Written by Josalyn of Deliciously Domestic

Ever wonder what to have for dinner? It seems that deciding what to feed our families is as difficult as disciplining children or even “the talk.” Here are a few
tricks that have helped me answer that reoccurring question: what’s for dinner?

Take Advantage of Holidays

When I say holidays I don’t mean Halloween and Thanksgiving. I mean holidays like April Fool’s Day (April 1st) and Arbor Day (US April 29th). We’ve had special meals this year for all the obscure holidays on the calendar. On Groundhog Day I even attempted to sculpt a meatloaf into a groundhog shape. It wasn’t pretty, but my two year old gobbled it up!

Go Global

The world is a big place; what haven’t you tried yet? Devote one night a week to cuisine from another country. We spent last year cooking Greek and made some great discoveries! Baklava and Spanikopita have become a special occasion treat, and Mousakka has become a regular on our menu. This year we’re focusing on Central American Cuisine, and it has been delicious.

Try What You Hate

As we grow older, our tastes change and mature. A couple years ago I decided that I would get a lot more enjoyment out of life if I liked mushrooms. Before then I couldn’t deal with their spongy texture. For months I would eat mushrooms, trying to embrace the sponginess. And now I love mushrooms. Love them! I know this sounds a little goofy, but I really do feel like my life is fuller and better because I can appreciate delicious mushrooms. Next on my list is celery…

Swap Stand-bys With Your Friends

Everyone has a go-to meal that they make when nothing else seems to work out. At ours its fish and vegetables steamed in parchment paper, which is healthy and delicious. Generally these recipes are fast, easy and don’t require a lot of ingredients. So take a poll: what do you make for dinner when all else fails?

Change Your Preparation

Always steam your asparagus? Try broiling it. Always broil your chicken? Try cooking it on the stovetop. Always saute your peppers and onions? Try roasting them in the oven. Always deep fry your donuts? … well, that’s taking it a little too far.

There many other things you can do to make the question of ‘what’s for dinner?’ exciting instead of horrifying: plan ahead, eat from a vegetable garden, alter recipes, recreate dishes from your favorite restaurants. With all the wonderful food in the world why eat the same thing all the time?