Make your school nights simple with these 5 meal ideas.  

Monday:  Hidden veggie meatballs

Ingredients:  1 small sweet onion, 4 oz. baby carrots, 4 mini sweet peppers, 1 cup of whole wheat bread crumbs, 1 egg, ½ cup of mild bbq sauce (try Annie’s Organic BBQ sauce), 1 lb of ground turkey 

1. Place the onion, carrots and peppers in a food processor to chop finely
2. Combine the egg, breadcrumbs, turkey and BBQ sauce and mix well
3. Form into golf ball sized portions and place them in a baking dish
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes

Serve these over brown rice or quinoa.

Tuesday:  One dish chicken and vegetables

Ingredients:  1 lb of boneless chicken breast cut in quarters, 12 petite yellow or red potatoes cut in quarters, 12 oz of green beans, 3 cloves of garlic minced, 1 tablespoon of herbs de Provence, ¼ teaspoon of salt, ⅛ teaspoon of pepper, a drizzle of olive oil

1. Place potatoes, chicken and green beans in rows in a 13×9” baking pan with the chicken in the middle
2. Drizzle with olive oil and season with herbs de Provence, salt, pepper and garlic
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes

Wednesday:  Oven fried chicken

Ingredients:  6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts, 2 cups of panko, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, 3 eggs, ¼ cup of buttermilk, salt, freshly ground black pepper

1. In a medium bowl, mix together panko breadcrumbs and garlic powder and season generously with salt and pepper
2. In another medium bowl, whisk together eggs and buttermilk
3. Pat chicken dry, then dip into egg mixture. Dredge in panko to coat all sides
4. Place on baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and bake at 425 degrees for 1 hour until golden and crispy

Thursday:  (Almost) Meatless sloppy joes

Ingredients:  2 tablespoons olive oil, ½ cup finely chopped white onion, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 6 ounces ground sirloin, ½ cup grated carrot, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon ground red pepper, 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes, 1 (15.5 oz) can low-sodium red beans, rinsed, drained, and divided, 4 whole-wheat sandwich rolls, split and toasted

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, and beef to pan; cook 5 minutes or until meat is browned and vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally to crumble beef
2. Add carrot, chili powder, sugar, oregano, and red pepper; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally
3. Stir in tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook 10 minutes or until thickened and carrot is tender, stirring occasionally
4. Partially mash 1 cup beans with a fork or potato masher. Add mashed beans and remaining whole beans to pan; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated.
5. Spoon 1 cup bean mixture onto bottom half of each roll

Friday:  Simple baked salmon

Ingredients:  2 cloves minced garlic, 6 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, 2 (6 ounce) fillets of salmon

1. In a medium glass bowl mix garlic, olive oil, basil, salt, pepper, lemon juice and parsley
2. Place salmon fillets in a medium glass baking dish and cover with the marinade
3. Marinate in the refrigerator about 1 hour
4. Place fillets in aluminum foil, cover with excess marinade, and seal
5. Place sealed salmon in the glass dish, and bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes