Food Ideas - Laguna Niguel,CA

Use a crock pot to cook a pork roast and then pull it apart to make pulled pork sandwiches. Make a Main Dish Salad, such as a large Cobb or Cesar Salad. Chicken Salad on Croissants or stuffed into tomatoes?
I'd be tempted to pick up a Rotisseri Chicken or some KFC chicken and serve it with the sides to make it as easy as possible:-)

Just blacken some chicken or shrimp or flank steak and put it over an incredible salad- I like to add goat cheese, roasted yellow peppers, red onion, etc. Then I make a dressing with olive oil, lemon juice (or lime), Dijon mustard, cilantro, honey and salt and pepper

Costco has these bags of frozen tilapia filets. There are easy to cook up quickly on the stove so you don't heat your house up in summer. I take them directly from the freezer and throw them into my heavy saute pan with a big hunk of butter, melted first. Sprinkle with salt and lemon pepper, or salt, pepper and fresh lemon or lime juice. Cook on med.or med low til done. About 5-10 minutes.

My favorite is:

In crockpot:

3 frozen chicken breasts
1 can black beans - drained
Half bag of frozen corn
Half a jar of salsa
1 package taco seasoning

I leave it in overnight or all day - shred chicken (It will just fall apart) and mix.
I serve on taco shells with rice (white rice add lime juice and cilantro when done cooking).
It can also me on a salad.

BLT Sandwiches
Reuben Sandwiches
Potato Salad
Pasta Salad
Roasted Veggies done in the oven
Pita Sandwiches
Lasagna
A Roast- then slice up and serve with buns and horseradish and serve it room temp. And make an Au Jus dip for it.

Crock Pots are always good options. What about making a salad as the main course? You could do a pasta salad with steamed chicken (just do it in the microwave so you don't heat up the house) or a big caesar salad with chicken too. Food Network had some fun and tasty looking pasta salads in their magazine this month.

I assume since you already have "sides" you are looking for meat ideas?
I would either do something in the crockpot, or broil some meat (whatever you had planned) in your oven tonight and then just warm it up tomorrow right before serving :)

for most people an entree means meat, but on hot summer days when I dont' want to cook I make a mango, corn, and bean salad dressed with lime and cilantro. You could add chicken too.

Here is my suggestion: Chinese Chicken Salad Bar

Chinese Chicken Salad a la Linda

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
½ C seasoned rice vinegar
½ C fresh lemon juice
1 TBLSP Sesame Oil
1 TBLSP Low Sodium Soy Sauce
2 tsp Sugar
1/8 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
4 – 6 cups mixed greens like Romaine, Napa cabbage, etc.**
chopped cilantro
thin sliced green onion
lightly salted cashews or sunflower seeds
1 can mandarin oranges (in light juice)
1 can black beans (optional) rinsed
1 pkg Chinese noodles or Capallini (optional)

Rinse chicken, pat dry. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Drop chicken breasts into boiling water and cover with a tight fitting lid. Remove the pot from the heat and let it stand covered for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Cool and then shred or slice meat.

While chicken is cooking, assemble the dressing (items 2-7) and mix. Let sit so the flavors blend.

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add the noodles and cook until done (about 3 min.) Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the greens, chicken, oranges, noodles and beans. Serve with the green onion, nuts and cilantro on the side. Top with dressing.

**I also add carrots, celery, radishes, spring peas or Chinese pea pods, raw mushrooms….whatever YOU like.
***Set this up like a salad bar so that people can add onion or nuts etc as they like. I use 2 chicken breasts for 6-8 people.

Big hunk of cheap meat (boston butt or pork shoulder are good bets, but anything will work), a bottle of BBQ sauce and some sliced onion thrown in the crock pot!