Help with Dinner - originally posted on May 25/13

Dear Lori,
I never know what to make for dinner for my family.  I get so tired of having to cook for my family every. single. day!  What's worse is when company comes over.  I love having my friends over but I never know what to make.
Can you help me?
Signed,
What's For Dinner
Dear WFD,
I hear that a lot from my friends.  Cooking is fun and creative, but when you have to do it every day it can become work.  You have to eat whether you feel like cooking or not.  It happens to all of us. Here are some suggestions;

1. Make a schedule.  I have pizza every Friday night.  You could do that too.  Then the decision is already made for you and no thinking is required.  You could make your own from scratch, use purchased prepared elements such as pita bread, a jar of sauce, pre cut toppings and shreded cheese, or you could order in or go out.  So there's still plenty of flexibility in there and you're not locked in.  Meatless Monday, Taco Tuesday, Chicken Wednesday.  Making a schedule could take the pressure off.  No more 'ack! what's for dinner?' at 4:00
2. Make ahead and freeze.  Lots of dishes can be doubled or tripled and stored in the freezer for a day when you just don't feel like cooking.  When you make meatballs, make a whole schwack and freeze what you're not going to eat that day.  Many casseroles, soups and stews work, too.
3. Stock your pantry and freezer with quick cook items.  Buy slim cuts of meat or fish for these days.  Take a filet of salmon out of the freezer for each person, top with some teriyaki sauce, wrap in foil and bake in the time it takes to cook the rice and steam the green beans.  Take out a quick fry pork chop for each person, cover with tomato sauce and bake while you boil some new potatoes and toss the salad.

When it comes to entertaining, I recommend having a specialty.  Whenever you have people over just make your specialty.  You could even have one or two in your freezer if that's appropriate.  No, people won't think it's boring, they will look forward to it.  They will say 'we got invited to Jane's place for dinner-she always makes lasagna and it's always so good'  Also, with entertaining, if your guests ask you what they can bring don't be afraid to let them bring something.  You could say "I'm making lasagna, it would be great if you could bring a tossed salad" or a bottle of wine, or a loaf of garlic bread.  Letting your guests bring a side dish takes the pressure off.
Those are my suggestions.  How do you cope with daily dinner duty?  What do you serve when you entertain?
Lori