellow onion
2 stalks celery
1 Green Pepper
Barley, pearled
Green lentils
1 carrot, shredded
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
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quicklist: 2category: Tuesdayurl: 14562991title: Taco-Dillastext:Grocery List:
6 soft taco size whole wheat tortillas
2 cups leftover taco meat
2 cups shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese
Sour cream for dipping
4 corn cobs
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quicklist: 3category: Wednesdayurl: 14563095title: Slow Cooker Mango Chickentext: Grocery List:
6 small boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 small red onion
1 medium zucchini
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 mango
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quicklist: 4category: Thursdayurl: 14563351title: Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Pancakestext: Grocery List:
Applesauce
Maple Syrup
Cream Cheese
Butter
4 carrots
Sausage links or patties or eggs
Favorite fresh fruit
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quicklist: 5category: Fridayurl: 14563561title: Spicy Southern Chilitext: Grocery List:
1.25 lb ground chuck
1 red onion
Head garlic
1 15 oz can stewed tomatoes
1 10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 15 oz. can pinto beans
Optional : shredded cheese, sour cream, scallions
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quicklist: 6category: Pantry Staplestitle: Pantry Staplestext: Apple cider vinegar
Soy sauce
Dried basil
Marjoram
salt and pepper

Red wine vinegar
Garlic powder

Whole wheat flour
Cinnamon
Baking powder
Milk
Egg

Olive oil
All-purpose or bread flour
1 packet active dry yeast
Sugar
Chili powder
Salt

For more great recipes from Erin Chase, check out her $5 Dinners site here.media: 14562864