Make Sunday a special day for dinner

photo by merelymel13
Revive Sunday dinners, and serve a hearty meal. While quick meals have their place, Sunday can be reserved as a day to bring everyone to the table. You don’t have to do the traditional Sunday roast to add a perfect end to the weekend. The following meal is simple enough that you won’t be isolated in the kitchen, and the aroma will fill your home.

Fruit and Walnut Salad

spring-mix salad greens
1 cup toasted walnuts
1 Granny Smith apple(or apple of choice), sliced
1 pear, sliced
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/2 cup dried cranberries
raspberry-vinaigrette dressing
croutons, to taste

In a large bowl, add first six ingredients. Add dressing, and toss to combine. Top with croutons. — Darlene, New York

White Chili

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 celery stalk, chopped
3 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
1-1/4 cups chicken broth
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried cilantro
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini, drained and rinsed
2 green onions, chopped
2 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook onion and celery in oil until tender. Stir in chicken, chicken broth, green chilies, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, cilantro and cayenne pepper. Reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in the beans, and simmer for 5 more minutes. Garnish with green onion and shredded cheese. — Michelle S., Massachusetts

Oatmeal Dinner Rolls

1 tablespoon yeast
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats or old-fashioned oats
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons oil
3 cups bread flour
butter, melted

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, salt, rolled oats, egg, oil and 2-1/4 cups flour. Turn onto floured surface, and knead in remaining flour. Knead for a few more minutes. Let rise in warm place for 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Shape dough into balls, and place in greased pan. Let rise about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Butter tops while still warm. — Nancy, Virginia

Cheese Pie

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping:

1 cup sour cream
5 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 can fruit-pie filling

Grease 9-inch pie plate. Cream the cheese, and add sugar and add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Add the vanilla, pour into the pan, and bake preheated 350 F oven for 25 minutes. Cool cheese pie for 20 minutes. The pie will come out of the oven puffed up, but it settles down while cooling.
Mix first three topping ingredients together, and pour onto pie. Bake an additional 7 minutes at 350 F to set the top. Cool, chill, and before serving, top with a can of fruit-pie filling. — Nancy, Virginia

Posted by Sara Noel on March 5 2009. Filed under Frugal Cooking.
Sara Noel owns Frugal Village, LLC and is a nationally syndicated columnist with Universal Uclick. Bio, Follow me on Twitter, Join us on Facebook